Glee is one of the most talked about shows centered around comedy and music, airing from 2009-2015 on Fox with 121 episodes. Glee centers around a high school in Ohio and the teenagers who don’t really fit in anywhere outside of Glee Club, and all the drama that unfolds throughout the many seasons. Over the course of the episodes, there have been iconic covers by the cast, and some not-so-loved ones as well; Darren Criss admitting that his least favorite performance was “The Fox” by Ylvis, and other cast members agreed with him, states Huffpost. While sometimes Glee was a bit off-center with the topics they tackled, and sometimes were just completely inappropriate (Artie’s constant use of AAVE), the show also had fantastic and memorable moments and episodes. Here is a list of some of the best episodes showcased on the show.
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5 Blame It On the Alcohol (Season 2, Episode 14)
20th Century Fox Television
This episode delves into the topic of teen drinking, and how out-of-hand it can become, as well as how great some unexpected duos can be. It’s a change of pace as the show moves from their usual stagnant setting of the high school, and instead, enters Rachel’s basement as she invites the entire glee club over for a karaoke night, that’s fueled by the liquor in her parent’s cabinet. After a game of spin the bottle, Rachel and Blaine get on the makeshift stage in Rachel’s basement and deliver a show-stopping duet of “Don’t You Want Me” by The Human League as their inebriated friends watch on and cheer for them, some more incapacitated than others. The episode continues, and the glee club performs Jaime Foxx’s “Blame It On the Alcohol” in front of an easily-impressed Mr. Schuester, who naively thinks that the teens were just acting drunk.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
4 Never Been Kissed (Season 2, Episode 6)
This episode introduces viewers to one of the most beloved characters, Blaine. When Kurt reaches his breaking point with the bullying from the jocks, and specifically Dave Karofsky, he decides to tour a different school, Dalton Academy. Upon arrival, he meets Blaine Anderson, who gives him a tour of the school and then a more hands-on display of their very own glee club, the Warblers. Blaine, played by Darren Criss, gives one of his most memorable performances in this episode with his cover of “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry, Kurt, and fans of the show instantly fall for his character and voice. This episode is notable not only for the introduction of Blaine and Kurt’s relationship, but also for the arc of stopping bullying throughout the rest of the season.
3 Journey to Regionals (Season 1, Episode 22)
This episode is iconic for several reasons, and should be considered one of the best, where the glee club go against other clubs in competition. First off, the club performs three songs that still make fans teary-eyed to this day. Rachel and Finn start off with “Faithfully”, then “Anyway You Want It/Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’” and finally, the all-time favorite, “Don’t Stop Believing.” Secondly, Quinn is heavily pregnant and is about to have her baby that has caused tons of drama throughout season one, but still decides to perform and actively keeps up with the rest of the club, thus thrusting her into labor at the end of the performance. While the group heads to the hospital, their rival, Vocal Adrenaline, and leader Jesse St. James (Jonathan Groff), delivers one of the best vocal performances of the season with Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The cuts between the performance and Quinn delivering her baby are perfection, from her pulling Mercedes, her glee club confidant, into the delivery room, to Quinn’s mother wearing her pearls above her scrub gown.
2 On My Way (Season 3, Episode 14)
This episode features one of the most memorable and emotional scenes in the series, as well as one of the best covers done by a cast member. On My Way is the pivotal moment for Dave Karofsky, when he’s outed as a gay man and exiled from the football team, his friends, and his mother. Dave goes home, too overcome with the emotions of being harassed by his once good friends, and at that same moment, Blaine sits Kurt down, so he can show him the new song he’s been working on, “Cough Syrup” by Young the Giant. Billboard states that Young the Giant was hesitant at first to let Glee use their song, but once they saw the outcome, they were glad it was so impactful. Glee has fantastic directing throughout the six seasons it aired, and this scene is one of the top performances. The jumping back-and-forth between Blaine singing and Dave dressing himself in his suit, crying the entire time, as he contemplates losing his life, is powerful and will elicit extreme goosebumps from viewers. Glee handles Dave’s suicide attempt better than any other show depicting the act, not glorifying it, but showcasing how emotionally spent Dave’s character is, and how he thinks ending his life will stop all of his problems. This episode has an important message, especially when Kurt goes to visit Dave in the hospital after the attempt.
1 The Quarterback (Season 5, Episode 3)
The sudden and tragic death of Corey Monteith came as a shock to fans of Glee as well as the family and friends that surrounded him. Season five of the show was postponed in order for the cast to grieve, and when it came back they gave tribute to the young actor in episode three. It is the most emotional episode out of the series, many characters performing a song to commemorate Finn and how he changed their lives, and the impact he left on the club. The episode opens with “Seasons of Love” from Rent, and then moves to more intimate performances, such as the late Naya Rivera singing “If I Die Young” by The Band Perry as well as Lea Michele’s “To Make You Feel My Love” by Adele. It’s filled with emotional moments, such as Will sobbing into Finn’s letterman jacket and his wife Emma consoling him, and viewers can really feel the heartbreak through their screens. The Quarterback is one of the best tributes they have done on the show, showcasing what Finn/Corey meant to everyone who watched and loved his character.
