Whenever I am in need of a good laugh, I find myself returning to Hulu to watch the hilarious TV series “Glee.” Set in the city of Lima, Ohio, the show follows a group of creative students at William McKinley High School who revive the school’s former Glee Club. Spanish teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison), once a member of the club himself as a student, steps in to advise them.
The show, as its name suggests, radiates endless joy and excitement through its array of entertaining music from various decades. From upbeat renditions of Aretha Franklin’s “I Say A Little Prayer” to Madonna’s “Vogue” to “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey, each episode is complete with many great hits sung by the talented kids of the Glee Club.
I truly appreciate how the show includes music ranging across different genres and decades, especially as it has allowed myself and younger generations to expand knowledge of iconic and well-respected music.
However, the performances in Episode 13 of Season 1, “Sectionals,” stand out to me the most, especially the Glee Club’s rendition of “Don’t Rain on My Parade” from the Broadway show “Funny Girl.” The energetic stage presence of every club member and the flawless singing of student Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) make this performance one of the best.
When the Glee Club performs, each member is seen wearing an elaborate costume that often coordinates with the other members of the club. The stylish outfits are often colorful and enhance the performances greatly by adding an element of fun to their already energetic musical numbers.
Despite the fabulous music, the satiric and humorous characters create a large part of the show’s excitement. From the get-go, we are introduced to the wicked cheerleading coach, Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch). Known for her flashy tracksuits and intimidating persona, she is the obvious antagonist of the series. She will do anything to ensure her cheer team, the “Cheerios,” remain on top and receive the most school funding and without fail, routinely finds ways to slyly sabotage Schuester and his Glee club.
Quick to make snarky remarks, Sylvester doesn’t have any problem when it comes to spewing insults and offensive comments toward Schuester and other students. Schuester challenges Sylvester, refusing to allow her to attack his club. He frequently stands up against her harsh behavior and disrespectful language, which allows the rivalry between them to truly come alive. It is always entertaining to see Sylvester taken aback and humbled as the two go head-to-head, especially because of their clashing beliefs surrounding the existence of the Glee Club.
Another standout character is student Rachel Berry (Lea Michele), whose dramatic personality, self-absorbed behavior and use of gold stars makes her a staple character of the show. Berry is typically seen securing the lead in Glee Club performances and bragging about herself. It is apparent she is not afraid to voice her opinions, even if they come off as rude.
Despite Berry’s self-absorbed attitude, I appreciate how she keeps the club organized on several occasions and she does not shy away from sharing her authentic thoughts and opinions.
Berry enhances the experience of the show as she seems to be the glue holding the Glee Club together. When the club is disorganized, Berry often has no issue stepping in to fix situations, even if she can sometimes come off as controlling.
I thoroughly enjoy returning to watch this series time and time again as it is a perfect combination of hilarious personalities, popular music and show tunes. The comedic and light-hearted nature of “Glee” never fails to keep me entertained every time I rewatch.
