"Glee" Season 1

86%, I guess. Still working out this rating thing.

If you wanted to know how many times I've seen the first season of Glee, you'd have to consult my watch history, because I genuinely cannot count it. What I do know, however, is that it's a lot. 

I first watched Glee around 2019, and I know what you're thinking. I'm 10 years late to this silly little show about silly little students singing silly little songs and that may be true. But what's more true is that I'm always trying to push myself out there and try things I wouldn't usually be so excited to watch. Back in 2019, I had never seen a musical. I had never jammed out to show tunes and had never imagined myself on stage as the female lead in Hamilton, and I had never once even considered it. To me, the thought of breaking out into song absolutely sickens me beyond belief. Though I cannot sing, something about musical theatre appeals to me and I can't quite work it out. It's so out of reach for a dying cat as myself, and yet so close to my heart.

Like I say, my first real brush with musical theatre was Glee, a show made to parody the "caste system" of high school with a few bops sprinkled in. Is it the best show to have ever graced the earth? No, not even a little bit close, but something about the first episode makes it seem better than the others. Whenever I watch a TV show, I tend to acknowledge that, within the industry, often the pilot episode will feel worlds apart from the rest of the show because it is run through reviewers and consultants first. Oftentimes the first episode is significantly worse than the others - we're working with a lower budget, it's a little less refined, it's generally got less production value than the rest. Glee? Oh, absolutely. But, weirdly, I like it.

I'm so tired of sitcom laugh tracks and melodrama being condensed into 20 minutes with an ad break in between. It's bored, thankfully in 2022 we're edging out of it. I'd refer to Glee as more of an "Office" style production, what with the camera panning and dead silence having more of an effect than forced laughter through compliance - but actually Glee deserves it's own little thing. The acting is not incredible but it feels naturalistic despite being parodical. It's real and can be read easily, even for the most socially challenged of us all (ahem). None of Glee should ever be taken seriously, it's the most cliche thing to ever exist, and yet a storyline is conveyed, as insane as that is. Season 1 consists of a teen pregnancy, a hysterical pregnancy, a lot of cheating and a sperm-filled hot tub, McKinley has more drama than Degrassi Community School in one small season and I'm here for it. It's so bad that it's good.

If you came up to me and asked me what I thought of Glee, honestly, I'd probably tell you it was pretty terrible. But I'd still tell you to go and watch it. Because it lit a spark in me. At the current time of writing, I'm weaselling myself into my University's own 'Glee Club', as it were, despite not being able to sing, because theatre genuinely interests me. I don't think I'd be as interested if not for the public disturbance personification that is Rachel Berry, so for that I thank her, I guess. The people in 'Glee Club' can thank her as well, I'm annoying and you are welcome.

Glee? Four stars, I guess. 'So bad it's good', love that phrase. It's apt. Season 1 was what it wanted to be; post-season 1 took itself too seriously. Let's not lie here. We don't lie here. I'm a truth-teller, alright - I tell the truth. Shows don't have to be hard-hitting and matter or whatever to convey a point.

So if you want to watch Glee, watch season 1. If you want a measure for the whole show, watch season 2 onwards. And if you want to be truly enlightened, watch the last episode of season 1. Spoiler alert, it contains a birth and a very Queen musical number in the same scene. Absolutely fascinating. 

Recommend? No. Do it anyway, though. For funsies.