Content Warning: This article contains discussions and references to bullying.
Unlike many other television shows, Glee didn't keep things consistent with their cast. Over the show's six seasons, multiple actors and characters came and went, with some disappearing as quickly as they arrived. Glee didn't even have a main character, and while some might see Rachel as the show's de-facto lead, many fans refute this claim considering she doesn't appear in every episode. Therefore, the writers did their best to develop each character's arcs and backstories.
Season 2 was pivotal, introducing characters, main and recurring, that would become integral to the show's plot. The show kept welcoming new figures every season, with some staying only for a couple of episodes and others going all the way to the show's final season.
Kitty Wilde
Kitty could easily seem like a one-dimensional mean girl. Like most of the season 4 newbies, Kitty is an archetype meant to take the place of a legacy character. But thanks to Becca Tobin's wicked performance, Kitty soon rises above the stereotypes and becomes her own character.
Initially, she wasn't the most liked character as she spent most of season 4 doing some truly horrific things to other members. However, after she joins the New Directions, she begins to let go of the mean girl persona and becomes a warm and supportive friend, who's always there when she's needed. Eventually, she becomes the New Directions' de-facto captain.
Sugar Motta
Debuting in the season 3 premiere, "The Purple Piano Project," Sugar instantly made a huge impact on McKinley High when she managed to inadvertently split the New Directions in two. After getting rejected by the New Directions, her father donates money to McKinley to create a second Glee Club, The Troubletones, which Mercedes, Santana, and Brittany also join. Eventually, Sugar joins the New Directions with the rest of the Troubletones after Sectionals.
Sugar is a very entertaining, unpredictable, and zany character. She mostly stays in the background, only popping up to say a word or two, but fans definitely wanted to see more of her, especially in season 4.
Mason & Masidon McCarthy
Season 6 introduced a myriad of engaging characters as part of the New Directions' new generation. Mason and Madison are twins who join the Cheerios and eventually the Glee Club. They are usually together, are very enthusiastic and lively, and make great additions to the cast.
Mason, in particular, is a breath of fresh air in comparison to other male characters in Glee, who are rather close-minded and stereotypical jocks. For her part, Madison is full of gumption and sass without ever going into mean girl territory. They certainly make an impression and are a huge reason why many fans consider season 6 as having the same charm as Glee's early season 1 episodes.
Roderick Meeks
Like the twins, Roderick is one of season 6's new arrivals. He is a shy introvert who spends most of his time with his headphones on. He has no real friends until he joins the New Directions and is an occasional victim of bullying. Roderick eventually forms a close bond with Spencer Porter, but fans hardly see it because of the shortened season.
Roderick, like Mason, is a male character unlike any other in the series. He struggles to open up, mirroring the high school experience of many young boys. He still makes an effort and finds his place in the New Directions without ever compromising his identity. Roderick is also one of the show's all-time best male singers, and his rendition of "Mustang Sally" remains a highlight of season 6.
Spencer Porter
Spencer is a gay football player who has no interest in joining the New Directions. He's arrogant, overconfident, and even somewhat petty. However, over time, viewers learn that he is also warm, loyal, and good-natured.
Spencer arguably gets the most development out of all the season 6 students. In only ten episodes, he goes from presumed bully to charming crooner, thanks to his friendship with Roderick and relationship with Alistair.
Coach Roz Washington
RHoA star Nene Leakes makes her debut in the season 3 episode "Yes/No." She plays Roz Washington, the coach of the Synchronized Swimming team, who won a Bronze Medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the fictional category of Individual Synchronized Swimming.
Much like Sue, Roz is brash and insulting, delivering entire monologues that rank as some of Glee's most shockingly hilarious. However, it is clear that she does care about her job and wants what is best for the students.
Sam Evans
Sam debuts in the first episode of season 2, "Audition." He is a transfer student who immediately catches the New Directions' eye. He eventually joins in "Duets" and soon enters a relationship with Quinn Fabray. However, his relationship with Mercedes Jones is by far the most meaningful.
Sam becomes one of the show's leading figures starting in season 4. Although there was a slight character regression in terms of his intelligence, Sam is still one of the best-developed characters on the show, remaining as sweet and supportive as ever throughout his tenure on the show.
Blaine Anderson
Like Sam, Blaine is a season 2 arrival that would become a crucial character by season 4. He is a student at Dalton Academy and the leader of its acapella Glee Club, The Warblers. He soon transfers to McKinley High at the start of season 3 and stays there for the rest of his high school years.
Blaine's relationship with Kurt is integral to his characterization. Indeed, most of his storylines revolve around the two as a pair, to each character's slight detriment. However, in the solo storylines Blaine gets, viewers do get to see what a kind and caring person he is, always running to his friends' aid when need be. Also thanks to Darren Criss's charming performance, the character remains consistently popular to this day.
Unique Adams
Unique makes her grand debut in the season 3 episode "Saturday Night Glee-ver," bringing the house down with an energetic rendition of "Boogie Shoes." She transfers to McKinley at the start of season 4 and becomes a full-on member of New Directions.
Thanks to her confidence and undeniable talent, Unique quickly carves her place among Glee's cast. Although she was targeted by bullies frequently, Unique refused to let them destroy her confidence or her friends, and would stand up for what she believed in. Fans will also agree that her friendship with Marley was a highlight of the show, and were quite sad that it didn't last after they transferred schools.
Coach Sheldon Beiste
Coach Beiste arrives at McKinley in the season 2 premiere and instantly becomes a threat for Will and Sue. However, all three end up becoming close friends, but Sue does make things hard for Beiste more than once.
Thanks to Dot-Marie Jones' exceptional performance, Sheldon never comes across as a one-dimensional character. Unlike most of the teachers on the show, Sheldon was seen to become a great role model for the students.
He managed to turn the football team around and inspired the students to play better; he would always be on hand to chaperone and help the Glee kids, and helped some of the teachers see the errors of their ways. Sheldon is one of the show's most compelling and best additions to the original cast.