Glee has been over for almost six years, yet fans still talk about it. Whether it's because of its timeless covers, zany characters or the many unfortunate scandals of its surprisingly problematic cast, the show seems more alive than ever.
It was never a perfect series, quite the opposite, actually. Even during its original run, Glee's many flaws were often pointed out, dissected and criticized, especially during its first three seasons. The series had some definite highs, but it also sank to some very deep lows, some of which it never recovered from. And even its most adoring fans can admit that there are some things about this musical series that aren't quite right.
Inappropriate Teenage Behavior
Most teenage shows include situations that might make audiences slightly uncomfortable. From teen sex to drugs or even abuse, Glee is neither the first nor the last show to have its teenage characters doing questionable things.
Among the most egregious examples, there's Puck having an affair with Shelby and his numerous jokes about hooking up with underage girls, Sam making out with the school nurse, Brittany posting a sex video of her and Santana, the New Direction boys making light of Ryder's molestation, Artie being a sexist creep with pretty much all his girlfriends, Santana undergoing breast augmentation at 16, and several other examples.
Inconsistency Between Seasons
Even before his introduction in season two's "Never Been Kissed," it was stated that Blaine is one year older than Kurt, and would act as a mentor figure. By season three, however, Blaine is made one year younger, so that he can stay in McKinley once everyone else graduates.
Similarly, there are numerous situations where the show dismisses or straight-up retcons things from earlier seasons. From Rachel's dads and Sam's intellect to students literally disappearing from entire episodes only to return during show choir competitions, the show lost any ability to keep a logical chronology of events somewhere around season three.
Is This An After School Special?
During its early season, Glee tackled delicate subjects without being too preachy about them. However, starting in season four, it seemed as though the writers became desperate to include "deep" issues into every other episode, and the show became less a musical comedy and more a lazy after school special.
Among the plots that the show included and didn't handle properly are Quinn's accident, Marley's eating disorder, Sue's motherhood, the racism that several characters endured, the school shooting that came out of nowhere, and pretty much everything concerning Ryder, from his dyslexia to the whole catfish situation.
Underdeveloped Characters
Pretty much all the kids introduced in season four fit into this category. Many fans felt that they are not fully-fledged, three-dimensional characters, but rather ideas that the writers never truly developed. Besides being shy and having an eating disorder, Marley's never given any real role. Jake is just another Puck, and even when he actually shows some growth, the writers strip him of it when a new conflict was necessary.
The show's guest stars also got the short end of the stick. Kate Hudson's Cassandra July was just mean towards Rachel until she wasn't because it turns out she was always secretly a fan of her talent. Sarah Jessica Parker's Isabel was just there to make things happen for Kurt and Carol Burnett was just a bad mom for Sue. These actors deserve better.
Making Fun Of Britney Spears' Breakdown
Glee was famous for its tribute episodes. After Madonna lent the rights to her entire music catalog, it seemed every artist wanted to get the Glee treatment. Britney Spears got her own tribute episode in season two, and while there was another episode devoted to her music, it can't be considered a tribute.
The show literally makes fun of Spears' 2007 breakdown by having the character of Brittany re-enact scenes from the singer's darkest period. Brittany lip-syncs on stage, attacks school reporter Jacob Ben Israel with an umbrella, and suffers a mental breakdown that culminates in her confessing that she staged the whole thing to have a more effective comeback. The episode mocks Spears' struggles and it ranks as one of the lowest things the show ever did.
Problematic Adults
Audiences have caught on to how immature and borderline creepy the character of Will Schuester is, but he is hardly the only adult to behave uncomfortably.
Principal Figgins refers to Unique as "an attractive, buxom young woman who's got it going on in all the right places." Both April and Shelby indulge in sexual relationships with teenagers. Coach Roz Washington is verbally abusive to both the swim team and The Cheerios. Sandy Ryerson is a nasty predator who behaves horribly in front of teenagers. And Sue is, well, Sue. The fact that the show actually tries to make all these situations seem funny makes them even worse.
Nonsensical Storylines
Even when the show tried to follow up on their premises, it often failed spectacularly. Rachel, for example, worked for five seasons to make it to Broadway, constantly going on about how it was her dream and she'd do anything to get it. When she finally does, she gets bored almost immediately and quits to go shoot a pilot in L.A.
Brittany is turned into a mathematical genius, although the show clearly treats this as a joke. Finn believes he got Quinn pregnant just by rubbing against her in a hot tub, Teri manages to trick Will into believing she's pregnant for 13 entire episodes, and Blaine gets high on gas and starts talking to puppets. The stories are too many to recite, and they all have one thing in common: they make no sense, even by Glee's standards.
Unrealistic Musical Numbers
In the early days, the show tried to give a valid explanation for all its musical numbers. After a while, it simply gave up, and as the performances got increasingly elaborate, all logic was abandoned. The New Directions perform one too many numbers in the empty auditorium, with no one but Will as the audience, and scenery that looks straight out of a Broadway production.
The performances outside the choir room also lose all sense when there's a band in every location, ready to play the exact same song the characters are about to sing. The numbers remain very entertaining, but many fans felt that the credibility of the show falls apart after season three.
Toxic Relationships Everywhere
While they have many stans, the two main relationships of the show are fairly problematic. Rachel and Finn have a chaotic dynamic from the start. They have wildly different dreams, and most likely would have broken up in order to achieve them. The original ending had them reunite after years apart, which honestly makes a lot of sense.
Kurt and Blaine are much worse. They not only don't really respect each other, they constantly fight because of how incompatible they are. Blaine is all about grand gestures and emotions, while Kurt is much more composed. Blaine is too emotional for Kurt, and this is proven over and over. The fact they break up twice, including once as fiancés, is proof enough their marriage will probably end in divorce.
It Preached Inclusivity, But Its Humor Was At The Expense Of Minorities
For a show that is supposed to be about inclusivity and acceptance, the main characters sure make a lot of terrible jokes. Santana compares Lauren to "the endangered white rhino." She constantly makes fun of Finn's weight, calls Mercedes "Wheezy," makes fun of Rachel's nose, Sam's lips and Tina's eyes, and goes on a three-minute rant where she makes fun of Kurt in every possible way.
Pretty much everything that comes out of Sue's mouth is a racial, homophobic or sexist slur. She calls Kurt and Blaine "blouses," makes fun of Brittany's intellect, calls Matt "Shaft" and Santana "Sandbags," and is overall an awful person. At one point or another, all the characters behave in racist or homophobic ways, proving how, at the end of the day, and when it comes to open-mindedness and inclusivity, Glee can be all talk and no action.