The news that Glee is returning to streaming this month has fans fondly looking back on the iconic musical series. While there are many shows today with greater, more diverse, and accurate depictions, Glee still holds a special place when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation in the early 2000-2010s era. Although many elements of the series have aged questionably, there is no doubt as to how groundbreaking the show was for its time.

From showcasing the struggles of LGBTQ+ minorities to incorporating real-life tragedies, the show attempted to highlight many real-life issues and advocate for more diversity and inclusion. This is part of why Gleeks everywhere still choose to keep Glee's essence alive through the everlasting internet format of memes.

Peak Friendship

Glee had more than its fair share of messy friendships. From stealing each other's partners to snubbing one another over performances, William McKinley High was rampant with toxicity and backstabbing amongst friends.

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However, among these many muddled relationships, there was one wholesome friendship that won the hearts of viewers: Sue and Becky, as noted by Reddit user notsofakeparatha. Even with their misconceptions and tiffs, Sue and Becky were always friendship goals and stuck with one another, right until the end.

Singing = Coping

The Glee club kids are notorious for their adept ability to find absolutely any song to suit their circumstances. Even if it meant leading to some of the show's most cringeworthy parts.

Whether it be a bad breakup, failed audition, or even the hospitalization of a loved one, the Glee club didn't really deal with their feelings - they sang them instead. This unrealistic tendency is portrayed hilariously in this meme shared on Reddit.

Playing Favourites

The Glee characters were not perfect; in fact, many of them made some of the worst decisions throughout the series. However, they mostly got away with all of their misdemeanors, simply because they were favorites of some teachers.

This not only refers to Will Schuester and his biases but also to people like Sue Sylvester, as depicted in this meme shared by @blondgarfield. Just as Rachel Berry got away with many things, so did cheer captain Quinn Fabray, and almost every member of the main group.

Sam x Every Glee Girl

While the Glee characters dated one another in countless combinations, the one character who was paired with practically every possible love interest was Sam Evans.

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Sam was coupled with all of the Glee club's original female members at one point or another, and fans had to question whether this was to prove his easy compatibility, or if it was just a writing flaw, as suggested by this meme shared on Reddit.

William, My Hands Are Tied

Despite being subject to things like unfair treatment and bullying by students and teachers alike, the Glee kids are never given the support and protection they need, often having to fend for themselves.

This is especially true whenever they try and seek help from Principal Figgins. On almost every occasion, Figgins tells William or the Glee kid(s) that his hands are tied in one way or another, perfectly encapsulated in this hilarious meme by Redditor gaybrahamwinkin.

Season 1-3 > Season 4-6

Glee went on for six seasons, however many fans think it should have ended with the season three finale. With most of the Glee club having graduated and Rachel left with the infinite possibilities of New York, it would have been the perfect, hopeful conclusion to the series.

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However, the series carried on for another two and a half seasons which never quite compared to the first half of the show. As captured in this Reddit meme, Glee's progression sadly resulted in a downgrade of quality and content.

Sue's Passionate Contempt

One of Glee's signature elements was Sue Sylvester. Despite her terrible and downright inappropriate treatment of the Glee kids, she became a fan favorite with her merciless one-liners and hilarious comments.

While Sue does have some redeeming factors and was actually the hero many times within the show, her ruthless attitude and melodramatic nature are what iconized her character, such as this instance shared by @tvshowquote1.

Journey Songs

Glee's most renowned cover is undoubtedly that of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'," a song that became even more famous for being featured in the series. The song debuted in the pilot and was later performed a few times throughout the series.

However, after that Will has the kids try Journey songs quite a few times, something that is brought up both within the show by the protesting students, and outside of it in the form of memes such as this one.

The Wild Plots

It's no secret that Glee could be a bit over the top, going off the rails many times. But this was part of its charm, something so defining of the show that it was even poked fun of in The Office's "Viewing Party."

From Sue's borrowing Saw tactics to bring Klaine back together to Finn's Grilled Cheesus, the show thrived on its depiction of outlandish storylines. As noted by @digitalspy, one of its such peaks was the wild season 1 finale.

Minority Inclusion

Despite the many ways in which Glee has not aged well, it's undeniable that the show brought forth representation for certain minority groups at a time when other popular shows had yet failed to do so, as shown by Redditor nonsensical-stan.

At its heart, Glee was meant to be both about and for those looking to be seen and heard by the world in a way they were previously denied. Although it may not be at its prime, the show still succeeds in reminding people that absolutely everyone deserves to find belonging and be a part of something special.

NEXT: 10 LGBTQ+ TV Shows To Look Forward To In 2022