Many people have spent their fair share of time browsing streaming services, looking for that one TV show that will hook them from the beginning. Most shows these days do not have a variety of cultures and lack basic diversity, but in early 2009, Fox aired the first episode of a phenomenon: Glee.
Glee follows high school teacher Will Schuester as he attempts to revive the championship-winning Glee Club in modern-day McKinley High School. As he tries to recruit students, he quickly learns that the Glee Club no longer holds the same status as it used to, resulting in many talented singers not wanting to join. Fortunately, Schuester has many tricks up his sleeve—that may or may not be ethical—to persuade the students to audition. From afar, Glee may seem like a cliche TV show with people bursting into song during class and breakdancing on top of lunch tables, but it has much more substance and meaning than what meets the eye. Mr. Shue and his students could not be any more different from each other; they all range from different skin colors, shapes, sizes, likes & dislikes, social status, and sexualities.
Sexuality became a bigger part of the show as Santana Lopez, portrayed by late actress Naya Rivera, came into play during season two. She had been depicted as the mean girl who loved making fun of people with her iconic rants. Fans soon learned that Lopez had been having trouble with her sexuality, leading her to focus on other people's problems instead of her own. As she struggled to accept herself, Lopez showed vulnerability, growth, and character development through all six seasons, inspiring fans to evolve with her. Her character faced the challenges and problems of being an openly lesbian girl in high school, which many people around the globe can relate to. Naya Rivera wrote in her autobiography, Sorry Not Sorry, that, “the show's acceptance of types of characters who lived all types of lifestyles made kids in real life more accepted. . . I think Glee was the first show that made it possible for them to turn on the TV and see someone who looked like them or were dealing with the same kinds of issues they were dealing with.”
The range of races included in the show becomes a main issue and hardship certain students have to go through. For example, in season four, Gleeks get introduced to Jake Puckerman, who had a lot of trouble fitting in because he identifies as being both Black and Jewish. He explains by saying, the public views him as either “too black” to hang with the Jewish kids, and “too Jewish” to hang with the Black kids.
Glee should be recognized not only for its outstanding musical mashups, but for relatable characters and realistic challenges high schoolers have to face every day. Before people say they do not want to watch a show with no substance, they should remember that while dealing with hard topics, a little comedy can be imperative to keeping the mood fun and light.
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