Glee | Teen Ink

Glee MAG

June 6, 2009
By gcatherinev BRONZE, UEP Subang Jaya, Other
gcatherinev BRONZE, UEP Subang Jaya, Other
3 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Can we have a round of applause for a realistic show about high school? Thank you.

“Glee,” a new series on FOX, is about students trying to find their niche. And they do – in the Glee Club. Their principal is looking for any excuse to cancel the club (since the last director was fond of flirting with members). Enter Will, the (cute) Spanish teacher and a former Glee Club member himself, who takes over to help the club regain its former glory. But there's a tough road ahead.

With a talented cast – featuring Lea Michele from “Spring Awakening” and Matthew Morrison from “Hairspray” – “Glee” is the most realistic portrayal of high school students on television.

I am gleeful to see this show break stereotypes and inject honesty into its writing. Unlike with Blair Waldorf or Naomi Clark, I can relate to these characters (they don't walk around dropping brand names). They are searching for who they are because they don't fall into trite social categories like jocks, cheerleaders, etc. And what a relief to find a student in a wheelchair (Arty) outside of a Hallmark made-for-TV movie. I feel warmth after watching “Glee,” compared with my desperate urge to buy hairbands after watching “Gossip Girl.”

I'm not a fan of “High School Musical,” yet I enjoy the singing and dancing in “Glee.” Unlike “HSM,” which was directed at preteens, these characters have depth. Rachel is a talented girl who wants to be accepted by her peers and to be special, and Finn is a jock who plays football and endures his teammates' teasing because he enjoys singing. “High School Musical” – cheesiness + real life – unrealistic plans to save the day = “Glee.”

Sure, “Glee” contains some clichés – Rachel is going to fall for Finn – but in spite of this, I think the show will inspire teenagers, and even teachers who have lost the love for what they do. Why? It's honest. It is not extravagant or pure fairy tale.

It's real.


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This article has 119 comments.


on Nov. 27 2011 at 11:18 pm
savetheplanet PLATINUM, Anaheim, California
45 articles 9 photos 564 comments

Favorite Quote:
It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

Gleek here!  Yes thank you for the wonderful review <3

RestingEgg said...
on Nov. 27 2011 at 9:54 pm
I am a Glee fan, but I do not think it is the most realistic portrayal of teenagers. Although it is very entertaining, the melodramatic humour takes away from the serious issues they portray. Yes, the singing and dancing is great, and they do manage not to fall into the catergory of "a cheesy sing-along" (highschool musical), and it has it's moments (actually a lot of moments) where you can sympathize with the characters, but it does not shatter highschool stereotypes, if anything the characters just play into them more. Also, Arty isn't the first student in a wheelchair. (Anyone remember Drake back when he was on Degrassi?) I love Glee and it is an inspiring show, but I do find it a little overrated.

on Nov. 27 2011 at 7:32 pm
Akane-Ree BRONZE, New City, New York
1 article 0 photos 55 comments

Favorite Quote:
\"She\'s got it out for me BUT I WEAR THE BIGGEST SMILE"

I love glee and watch it as if it were my religeon. But honestly, it's very unrealistic-- they have their realistic, bright moments, but honestly: sue sylvester getting a bajillion dollars of funding for her cheerios? I was watching it in the car on a six hour trip from vermont, season two's born this way episode-- i doubt anyone's going to become that obsessed with winning prom queen. or with, say, the quinn-finn-rachel love triangle? Make up your minds, people. -___- but i do actually like glee, though i can't say i've been loving the new season....

Meredith15 said...
on Nov. 26 2011 at 8:57 pm
Meredith15, Cypress, Texas
0 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
"You must be the change you want to see in the world."
-Mahatma Gandhi

i watch the show..well written

on Nov. 8 2011 at 3:04 pm
selahoverrated GOLD, Mt Sidney, Virginia
11 articles 0 photos 43 comments
i truthfully have never watched an episode but this was a gerat review, it made me think i knew just alittle bit more about than usual

TaurusGal GOLD said...
on Nov. 5 2011 at 12:36 pm
TaurusGal GOLD, Hong Kong, Other
13 articles 25 photos 107 comments
well written...!

iLuv:^) said...
on Oct. 27 2011 at 1:34 pm
Why do you like the show? I feel like you've only repeated yoursef. But I agree that it's a great show X)

on Oct. 20 2011 at 12:51 pm
NiklausMikaelson1864 SILVER, Southwest Harbor, Maine
5 articles 0 photos 46 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Please note that I am saying this as I twirl my metaphorical mustache." ~Talon McCallister

I am so impressed that somebody is writing about this show. So many of my friends hate it, but I think it is awesome.

Blaine and Kurt Forever<3


on Oct. 14 2011 at 8:30 am
rainbowgirl BRONZE, Ijamsville, Maryland
2 articles 3 photos 50 comments

Favorite Quote:
My work has been modified to fit your brains. :)

I love glee, good job on this post!

M-star BRONZE said...
on Aug. 31 2011 at 11:23 am
M-star BRONZE, Kalamazoo, Michigan
4 articles 3 photos 39 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Won't you come into the garden? I would like my roses to see you."- Richard Brinsley Sheridan

This is a great review. I know so many Gleeks. In my opinion, I think Glee is pretty good.

on Aug. 17 2011 at 7:47 pm
sOmE_nIgHtS SILVER, Wayne, Pennsylvania
5 articles 0 photos 39 comments

Favorite Quote:
Yes it's hard to write, but it's harder not to.

Okay, I personally am not a Gleek. I saw one episode and I was done. However, this review was very inspiring and made me want to watch it. Nice job!

I do have to start watching it. My whole school, teachers included is obsessed. I actually had a war with my one teacher about it :) But again, nice job on the piece :)


on Aug. 17 2011 at 11:28 am
Willflower.-.-. BRONZE, Yuma, Arizona
2 articles 0 photos 72 comments

Favorite Quote:
This is us. This is who we are. We demand attention.

September 6, 2011. 8/7c on FOX

on Aug. 11 2011 at 8:41 pm
JezzaRae BRONZE, Atglen, Pennsylvania
3 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Guided by the Lonely Star,
Byond the utmost harbor-bar,
I'll find the heavens fair and free,
and beaches of the Starlit Sea."
- J.R.R Tolkien

Finally! Someone who gets Glee like I do. I try to explain my feelings for Glee and yet no one wants to listen. Everyone just thinks it's a High School Musical remake - and yet it is so far from it. Thank you!

on Aug. 9 2011 at 4:31 pm
BrightBurningCampeador PLATINUM, Portland, Oregon
42 articles 11 photos 333 comments
I don't mean to offend the author of this article. It's a well written peice.

on Aug. 9 2011 at 4:30 pm
BrightBurningCampeador PLATINUM, Portland, Oregon
42 articles 11 photos 333 comments
I started out reading this article thinking glee sounds really dumb and came away with the same feeling.

on Aug. 9 2011 at 12:09 pm
TheNovaClytie PLATINUM, Woodhaven, Michigan
30 articles 0 photos 63 comments

Favorite Quote:
If I could run away from my problems, I'd probably get lost, and then new problems would find me.
~Shelby Seeley

Wonderful article. I love Glee. But my favorite part of the show is that it has people from other cliches all come together like human beings. And i don't feel all 'wow, that girl was pretty *pats on extra concealer in the morning*' after i watch it. We need more shows like that. 

Mariam.J GOLD said...
on Jul. 18 2011 at 8:51 am
Mariam.J GOLD, Dubai, Other
16 articles 0 photos 72 comments

Favorite Quote:
I don't have many favourite quotes , though I do love the truth that 'change is constant .'
For you , a thousand times over - Hassan , The Kite Runner
If you want to leave footprints in the sands of time , don't drag your feet - Rudyard Kipling

I actually kinda like this show.

I don't come from America, but watching alot of 'American' movies, there seem to be alot of social cliques in high school.

But, I find Glee refreshing. True, Lea Michelle's character can get to you, but all in all, it's a pretty good show and their covers are AMAZING.

Nice article, btw ( :


on Jul. 7 2011 at 11:10 am
Wildflower30 SILVER, Kolkata, Other
8 articles 0 photos 88 comments

Favorite Quote:
Create your own sayings, for only then do they make sense most. ---- Me

"Glee" is like the definition of AMAZING! The songs... I mean, they've got EVERYTHING in there! Rock, pop, classics, musicals, dance...! You can really, really connect to it. It might seem cliched, but isn't that how life is?
:)
Nicely written article!

on Jun. 26 2011 at 2:57 pm
introducingshelby GOLD, San Diego, California
15 articles 1 photo 139 comments

Favorite Quote:
"People change so you can learn to let go, things go wrong so you can appreciate them when they go right, and things fall apart so better things can fall together."
-Marilyn Monroe

I agree... I am a fan of the show (but the Sue character gets old). However, although the characters can be a bit predictable, this is a show about losers. Really. They are nobody's who try to get to the top, but in reality, I think they'll just fall back down to the bottom. Or else they wouldn't be the New Directitions.

austenite GOLD said...
on Jun. 26 2011 at 2:46 pm
austenite GOLD, River Falls, Wisconsin
13 articles 0 photos 177 comments

Favorite Quote:
...one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love....I love...I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on. -Mr. Darcy

I agree with you - Glee is pretty much the bomb diggity. But, with four years of high school behind me, I'd have to say that sometimes the show is pretty faithful to what high school can be like.  There's a lot more sleeping around and that kind of stuff than you'd think! But I do think it's a fantastic show :)