My Top 10 Episodes of Glee

Glee was one of the most influential pieces of television when it first debuted in 2009 to wide critical acclaim. The high school melodrama combined with a rag-tag, diverse group of unpopular teenagers coming together to sing in a glee club was something so new at the time. Although the quality certainly dipped in later seasons, Glee more than staked its spot in television history. 

So let’s count my top 10 episodes of Glee and my favorite musical moment from each one. Here’s what you missed on GLEE!

Honorable Mentions

15. 100 (Season 5, Episode 12)
14. The Substitute (Season 2, Episode 7)
13. Mash Off (Season 3, Episode 6)
12. Sectionals (Season 1, Episode 13)
11. Original Song (Season 2, Episode 16)

10. Dreams Come True (Season 6, Episode 13)

The New Directions in their final performance of One Republic’s “I Lived” in the series finale Dreams Come True (Photo Courtesy of Fox)

The series finale of Glee, while not the best episode of the series, more than earns its spot in the top 10 simply wrapping up so many convoluted plot lines in the most coherent way possible. It’s hard not to get emotional during the musical moments knowing this is the last time these characters will grace the screen. 

Rachel becomes a Broadway star and finally wins a Tony, all which married to Jesse St. James and carrying Kurt and Blaine’s baby. Will becomes principal of McKinley High, which is now an arts-focused school. Sam is coach of the New Directions. Mercedes goes on tour to open for Beyonce! All-in-all, it’s exactly where audiences wanted to see the characters end up and hits home one of the show’s main premises: if you try your best and do what you love, as the title of the episode states, dreams come true.

Standout Musical Moment: “This Time” by Lea Michele’s Rachel, but the final group performance of One Republic’s “I Lived” was a very close second.

9. New York (Season 2, Episode 22)

The New Directions perform in Central Park in the second season episode “New York” (Photo Courtesy of Fox)

In the finale of Glee’s second season, the New Directions head to New York to compete in their first national show choir competition. While there, Rachel and Kurt decide New York is where they will head to make their dreams come true after college, Finn and Rachel reconnect as lovers and Brittany performs her perfect original song, “My Cup.”

There’s a lot to like about Glee’s second season as a whole, particularly some of the best episodes in the entire series run. The finale feels like the perfect conclusion to that and does an excellent job at jettisoning our characters off into the third season, which would be most the New Directions’ senior year. Not to mention, the on-location shoot in New York gives the episode a sense or realism.

Standout Musical Moment: Lea Michele’s Rachel and Chris Colfer’s Kurt singing a cover of “For Good” from the Broadway musical Wicked.

8. The Sue Sylvester Shuffle (Season 2, Episode 11)

The New Directions and the McKinley High football team perform in the second season episode “The Sue Sylvester Shuffle” (Photo Courtesy of Fox)

In the middle of Glee’s second season, “The Sue Sylvester Shuffle” premiered right after Super Bowl XLV. It was reportedly the most expensive post-Super Bowl show in history, the highest rated scripted TV series in three years and featured one of the best performances in the show’s history.  Although not the best the series had to offer, it introduced several fans (including myself) to the series.

The episode sees the McKinley High football team join forces with the New Directions for a show-stopping number at the half-time show of the team’s tournament game. After one-and-a-half seasons of bullying at the hands of the team, which resulted in Kurt transferring schools a few episodes prior, there’s anger on both sides, but ultimately the two groups come together to put on one hell of a show.

Standout Musical Moment: Obviously the amazing mash-up of “Thriller/Heads Will Roll” by Michael Jackson and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, with the football players serving as backing vocalists and dancers.

7. The Break Up (Season 4, Episode 4)

All the main couples on Glee perform Coldplay’s “The Scientist” in the season four episode “The Break Up” (Photo Courtesy of Fox)

It’s fairly common knowledge that after Glee’s third season, which many view as the show’s true finale, that the quality dropped drastically. Once most of the characters left McKinley High, the show just wasn’t the same, even the most die-hard Gleeks can agree with that. But one of the biggest exceptions to that is the Season Four episode “The Break Up.” 

The episode sees several couples, particularly Finchel (Rachel and Finn) and Klaine (Kurt and Blaine) reach their respective breaking points in their long-distance relationships after Rachel and Kurt both departed to New York. The result is some heart-breaking performances including a piano cover of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” by Blaine and a group performance of Coldplay’s “The Scientist” that was an unexpected surprise. With one exception, it’s arguable that this is the truly the last great episode of the series run.

Standout Musical Moment: Darren Criss’ Blaine singing a stripped down version of “Teenage Dream” is a painful thing to watch, but Criss sings it so beautifully.

6. Britney/Brittany (Season 2, Episode 2)

Brittany S. Pierce (Heather Morris) performs “I’m a Slave 4 U” during of her Britney Spears hallucinations in the season two episode “Britney/Brittany” (Photo Courtesy of Fox)

As a child of the ‘90s and a huge Britney Spears fan, there are few of Glee’s tribute episodes that tickle me as much as season two’s “Britney/Brittany.” After a trip to the dentist (guest star John Stamos), Brittany begins hallucinating herself as the Princess of Pop, Britney Spears. Santana, Artie and Rachel follow suit, each hallucinating their own versions of Spears’ iconic videography.

Along with satisfying covers of “I’m a Slave 4 U” and “Baby One More Time,” there’s also a guest appearance by Spears herself in a few of the New Directions’ laughing gas hallucinations. This episode is just pure fun. It’s ridiculous, over-the-top and everything good about Glee. It was so good, in fact, that season four attempted to repeat the episode’s success with the episode “Britney 2.0.”

Standout Musical Moment: The acoustic version of “Toxic” being performed in front of the entire school by the New Directions and Mr. Schuester (despite how wildly inappropriate that would be for a teacher in real life).

5. Grilled Cheesus (Season 2, Episode 3)

Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer) sings The Beatles’ “I Want to Hold Your Hand” for his ailing father in the season two episode “Grilled Cheesus” (Photo Courtesy of Fox)

Glee’s second season is just full of so many memorable episodes, but the most heartbreaking of the season by far is “Grilled Cheesus.” In this episode, we see members of the New Directions tackle religion after Kurt’s father suffers a heart attack and falls into a coma. As Kurt, a devout atheist, struggles with his faith, the New Directions try through various means to support their friend and teammate.

I’ll just say it now, Kurt’s father, Burt Hummel played to perfection by Mike O’Malley, is one of the absolute best characters of the series. Because of that, and the incredible coming out storyline done between the two throughout the show’s first season, this episode is devastating to watch, not knowing the outcome. Religion is a touchy topic, and having the series tackle it in a high school setting through song was something very unique that ultimately worked in the show’s favor. 

Standout Musical Moment: Chris Colfer’s Kurt singing “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles for his father is one of the most tear-jerking moments of the show.

4. Journey to Regionals (Season 1, Episode 22)

The New Directions perform in their first regionals competition in the season one finale “Journey to Regionals” (Photo Courtesy of Fox)

The finale of season one is, to many, the best episode of Glee. As the New Directions prepare for their first regionals competition against Vocal Adrenaline, led by Jesse St. James, Quinn gives birth to her baby, Finn and Rachel reunite and Mr. Schuester confesses his love to Mrs. Pillsbury. It gives us some of the show’s highest highs.

The New Directions perform an amazing Journey medley of songs, which include “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Faithfully” and the mash-up “Any Way You Want It / Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’.” But it’s Vocal Adrenaline’s performance of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” that really steals the show. No matter how unlikely Jesse was at this point, it’s hard not to be impressed by his vocal talent and ability in one of the series’ all-time greatest performances.

Standout Musical Moment: Obviously Jonathan Groff’s Jesse St. James singing Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” to Quinn giving birth is one of Glee’s most iconic moments, and Groff totally crushes the vocals here.

3. Goodbye (Season 3, Episode 22)

Finn (Cory Monteith) and Rachel (Lea Michele) say goodbye as she boards a train bound for New York City in the season three finale “Goodbye” (Photo Courtesy of Fox)

The third season finale is one many consider to be the true ending of Glee. It sends all of the graduating characters out in the best way possible, off to their uncertain futures after high school. We see huge ups and downs from Kurt not getting into NYADA to Quinn and Puck temporarily reuniting to Rachel leaving for New York at the end of the episode after Finn ends their relationship. 

It’s a rollercoaster. In the midst of it all, many of the students are graduating and saying goodbye to friends, teachers and to their show choir that has been with them for the last three years. It’s a difficult watch and arguably a better end of the series than what fans received three seasons later. “Goodbye” is the perfect way to close this chapter of the series and gives us one of Glee’s best episodes of all time.

Standout Musical Moment: Lea Michele’s Rachel singing “Roots Before Branches” as Finn drops her off at the train station for New York is the most perfect way to end this era of the series.

2. The Quarterback (Season 5, Episode 3)

The cast of Glee performs “Seasons of Love” from Rent as the opening number to pay tribute to late actor Cory Monteith in the season five episode “The Quarterback” (Photo Courtesy of Fox)

As most people are aware of, Cory Monteith passed away from a drug overdose in the summer between Glee’s fourth and fifth seasons. The news was devastating to Glee’s fans, cast and crew and Monteith’s real-life girlfriend, Lea Michele, who portrayed star Rachel Berry on the show. In the third episode of season five, the series decided to pay tribute to Monteith with an episode titled “The Quarterback” that somehow feels both like the best episode of the series but also not an episode at all.

That’s because it’s not really. It’s a send-off to both Monteith and the fictional character of Finn by both the characters within the show and the actors portraying those characters. The emotions on display here are real and painful. The episode opens with New Directions, new and old, singing “Seasons of Love” from the Broadway classic Rent. Finn’s mom breaking down while going through his bedroom is one of the saddest scenes of television history. Santana breaking down mid-song and letting her anger out on Sue Sylvester is such a relatable reaction. But it’s Rachel’s closing number that will send any viewer, casual or die-hard, into a complete mess. This one is a hard watch, but it’s worth it.

Standout Musical Moment: “Make You Feel My Love” by Lea Michele’s Rachel. It’s a beautiful way for both the character and Lea herself to say goodbye to Finn and Cory Monteith. Anyone who doesn’t shed a tear here is likely soulless.

1. Pilot (Season 1, Episode 1)

The original New Directions perform their first group number of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” in the pilot episode “Pilot” (Photo Courtesy of Fox)

Glee really kicked things off with a bang during the pilot episode. It sets the stage perfectly for everything to come over the course of the next six seasons from Will’s dissatisfaction with his job to Rachel’s undying need for the spotlight. Everything you need to know about Glee’s run can be found right from the beginning.

The unperfected auditions of the original six New Directions members are both moving and hilarious (Tina’s “I Kissed a Girl” cracks me up every time). But it’s seeing these six high school students from all different walks of life come together in the end to perform “Don’t Stop Believin’” that arguably gave the series everything it needed moving forward. It’s touching and moving and one of the best television episodes of all time. Period.

Standout Musical Moment: The New Directions covering Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Very obvious and very self-explanatory.

Created: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk & Ian Brennan
Starring: Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch & Chris Colfer
Release Date: May 19, 2009 – March 20, 2015
Check the Rotten Tomatoes Score