journey glee episode

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• User reviews

Journey to Regionals

• Episode aired Jun 8, 2010

When Regionals finally arrive, Sue pulls a fast one on the Glee Club, and their chances at the title could be compromised. When Regionals finally arrive, Sue pulls a fast one on the Glee Club, and their chances at the title could be compromised. When Regionals finally arrive, Sue pulls a fast one on the Glee Club, and their chances at the title could be compromised.

• Brad Falchuk
• Ryan Murphy
• Ian Brennan
• Dianna Agron
• Chris Colfer
• Jessalyn Gilsig
• 7 User reviews
• 5 Critic reviews

• Quinn Fabray

• Kurt Hummel

• Terri Schuester
• (credit only)

• Sue Sylvester

• Emma Pillsbury

• Artie Abrams

• Rachel Berry

• Finn Hudson

• Will Schuester

• Mercedes Jones
• See all cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Did you know

• Trivia The actor who plays Warbler Trent walks down the stairs around Finn when Finn stops Rachel with "Hey, we need to talk."
• Goofs During the season's finale, while Sue Sylvester is introduced as a judge, she is said to have won 5 National Cheerleading competitions. However, on the previous one, "Funk", she is shown winning her 6th national title.

Quinn's Mother : I left your father. Well, I kicked him out. Turns out he was sleeping with this tattooed tramp. I want you to come home, honey. We can turn the guest room into a nursery... say something, Quinnie.

Quinn Fabray : My water just broke.

• Connections Featured in MsMojo: Top 10 BEST Glee Episodes (2018)
• Soundtracks Faithfully (uncredited) Written by Jonathan Cain Performed by Lea Michele , Cory Monteith and Glee Cast

User reviews 7

• Jun 9, 2010
• June 8, 2010 (United States)
• United States
• Official Facebook
• Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA (Studio)
• Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision
• Ryan Murphy Productions
• 20th Century Fox Television
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour

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Glee season finale recap: Journey to the Center of the Birth

No one stops believin' as New Directions finally heads to Regionals

Darren is a TV Critic. Follow him on Twitter @DarrenFranich for opinions and recommendations.

I’ve been trying to collect my feelings on the first season of Glee . It’s difficult. For one thing, the experience has been spread out over the course of a year. There was awe-inspiring debut back in May 2009. Then the unsteady episodes in early fall — forget all the fake pregnancies, remember ”Acafellas”? But the show found its footing, and turned into a cross-platform phenomenon. ”Sectionals” was just about perfect… right in time for a months-long hiatus.

The back nine episodes have been a mixed bag. That’s to be expected. Glee was the out-of-nowhere underdog when it debuted. A cast of unknowns, most of them shockingly normal-looking? And in a musical drama, a genre that hasn’t been successful since, lemme think, NEVER ONCE IN TV HISTORY? There’s bound to be whiplash when a show like that turns into a phenomenon. Look no further than the first words of the ”Previously On” narration on last night’s season finale: ”I dunno anyone who’d miss an episode of Glee .” Very cheeky, ”Previously On” Narrator. Hubris alert! Icarus: meet the Sun.

Don’t get me wrong. The back half had great episodes, and some of the show’s best performances. I could watch Rachel’s ”Run, Joey, Run” video a million times and never get tired of it. Of course, not everybody liked ”Run, Joey, Run,” and not everybody (myself included) liked the Madonna episode. Glee is practically designed to be as a mixed bag, when you consider how it tries to reflect something like the entire sweep of pop music history, from Judy Garland to Barbra Streisand to Madonna to Lady Gaga. Tell me how many times you’ve experienced this watching Glee : the kids start singing a song that you don’t recognize, but someone you’re watching it with says, ”Oh, I love this song!”

To me, though, the first season finale, ”Journey,” was just about perfect. Every essential plotline from the season reached a sense of closure (even the ones you might’ve wanted to forget: hello, Olivia Newton-John!) More than that, this was one of those high-energy episodes that narrowed its song focus (only four performances!) and found a just-right mix of cynicism and optimism, of banal reality and glam performance. Oh hell, I cried. How could you not?

The episode kicked off with Mr. Schue proudly posting a flyer for New Directions’ Regionals performance. Sue could sense his pride, and swooped in like a vulture: ”See you on Saturday,” she said, ”I’m one of the judges.” Schue complained to Figgins, but Figgins’ hands were tied: Don’t blame me, blame the Show Choir Governing Board, who went with celebrity judges this year.

Sue qualifies as a celebrity? Sue Sylvester, going way meta: ”I’m a legend. It’s happened.” Sue then created a new watershed moment in the history of jokes about Schuester’s hair: ”I’m having a really difficult time hearing anything you have to say today, because your hair looks like a briar patch. I keep expecting racist animated Disney characters to pop up and start singing songs about living on the bayou.”

NEXT: Mr. Schue’s man-tears

Unexpectedly, we jumped to a flashback to many months ago: Puck trying to convince Quinn to sleep with him. This scene was striking, and not just because of Puck’s totally bananas Flashback Mohawk. (Did it really used to look like that?) Glee can go absurd, but the show is often surprisingly direct when it deals with sex. Puck’s key line — ”You think either one of us is gonna give a damn about Finn in three years?” — was unflinchingly cynical. (When Quinn asked about protection, he actually managed to make ”I got it, trust me,” sound romantic, albeit idiotic.)

Jump cut to the modern day, with Quinn rubbing at her pregnant belly. The mood was grim at New Directions’ pre-Regionals pizza party. (Did they learn nothing from that lesson about funk last week?) Sue Sylvester was going to crush them. It was obvious. Tina cried. Schuester didn’t get all the fuss. Mercedes tried to explain. ”Do you think Puck and Santana will even look at me once we’re not in glee club anymore?” Puck: ”She has a point.”

Mr. Schue couldn’t figure out how to inspire his kids. Thank heavens for Emma Pillsbury, who spoke to Will this week for the first time since her epic bitchslap five episodes ago. I was glad to see her return in such a big way. I don’t hate Will Schuester as much as others may , but the guy’s become mighty insufferable in this second half of this season. He becomes noticeably less annoying whenever Emma’s around, if only because she’s more believable as a voice of moral reason. She reminded him of the moment in the series premiere, when she showed him a picture of himself performing as a high schooler. It was the happiest moment in his life ”because I loved what I was doing.”

Will loves it when a woman tells him about himself. He was feeling romantic. Hands off, Schuester! Emma was dating a dentist with the decidedly dentist-like name Carl Howell (they bonded over their shared love of sterilizing tools.) Mr. Schue fled to his awful car. He was feeling low. And like so many other people in American history, only one thing could rescue him: accidentally turning on a radio station playing ”Don’t Stop Believin’.” He cried, but it was a good cry, a manful cry. (I should point out that my girlfriend found this scene deeply unmoving. Maybe it’s a guy thing?)

Meanwhile, in the land of teenagers, Finn chased down Rachel in the hallway. He tried to inspire her. ”You’re a leader, Rachel! The way you’re on everyone all the time is annoying, but it’s also what keeps us going!” I was all set for this plotline to drag on (we’ve seen variations on this all season), but Shazam! Rachel just kissed him, and smiled.

NEXT: The Journey begins

At this point, Mr. Schue gave a speech. Again, minor wince: how many inspiring speeches has this guy given this season? (Since there have been 22 episodes, I’m going to ballpark it: 22?) But by gum, this one actually was inspiring! ”One day, all of you are gonna be gone, and all of this, all of us, will be nothing but a hazy memory.” I always find it interesting, and sad, when characters in fiction briefly pause to consider the possibility that everything they’ve experienced while we’ve been watching them will fade away into memory. (Not to get mega-meta, but some of what Will was talking about almost sounded like a unified theory of television: ”Life only really has one beginning and one end, and the rest is just a whole lot of middle.”)

It’s the journey, not the destination, and so, friends, there was only one way the New Directions gang could take Regionals:

Journey Medley (”Faithfully,” ”Any Way You Want It,” ”Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’,” ”Don’t Stop Believin’)

Those goons from Aural Intensity got the judge lineup ahead of time: how else to explain the Olivia Newton-John/Josh Groban mash-up? Nerves backstage ran high. Mr. Schue made a funny about Finn’s dancing, so at least someone has noticed besides us viewers. (The black-and-gold outfits: I want them.) [More on the finale’s costumes here ]. Finn and Rachel prepared for their big entrance. Rachel, adorably: ”Break a leg.” Finn, adorably: ”I love you.”

It’s difficult for me to imagine when Journey was an actual famous band. I’ve only known them at various stages of their retro-resurrection: their semi-ironic rebirth as the Great American Drunk-Singing Band ( as portrayed brilliantly on Family Guy ), the fully ironic choice to make them into the apocalyptic chorus at the end of The Sopranos , and their ecstatic re-rebirth as the first Glee megahit. I have the vague sense that Journey are fading back into the mists of pop culture: I just attended a wedding where more people sang along to ”Bad Romance” than ”Don’t Stop Believin’.”

But man, did this medley freaking rock, or what? (I thought about grading it in three parts, but every part would have just gotten an A, except for ”Faithfully,” which would get an A+.) This episode was directed by series co-creator Brad Falchuk, and he clearly took some notes from Joss Whedon: note all the long takes, like the one which followed Finn into the auditorium, then tracked over to find Rachel awaiting him.

The little touches were great here, too. the Bearded One’s red piano. The intermingling of ”Any Way You Want It” and ”Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin”’ as a boys vs. girls song fight. Puck momentarily taking over Finn’s solo. Brittany spinning Artie. The brief cut to Quinn’s mom in the audience. (If I wasn’t already bawling, that would’ve done the trick.) The way that everyone in the audience stood up to clap along. And that key change in ”Don’t Stop Believin”’! Swoon.

NEXT: The best ”Bohemian Rhapsody” since Wayne’s World ? Maybe.

The medley was so good it cured world hunger and solved Quinn’s parental problems. Quinn’s mom apologized for missing all her other performances, and said she left Quinn’s father: ”Kicked him out, actually. He was having an affair with some tattooed freak.” (I found this line incredibly funny.) The medley and confession were so powerful they made Quinn’s water break.

”Bohemian Rhapsody”

Now, this is interesting. The final episode of the season, and the most eye-popping performance was given over to the opposing team. The Journey Medley certainly wins for pure emotional reaction, but I think the Glee creators were forcing us to see something: the Vocal Adrenaline people genuinely were better, more clinically proficient. This was a showcase for Jonathan Groff and a whole host of incredible background dancers, and they just crushed it.

And the choice to intercut this performance with Quinn’s labor? Brilliant. Terrible. Then brilliant again. While Vocal Adrenaline danced up and down the stairs in various impressive ways, Quinn said, ”I want Mercedes to come with me, too!” While Jesse crooned ”Mother! Just killed a man!” Quinn screeched though labor. (”Puck! You suck! You suck!” she screamed.) At some points, the lyrics of the song merged with what Quinn was saying. And then there was The Moment: Vocal Adrenaline formed a circle with Jesse in the middle, right as little Baby Beth entered the world.

It was weird, your honor. If nothing else, it was definitely the most visually arresting way to represent the birthing process I’ve ever seen outside of The Miracle of Life . But I kind of liked it. Somewhere, Freddie Mercury is nodding proudly, and saying, ”World, I forgive you for We Will Rock You .”

Rachel went to see her Birth Mama Shelby. She had a proposal. ”Come and teach at McKinley. You and Mr. Schuester could be co-directors!” (Pause to imagine Ryan Murphy having roughly this same conversation in real life with Idina Menzel.) But Shelby wanted out of this crazy show-choir game. ”I need a house, and a garden, and a dog.” Shelby strolled over to the baby wing of the local hospital to chat it up with Quinn and Puck. I was worried that her appearance would send Quinn into some kind of shame spiral, leading her to end up keeping Baby Beth. But no! In an act of storytelling alchemy that makes me love television, Glee merged two so-so plotlines into one beautiful finish: Shelby ended up claiming Beth as her own daughter. (Yes, this was ridiculous, but I’ll buy that for a dollar.)

Now, though, we have to talk about the judges’ room. As despairingly cynical as the judges were in ”Sectionals,” the situation here was positively dystopian. Sue Sylvester, who has spent the entire season as the Great Anti-Glee Club Villain, was the least of New Directions’ problems. Rod Remington was lost in memory of partying with Freddie Mercury back in the ’70s, a time when people weren’t so obsessed with labels. Josh Groban liked New Directions, but really wanted to learn more about Sue’s relationship situation. (Remember when he slept with Mr. Schue’s mom, or something? Seriously, did ”Acafellas” take place in a parallel universe?)

NEXT: An unexpected overlap between Glee and The Wire

But full props here to Olivia Newton-John, who totally made up for playing herself a few episodes ago as a lame self-obsessed bore. This time, she gamely played herself as the Cruel Voice of Showbiz: ”Talk about blatant tokenism. That whole ragtag bunch of misfits thing is so 2009… are they a poor person’s school?”

This put Sue in the strange, utterly unexpected position of defending the glee club: ”Not all kids are afforded the same things as others.” Poppycock, said the real celebrities, who linked Sue to the kids’ inherent loserdom. Oooh, a nationally-recognized cheerleading coach? A local TV personality? Big deal! You’re still in Ohio, still a Lima loser. ”Some people just simply don’t have talent,” said ONJ. ”You have a lot in common with those kids: underachievers with delusions of grandeur.”

I understand if some of you viewers feel like this twist was a bit silly or over-the-top. To me, it felt a bit like those rare moments in The Wire when some of that show’s characters, who spent their whole lives struggling, would get a hint of just how meaningless their lives were to the people in power. (It was the Glee version of ”And I’m not even Greek,” a brief peek at the dispassionately cruel great powers that run the world.)

I find Glee insufferable when it suggests that music and togetherness can solve every problem. (See a couple weeks ago, when we learned a valuable lesson about bullying and friendship and Gaga, or something.) This felt a lot more complex. Music and friendship don’t necessarily turn losers into winners. But that doesn’t make those things worthless. So it was sad to see New Directions get the Bad News Bears ending: defeated by the Vocal Adrenaline automatons and the Aural Intensity goon patrol. But it felt real.

There followed a genuine Emma Pillsbury outburst: she gave Figgins a piece of her mind about handing over the choir room to the Model UN. Mr. Schue responded to her fiery passion with a patented Will Schuester Inappropriate Hallway Kiss. (That’s just where they kiss, viewers: in the school hallways.) ”Dentist or no, this thing isn’t over between us!” he proclaimed. Witness the return of Romantic Schuester, and not the guy who fake-seduces people!

”To Sir, With Love”

The kids went around the room and listed off the single character trait that defined them when the show began. Tina had a stutter, Puck tossed kids into dumpsters, Santana and Brittany were elitist cheerleaders who hated all non-popular peons. Matt and Mike were even gifted with meager personalities, here at the end of all things. Matt: ”I was just another football player!” Mike: ”I was afraid to dance outside of my room!” (I realize I’m just parsing needles in haystacks here, but whereas Matt seems kind of dull, I really want to see more of Mike. Other Asian: speak!)

NEXT: Oh, Sue

I realize that Finn is kind of a manic character who wavers regularly between submental doddering and nobility, but I lost it when he said, ”I didn’t have a father. Someone I could look up to, model myself after. Someone who could show me what it really meant to be a man.” (Message to Finn: Do as Schue says, not as he does.)

The performance that followed was the polar opposite of the Journey medley: quiet, violin-heavy, with the bare minimum of choreography. But it was heart-grabbing, especially when Sue Sylvester appeared in the shadows. (She stood up there way back in the first episode, too, under very different circumstances.) You could already kind of guess how Sue was going to hand New Directions a second chance, but that didn’t stop this requiem from being altogether moving. Glee can go intimate, too.

Sue walked into the choir practice room to chat it up with Mr. Schue. ”It’s as barren as me in here, Will.” She refused a handshake: ”I’ve seen that car you drive. I don’t want to catch poor.” It occurred to me, watching her throw great dialogue in Schue’s face, that after a whole season of loving Sue Sylvester’s every moment onscreen, I have never once really believed her as the show’s villain. When Tim Stack talked to the Glee people for EW’s cover story , Ryan Murphy noted that Sue wasn’t even in the original pilot script. Her creation was suggested very strongly by Fox Entertainment prez Kevin Reilly. (Put this decision on the shelf next to former ABC Chairman Lloyd Braun’s notion of making a fictional version of Survivor , which eventually turned into Lost . Studio execs aren’t all bad!)

The funny thing is, even though Sue was specifically added to be a villain, her villainy has always been the most nonsensical part of the show. There’s no concrete reason for her to hate the glee club. Okay, blah blah blah school budget, but that seems a pretty meager consideration for the megafunded Cheerios. Then you’re just left with more abstract reasons. Sue hates music? The Madonna episode proved that untrue. Sue hates inspiring people? Also since proven untrue: she just inspires people in her own way. Sue just hates Schuester and wants to crush him? Possible, but a weird arc to hang a show around.

Really, the only reason Sue Sylvester works as a character is because of Jane Lynch, and boy, she made this last face-off speak volumes. I found the brief flash to the judges’ voting incredibly moving. Sue said, ”I voted exactly how I felt in my heart about which team should win,” in her typically sarcastic delivery. Schuester clearly registered that as, ”I put New Directions in last place!”

NEXT: We relish the thought of next year, too

So Sue played the Benevolent Despot and told Schuester that she had convinced Figgins to give the Glee kids another year. For one moment, the veil fell: ”You’re a good teacher, Will. I admire you, and the work you’re doing with your kids.” Then it was back to Sue Sylvester, National Champion and author of the upcoming memoir, ”I am a Winner, and You’re Fat.” ”I relish the thought of another full year of constantly besting you.”

”Somewhere Over the Rainbow”

Will Schuester singing Israel Kamakawiwo’ole singing Judy Garland: did not see this one coming! Glee went out of its first season with one of its quietest performances yet. Will played the ukulele. Puck played guitar. The camera moved around the faces of the cast. Rachel put her head on Finn’s shoulder. Artie and Tina looked in each other’s eyes. Quinn smiled at Puck. Santana and Brittany held hands. Kurt wore a beret. (He also shared an unreadable glance with Finn.) Mute Mike and Mute Matt gave each other a mute high five. Somewhere, Josh Groban and Olivia Newton-John were sitting in a first-class cabin, living soulless lives and drinking soulless cocktails.

Message to Matthew Morrison: I never want to see you do hip-hop ever again. But this was beautiful.

How did you feel about ”Journey,” Glee fans? And, taking the long view for a moment, how did you feel about this madcap first season? Do you agree with Ken Tucker that the show needs to make some fixes during the summer hiatus? What was the more encouraging trend this season: the rise of Brittany, the fall of Terri, or the canonization of Kurt? What will Glee look like in season 2, and beyond? Sound off below!

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On the first season finale of Glee...

... Emma tells Will that she's seeing someone else: her dentist. But Will later responds to this with three words that will hopefully play a major role on season two: I love you.

...  despite the presence of Sue as a judge, and the lack of hope surrounding their chances, the group heads to Regionals. There, they sing a Journey melody and appear to steal the show. However, celebrity judges Josh Groban and Olivia Newton-John aren't fans of New Directions. Or of Sue. Newton-John especially puts Sue down as a wannabe celebrity, and makes reasonable connections between her and the choir she hates.

This leads to Vocal Adrenaline winning the title and New Directions coming in third out of three teams. Based on the deal with Figgins, this means the choir is finished - but wait! Sue convinces Figgins to give the group one more years because she feels badly for the kids. This leads to a nice moment between Sue and Will, even if the former threatens to "throw up" on him if it goes on too long.

... Quinn gives birth to a daughter. She gives it up for adoption... to Shelby! Time will tell if we see more of Rachel's mother next season as a result.

And, with that, the season came to an end, as the group sang an emotional song to Will to thank him for all he did for them. It was a great episode and you can read more about it via my review .

Glee Season 1 Episode 22 Quotes

Your hair looks like a briar patch. I keep expecting racist, animated Disney characters to pop up and start singing about living on the bayou. Sue Permalink: Your hair looks like a briar patch. I keep expecting racist, ani... Added: June 08, 2010

I realize my cultural ascendance only serves to illuminate your own banality. But, face it, I'm legend. It's happened. Sue Permalink: I realize my cultural ascendance only serves to illuminate your ... Added: June 08, 2010

Glee Season 1 Episode 22 Music

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Glee : "Journey"

When I signed up to review Glee , it was because I thought the show's pilot, though a mess in places, got at something I'd never seen portrayed on TV before: the sense of what it's like to perform as a teenager. When I was in high school, the arts were about the only outlet I had, the only way I could convince girls I was worth talking to, the only thing I was any good at. I spent hours playing instruments, singing, performing … not really dancing, since I've always been terrible at that, but at least trying to dance. In its pilot and in its best moments since, Glee has captured the feeling of what it's like to be 16 and need to perform, the desperation that comes when you realize that these are really the only times you're going to get to do this, the weird sense of community you build with your fellow performers. Glee gets all of that just right.

Obviously, it gets a lot of other stuff wrong. The storytelling is sloppy, veering all over the place with little rhyme or reason. Huge plot points will be forgotten and then picked up again, as though the show has abruptly realized that, oh yeah, Quinn's been pregnant this whole time. Episodes will introduce big, potentially Earth-shattering plot developments, then shrug them off with very little in the way of logic. The show will have its sad moments, but it will veer abruptly into big, happy musical numbers or broad comedy or whatever it wants to. It's a big, hit show. It has no terrible need to moderate. It's just going to keep doing everything it wants to do, and we're expected to either hop on board for the ride or to have gotten off long ago.

On its own, "Journey" is a fantastic episode of Glee . As a capper to the season, it mostly works. As a way to tie together all of the plots the show has developed this year, it sometimes feels like it's dropped in from an alternate universe where the plot followed much more closely from the pilot. There's a moment where Will breaks down in tears in his car while listening to "Don't Stop Believin'" because he thinks the glee club - the best thing that's happened to most of his kids and the emotional constant in what's been a rough year for him - is going to go away. He's worried the kids simply aren't going to do well at regionals (where, apparently, "placing" means getting first or second). Sue Sylvester is one of the judges, and she will surely work her increasingly implausible demon magic to keep the kids from winning.

Honestly, this is a moment that would have absolutely killed if the Will of every other episode had been the Will of the whole season. You'll get little glimpses into his life, into just how adrift he is from what he really wanted, and it always gives a better sense of why this adult would be so obsessed with restarting the high school glee club. To have all of that taken away from him would be devastating to the Will of the pilot or of "Dream On" or of "Mattress." Similarly, the Will of those episodes is the kind of guy I'd buy the kids singing "To Sir With Love" to because he's changed their lives so. But the Will of the other episodes has been a frustrating idiot manchild who doesn't realize his wife is faking a pregnancy, an utter asshole, a vapid dancing soda can who tears up at everything his kids do, or any number of other things. "Journey" felt like a fantastic culmination for a phantom season, a season that didn't exist, one that earned our desire to see New Directions triumph then made us feel genuinely bad when they didn't, when they realized they were good, but they weren't good enough just yet.

And yet, I'm going to place this episode up there with the best Glee has ever done. I think there's something very smart said in the early moments of the episode, when Puck is getting Quinn drunk and persuading her to have sex. In three years, neither of them will remember who Finn even WAS. Will says much the same to the kids in his speech to them in the choir room. They won't remember all of the specifics of regionals in even five years' time, but they will remember the high of performing with their friends, the feeling of being out there and having the crowd with them. Glee is a show that is rather smugly certain that the good stuff it does will be so good that we forget about the trashy stuff. And, honestly, while I remember not liking "Acafellas," I'm hard-pressed to remember why. But I can recall just about every moment of "Jump" from "Mattress" or the original "Don't Stop Believin'" performance. At its best, as Matt Zoller Seitz argued in a wonderful piece today, Glee is achingly sincere, and it's that sincerity that causes some to dismiss it out of hand, even as many of the rest of us find in it a certain Kryptonite that wears down critical defenses. Why are we so primed to turn away from simple, heartfelt expressions of emotion? I'm not sure, but Glee is trying to make the world safe for earnestness again, and I'm on board.

Make no mistake. There's stupid stuff in this episode. I'm not sure I completely buy that Shelby would suddenly adopt Quinn's baby out of nowhere, and while the show went to one of my favorite thematic devices to get Sue to vote for New Directions (in that she realized that she, too, was stuck in Ohio and wasn't going anywhere), I wish that her sudden change of heart had had even the slightest bit more build-up. It was obvious that she was going to relent and let Will have the choir room back for another year because this is that kind of show, but the fact that she did struck me as the show suddenly realizing that it didn't want to end on a forced cliffhanger. The scene between Will and Sue was nicely acted (Jane Lynch always does just as well with these humanizing moments as she does with the broad comedy), but it could have used a polish at the script level.

But for once in this back nine, the good stuff absolutely overwhelms the stupid stuff. I loved the choice to show all of the New Directions performance, even if I didn't think it was as good as their sectionals performance. I loved the almost documentary-like feel the show adopted backstage, capturing the kids putting their hands in to psych each other up or Finn telling Rachel he loves her or Will dancing nervously backstage, barely able to watch his kids out on stage (one of the rare "Will watches the kids" moments that absolutely worked). I loved "To Sir, With Love," which wore down my natural resistance to sap surprisingly quickly. I loved how the show wasn't afraid to let New Directions lose and wasn't afraid to let us feel the sorrow of that moment. I loved Emma's eruption to Will about how Sue must have cheated and the kids deserved to win. I loved the way the episode reoriented Quinn - one of the better story arcs of the series - at the center of everything and the way it would call back to old episodes or moments within a single shot or glance. It felt like the end of a journey, a culmination of something before we go forward.

I don't know what kind of show Glee is going to be in season two. I'm not sure how long I'll be OK with the show completely saving itself at the last minute via improbable moments unlike anything else on TV. But I know that when Glee is playing at its absolute level best, there are few shows on TV that can even go where it goes. To watch Glee is to be bashed over the head until you care, sometimes, but once you do care, oh, it's a helluva show those kids put on.

Stray observations:

• I've saved this for the stray observations because I didn't know where else to work it in, but "Bohemian Rhapsody" was, no joke, one of the best things I've seen on television in a long, long time. I've seen a lot of grousing about it on various places around the 'net, but I think it's an incredible sequence. Consider all of the things it has to accomplish. 1.) It has to provide a justification for Vocal Adrenaline to win the whole thing going away. 2.) It has to show Quinn's baby being born. 3.) It has to tie together Puck, Quinn, Quinn's mom, and the rest of the glee club. 4.) It has to show us Rachel's unresolved feelings for Jesse. 5.) It has to put a button on Jesse's arc. Now, honestly, the sequence accomplishes all of these things, and it does so with ABSOLUTELY NO DIALOGUE. It's done entirely via music, camera movement, and editing, and it's fucking thrilling and completely audacious. I've seen some complaints about the fact that Quinn starts saying the lyrics of the song, but she's saying lyrics that would be appropriate for the point she's at in her labor, and the show wears away this initial resistance to what could feel stupid. Furthermore, the times she's not talking with the song, she's shouting at Puck that he sucks or cradling her newborn baby girl and realizing she has to give it up. It's a stunning piece of TV, it takes up an entire act, and I'm impressed that the show used its power as a hit to push for something so thrilling.
• I did want one last moment between Rachel and Jesse. Instead, we got one between Rachel and Shelby, which wasn't bad.
• What the hell is the show going to do with Terri next season? I don't mind that it tried to pretend she didn't exist in these back episodes, but she's presumably still under contract and getting paid for all of these episodes she doesn't appear in.
• Pizza party at Will's house! Honestly, when I saw Quinn standing in his kitchen holding plates, I was very, very worried that they'd sprung yet another abrupt plot shift on us.
• Preference: Pilot "Don't Stop" or finale "Don't Stop"?
• I promise to stop with the "three shows" thing next fall, but Jane Lynch inadvertently offered even more evidence for it in this interview with CBS news. And looking over the episodes written by each creator, I'd definitely watch any of the three Glee s, but I think Brad Falchuk's Glee would probably be the most consistent and make the most sense. Conveniently, he wrote and directed the finale.
• And that's it until the fall. I do hope that I'll be around covering the show again come September, even as I'm aware that what I enjoy out of the show (the weird sadness around its edges) is not what most enjoy out of it (the songs). Join me come fall for the inevitable decline!
• "I realize my cultural ascendence only serves to illuminate your own banality."
• "I keep expecting racist animated Disney characters to start popping up and sing songs about living on the bayou."
• "I, for one, was offended that only one of the groups chose to honor me in song."
• "Kiss my ass, Josh Groban."
• "I spend large segments of each day picturing you choking on food. And I recently contacted an exotic animal dealer because I had a very satisfying dream that the two of us went to a zoo and I shoved your face into one of those pink, enflamed monkey butts that weeps lymph."

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Naya Rivera

Santana Lopez

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10 Episodes of ‘Glee’ to Watch Before It Leaves Netflix

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If there was ever a time to sing an emotional ballad against an elaborate background no one else will see, it would be now. At the end of the month, Glee will be leaving Netflix.

Glee first premiered in May of 2009. Over the course of its six seasons and 121 episodes, it changed the pop culture landscape. It wasn’t long before the music of the show was topping the Billboard Hot 100. At a certain point, the series became so popular and successful that it had its own spinoff reality show, concert tour, movie and five albums. All that for a show about outcast high schoolers and endless Journey covers.

We all need a dose of optimism from time to time, and that’s what Glee has always offered. Want to experience the joys and sorrows of McKinley before this gem leaves Netflix? We have you covered. Here are the 10 episodes of Glee you absolutely have to watch before the series disappears from this streaming giant.

Season 1, Episode 1: 'Pilot'

Has a show ever come out of the gate swinging as hard as Glee ? Directed by Ryan Murphy and written by Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan, the pilot immediately captured the cutthroat loneliness of high school in its own signature, exaggerated way. In this world run by cruel Cheerios and marked by red slushies, Glee’s first episode did what it did best. Among this dark cynicism, it offered a quiet pinprick of hope and acceptance for a group of chronic outsiders. Watch New Directions’ first performance of “Don’t Stop Believin'” and just try not to get goosebumps.

Watch Glee , "Pilot" on Netflix

Season 1, Episode 11: "Journey to Regionals"

Glee started it’s all-encompassing obsession with Sectionals, Regionals, and Nationals early. But no episode better captured the underdog ethos of competitive show choir than this early installment written and directed by Falchuk. Heading into Regionals, things have never looked more dire for the New Directions. Quinn (Dianna Agron) the powerhouse is close to giving birth to her daughter which will kick her out of the competition; longtime rival Sue (Jane Lynch) is one of the judges; and to add to the stress, whether or not New Directions wins will determine the future of the club. It’s a perfect episode that pits everything against our heroes only to see them triumph. Plus, it contains some truly excellent songs.

Watch Glee , "Journey to Regionals" on Netflix

Season 2, Episode 2: "Brittany/Britney"

Fox’s juggernaut often walked the line between heartfelt drama and a celebration of the sheer joy of music. This episode was all about fun. Written and directed by Murphy, this one centers around the greatest dancer on the show, Heather Morris’ Brittany. While under anesthesia from Dr. Carl (John Stamos), Brittany starts to hallucinate starring in various Britney Spears music videos. It takes her all of 10 seconds before she pulls her bestie Santana (Naya Rivera) into her drug-addled daydreams, and it isn’t long before the rest of the glee club follows. Long before praising Britney Spears was in vogue, Glee was celebrating her as the iconic goddess she is. Spears herself even cameos in the episode, which is all the more reason to watch.

Watch Glee , "Brittany/Britney" on Netflix

Season 2, Episode 6: "Never Been Kissed"

For all the truly excellent moments in Glee , there’s a lot of “What the heck just happened?” Enter “Never Been Kissed”, director Bradley Buecker and writer Falchuk’s episode that just barely tips its way to the good side of Glee . On the WTF front, this episode revolves around the glee club using Coach Beiste (Dot-Marie Jones) to cool off their sex drives as well as Beiste’s shocking first kiss. But on the other swoon-worthy front, it contains the introduction of dreamboat Blaine (Darren Criss). Blaine’s cover of “Teenage Dream” was so well-received that it was the first Glee song to top the Billboard Digital Songs chart. No wonder Kurt (Chris Colfer) fell for him.

Watch Glee , "Never Been Kissed" on Netflix

Season 2, Episode 18: "Born This Way"

Madonna. Britney Spears. And once again Lady Gaga. In Season 2, Glee once again bowed down to pop goddesses in this second tribute to Gaga written by Falchuk and directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon. After Santana uses Rachel’s broken nose as an excuse to mock every member’s physical flaws, Mr. Schue (Matthew Morrison) tries to do damage control. That means the glee club performing “Born This Way” wearing T-shirts that spell out their biggest insecurities. As Ms. Pillsbury (Jayma Mays) comes to terms with her OCD, Santana slowly starts to admit that she’s a lesbian, accepting a “Lebanese” shirt from Brittany. It’s an episode that’s equally sweet, silly, and uplifting.

Watch Glee , "Born This Way" on Netflix

Season 3, Episode 6: "Mash Off"

Though it was short-lived, the Troubletones were a welcome and powerful addition to this show. No one could ever say that Mercedes (Amber Riley), Santana, Brittany, Quinn (Dianna Agron), and Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) were properly utilized in New Directions. This rival glee club gave them a chance to shine under the direction of Shelby Corcoran (Idina Menzel). Directed by Eric Stoltz and written by Michael Hitchcock, this episode is a great showcase for the endless talent standing in the background of Glee .

Watch Glee , "Mash Off" on Netflix

Season 3, Episode 21: "Nationals"

It finally happened. After 64 episodes, the New Directions finally won Nationals. Glee’ s first massive win honestly works best if you watch every episode up to “Nationals.” That’s how you can best appreciate the hard work, bullying, and self-evaluation that went into this victory. But seven episodes into this curated binge watch, you can still get the same effect. Be sure to grab some tissues. Director Eric Eric Stoltz and writer Aki Adler’s celebration will make you happy cry.

Watch Glee , "Nationals" on Netflix

Season 5, Episode 3: "The Quarterback"

There is truly no episode of this Fox drama more profound than this one. Following the tragic death of Cory Monteith, the episode revolved around the death of Finn Hudson. Brilliantly, Murphy, Brennan, and Falchuk’s “The Quarterback” never reveals how Finn dies. Rather, it focuses on the tragedy of this needless loss of a young man’s life as well as his friends and family’s reaction to his death. In its focus on the bizarre nature of grief, the episode serves as one of the most honest reflections on death to ever grace television.

Watch Glee , "The Quarterback" on Netflix

Season 5, Episode 12: "100"

It’s the 100th episode, and once again the glee club is in jeopardy of being shut down by principal Sue Sylvester. Directed by Paris Barclay and written by Murphy, Brennan, and Falchuk, “100” sees the return of fan favorites Holly Holliday (Gwyneth Paltrow) and April Rhodes (Kristin Chenoweth). Both episodes in this two-parter are worth your time, but this one does an excellent job of capturing the musical magic that made Glee a hit. Also, who doesn’t love a Rachel versus Mercedes diva off?

Watch Glee , "100" on Netflix

Season 6, Episode 12: "2009"

It’s another Barclay, Murphy, Falchuk, and Brennan collaboration. In Glee ‘s second to last episode, the dramedy goes back to when it all started: the year 2009. Revisiting the insecurities of our favorites after we’ve spent six seasons watching them grow is a truly lovely experience. It also serves as a nice reminder for life. Sometimes to really appreciate where you are, you have to look backwards.

Watch Glee, "2009" on Netflix

• Ryan Murphy

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• Songs sung by Rachel Berry
• Songs sung by New Directions
• Songs sung at Regionals
• Glee: The Music, Journey to Regionals
• Glee: The Music, The Complete Season One
• Journey songs
• Journey versions
• View history

It was the opening song of New Directions' journey medley performed at Regionals . After Faithfully , New Directions perform Any Way You Want It/Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin' and they close their performance with Don't Stop Believin' . In the performance, Rachel and Finn walk down the aisles of the theatre while singing, when the rest of the New Directions emerge on stage, and begin to sing back-up vocals.

• 6 Navigational

Finn: Highway run Into the midnight sun Wheels go round and round You're on my mind Rachel: Restless hearts Sleep alone tonight Sending all my love Along the wire Finn and Rachel: They say that the road ain't no place to start a family But right down the line, it's been you and me And loving a music man ain't always what it's supposed to be Rachel: Oh boy, you stand by me Finn and Rachel: I'm forever yours Faithfully Rachel: Circus life under the big top world Finn and Rachel: We all need the clowns to make us smile Rachel: Oh! Through space and time ( Finn: Through space and time) Finn and Rachel: Always another show Wondering where I am Lost without you And being a part ain't easy on this love affair Two strangers learn to fall in love again I get the joy of rediscovering you Finn: Oh girl, you stand by me Finn and Rachel: I'm forever yours Faithfully Finn and Rachel: Oh oh oh oh Oh oh oh oh oh Oh oh oh oh oh oh...! ( Finn: Faithfully...) New Directions: Oh oh oh oh ( Rachel: Faithfully) Oh oh oh oh oh ( Rachel: I'm still yours) oh oh oh oh oh oh Finn with New Directions: Oh oh oh oh Finn and Rachel with New directions Oh oh oh oh oh Oh oh oh oh oh ( Finn with New directions: oh) Rachel: I'm still yours! New Directions: Oh oh oh oh, Oh oh oh oh Finn and Rachel with New Directions: Oh oh oh oh oh oh! New Directions: Oh oh oh oh Oh oh oh oh Oh oh oh oh oh Finn and Rachel: I'm still yours! Faithfully...

• This is the first time that Finn and Rachel sing a duet in a competition. The second time is Pretending in the 2011 National Show Choir Championship .
• At PaleyFest 2015, Lea Michele said that this was her favorite song to sing on Glee.

Mistakes [ ]

• Close to the end of the performance, Rachel and Finn move up to the stage. In one shot of Rachel, she is running up the stairs and in the next shot, she is running towards Finn. In the shot right after that one though, she is suddenly walking calmly.

Gallery [ ]

Journey - Faithfully

Faithfully (Full Performance) HD

Glee - Faithfully

Glee - Faithfully (Acapella)

Glee - Faithfully Anyway You Want It Lovin, Touchin, Squeezin Live

Navigational [ ]

• 1 Rachel Berry
• 2 Santana Lopez
• 3 Quinn Fabray

The 25 Best 'Glee' Episodes, Ranked

“Watching re-runs of Glee, being annoying, singing in harmony.”

High school might either suck or be defined as the “glory days." Boy meets girl, nerd ends up having a makeover, the cheerleader/jock hierarchy. This narrative is as old as time, but portraying the high school reality with a musical twist and a knack for ahead-of-its-time storytelling? Call that groundbreaking! Glee aired in 2009, highlighting never-seen-before representation in television mixed with sing-alongs from the latest hits to the old-school classics. Yes, the songs your parents listened to could well enough be in your Spotify playlist after listening to the covers.

The truth is, whether you’re watching Glee for the first time like Olivia Rodrigo or revisiting the show years later, you will feel seen! Now, you might as well be aware that it is not all rainbows and butterflies here. In a first attempt to bring underrepresented groups to the screen and tackle social issues, Glee often could have done better. However, on this list, you will find all the times that Ryan Murphy ’s production succeeded and reminded viewers: “Don’t stop believing."

RELATED: Jane Lynch Tells All About Her Wild Career Journey, From 'Best In Show' to 'The Weakest Link'

25. "2009" (Season 6, Episode 12)

Season 6 was arguably the worst way to end Glee , but it had a few good moments. This episode is one of those notable exceptions. The show throwbacks to a prequel of its pilot episode and fills in the gaps about how Rachel ( Lea Michele ), Kurt ( Chris Colfer ), Artie ( Kevin McHale ), Tina ( Jenna Ushkowitz ), Mercedes ( Amber Riley ), Will ( Matthew Morrison ), and Sue ( Jane Lynch ) were like before the Glee Club was reinstalled at McKinley. Not only do we notice how much the characters evolved throughout the seasons, but we also come to understand why they chose to audition in the first place. It is also heart-wrenching to rewatch the last scene of the first episode knowing that Finn ( Cory Monteith ) wasn’t able to make it to the end.

24. "Girls (and Boys) on Film" (Season 4, Episode 15)

A soundtrack is a movie’s best friend. And that’s probably why this episode deserves a bit more recognition. Will is desolate after Emma ( Jayma Mays ) leaves him at the altar and he only finds solace in old Hollywood films. Inspired by their soundtracks, Will assigns the New Directions a girls vs. boys competition with mashups that include unforgettable songs on the big screen. The music numbers are all brilliant and we just can’t help but feel emotional when Will attempts to win Emma back just like John Cusak in Say Anything .

23. "Glease" (Season 4, Episode 6)

There were many ups and downs coming from the New Directions’ second generation, but we have to admit that their drama production of Grease was on point! Although Marley ( Melissa Benoist ) is clearly fit to portray Sandy before the makeover, she still deals with a lot of insecurities regarding her appearance. Perhaps unexpectedly, having to embrace the tight black outfit is what it takes for her to feel good in her own skin for once. An honorable mention here is the scene in which “You Are the One That I Want” begins to play and the OG couples reminisce on their star-crossed romances.

22. "Rumours" (Season 2, Episode 19)

There are a lot of moments when Glee was able to introduce classic 70s and 80s rock to an audience that wasn’t into the original tunes. Before the Tik Tok skateboard guy brought “Dreams” back to the Billboard Hot 100 while sipping on cranberry juice, there were the New Directions, covering every song from the classic Fleetwood Mac album. Amidst the rumors circulating in the school paper, we were able to witness the first of many editions of Brittany’s ( Heather Morris ) hilarious video interview series “Fondue for Two."

21. "Duets" (Season 2, Episode 4)

Finally, a duet competition that doesn’t have Rachel and Finn as the obvious choice. Even if they weren’t really trying their best to nail the assignment of the week, it was great to see Santana ( Naya Rivera ) and Mercedes bring the house down with Tina Turner’ s “River Deep Mountain High." They deserved the Breadsticks prize, but it was cute to see Ken and Barbie, a.k.a. Sam ( Chord Overstreet ) and Quinn ( Dianna Agron ), attend their first date after their sweet “Lucky” duet.

20. "Mash-off" (Season 3, Episode 6)

The “Troubletones” were simply a highlight, am I right or am I right? Mercedes, Santana, and Brittany quit the New Directions in order to have more solo opportunities, which is something we all know the characters struggle with if they aren’t Rachel or Blaine ( Darren Criss ). Gladly, they get the chance to show everyone their wasted potential in the notorious Adele mashup of “Rumor Has It/Someone Like You." This episode also ends on a harsh note when Finn outs Santana before she is ready to speak about her feelings aloud. It's a pivotal moment for Santana’s character arch in the series.

19. "New Directions" (Season 5, Episode 13)

After the OG cast came to celebrate the last few moments before the choir room is shut down (temporarily), they enjoy their last moments together with some reconciliation. Rachel and Santana had a series of unnecessary confrontations throughout season 5, but for our relief, they finally solve the problem with a “Be Okay” sing-along. This episode also brings back two iconic guest stars, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kristin Chenoweth , as they try their best to save the glee club from its fated end. We’ve listened to “Don’t Stop Believing” a million times on the show, but it never hurts to listen to it again.

18. "Guilty Pleasures" (Season 4, Episode 17)

This episode is no-pun-intended, a guilty pleasure for the fans. When Blaine and Sam share their secret music obsessions with each other, they convince the rest of the New Directions to do the same. Many might disagree, but “Mamma Mia” is one of the most underrated covers on Glee . It kind of makes you sad that the writers decided to not do the whole musical.

17. "Blame it on the Alcohol" (Season 2, Episode 14)

It's alcohol awareness week at McKinley, which means this is the episode with the greatest amount of drinking on-screen. Yet, there isn’t a better way to send a message across than showing everything literally out of control. From Rachel wearing the most horrendous dress ever and saying that her drink tastes “like pink”, to the “Tik Tok” number becoming a throw-up party, this crazy combination became legendary. And yes, at some point we did root for Rachel and Blaine, even if we don’t openly admit it.

16. "Dance With Somebody" (Season 3, Episode 17)

The tribute episodes have always stood out in Glee because they demonstrate the impact that pop icons have on the younger generation. For instance, in this Whitney Houston homage that takes place two months after her passing, we notice how her songs reflect the mixed feelings that the characters are going through both in their romantic relationships and interpersonal thoughts. While the memorable Brittana cover of “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” is filled with joy, we also encounter the contrary when Kurt and Blaine fight and Blaine sings “It’s Not Right, But It's OK." In addition, here is an honorable mention to Quinn and Joe ( Samuel Larson ), a couple that deserved a little more time together after the chemistry-driven performance of “Saving All My Love."

15. "100" (Season 5, Episode 12)

Having almost all the OG cast walk into the McKinley halls after graduation is in itself a tear-jerking moment. In the 100th episode of the series, the former New Directions come back to say goodbye to the choir room after the announcement that Sue would hijack the glee club definitively. They also end up revisiting their favorite songs from the previous seasons, leading viewers to instant nostalgia. Although the rest of the season went downhill after this episode, just listening to the “Defying Gravity” diva-off or Puck’s ( Mark Salling ) acoustic version of “Keep Holding On” helps remind the viewers what made them fall in love with the show in the first place.

14. "Never Been Kissed" (Season 2, Episode 6)

Those that have witnessed the girls vs. boys’ mashup competition in season 1 know that these performances are iconic. In “Never Been Kissed," it is no different. This time the girls and boys must sing tracks from performers of the opposite gender. The idea came after Will noticed the impact of Karovsky’s ( Max Adler ) bullying towards Kurt, making the character feel no longer protected from harassment in the school. Kurt then pays a visit to Dalton Academy, the place in which the second-best show choir group (according to the fans) comes from. Just like Kurt, everyone fell head over heels with the new addition to the series: Blaine Anderson. Darren Criss, Katy Perry might have come up with “Teenage Dream," but you took it to a whole other level! No wonder this was the first Glee cover to land on the top of the Billboard Digital Chart.

13. "On My Way" (Season 3, Episode 14)

Glee has many light-hearted moments, but it also brings up some heavy subjects that were often perceived as taboo. “On My Way” is a great example of this. Up to this moment, all the viewers are aware of Karovsky’s sexuality, but only a few people inside the show actually know about it. When the secret is revealed to his school, Karovsky decides to die by suicide. The scene accompanied by Blaine’s take on “Cough Syrup” is one of the most painful ever to air on television. It is not graphic like the one in 13 Reasons Why , but it serves the purpose. This issue was raised with so much care in this episode, displaying the importance of a teen show addressing this topic.

12. "Journey to Regionals" (Season 1, Episode 22)

“Don’t Stop Believing” is probably the song that fully represents the essence of Glee . It is also the song that inspired Mr. Schuester to convince the glee club to not give up before Regionals. When Sue announces that she will be one of the judges of the competition, it seems like all the hope is gone. Yet, the New Directions take a stand with what they do best: singing covers of Journey. Despite the loss, the audience finds out that Sue votes in favor of them. There is a lot to unpack in this episode. From the amazing Vocal Adrenaline performance of “Bohemian Rhapsody” to Quinn giving birth, “Journey to Regionals” was a perfectly structured season finale.

11. "Furt" (Season 2, Episode 8)

Ahhh, weddings! They bring people together. Literally! As Burt Hummel ( Mike O’Malley ) and Carol Hudson ( Romy Rosemont ) head to the altar, there is an obstacle. Their sons. Kurt is constantly threatened by Karovsky, and in response, Rachel calls out on all the glee club boys to defend him. However, Finn does not feel comfortable confronting his football teammates and is afraid of diminishing his reputation as the Quarterback. This behavior makes Burt almost step away from marrying Finn’s mom, given that his family comes first. Throughout this episode, Kurt and Finn reconcile and the New Directions sing two memorable Bruno Mars hits.

10. "The Power of Madonna" (Season 1, Episode 15)

The Madonna special was the first of many tribute episodes in Glee . Despite the “Vogue” singer having left the spotlight at the time, her exulting power and significance inspires each character in a different way. Especially Sue! The cheerleading coach always criticized Mr. Schue’s music selections, but this was not the case here. In “The Power of Madonna," Sue opens up about her insecurities as she embraces Madonna’s looks in a remake of the “Vogue” music video. “Like a Virgin” is also a highlight, since each couple makes a conscientious decision of how their relationships will proceed.

9. "Goodbye" (Season 3, Episode 22)

If Glee hadn’t been renewed for three more seasons, this episode would have been the perfect wrap-up. After being defeated for two years in a row, the New Directions come back to McKinley with a trophy and popularity. With graduation right around the corner, half of the glee club members have to say goodbye to their peers. Rachel Berry ends up leaving to New York without Finn, a moment that was necessary for her personal growth, but also let fans imagine how she and Finn would get back together in the future. Unfortunately, little did we know what lied ahead. Aside from the tears rolling at the sound of “Roots Before Branches”, it is sweet to see Mercedes, Mike Chang ( Harry Shum Jr. ), Santana, Quinn, Kurt, and Puck in pursuit of their dreams.

8. "The Rocky Horror Glee Show" (Season 2, Episode 5)

There were three musicals featured in the series, but one of them stands out. “Rocky Horror” is not exactly the type of musical you envision in a high school drama production. However, there isn’t a musical that makes more sense to the glee club than this one. Mr. Schuester’s intent was to win Emma back, but he soon finds out that “Rocky Horror” is the perfect fit for the New Directions, because it exalts the outcasts and embraces each person’s identity. Finn and Sam deal with body image struggles, while Mercedes finally feels good in her own skin. “The Rocky Horror Glee Show” is eccentric and the soundtrack is worth the repeat.

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

Coldplay ’s “The Scientist” is already a sad song, let alone after a break-up. In this case, three break-ups! Finn feels out of place in New York and on top of that, he can detect Rachel and Brody’s chemistry from miles away. Blaine misses spending time with Kurt so much he opts for cheating on him instead. Santana states that her relationship with Brittany is no longer working, since her priorities have changed. Three break-ups with three iconic covers. Here is a shout-out to “Teenage Dream” (piano version), “Mine," and “The Scientist," of course!

6. "Nationals" (Season 3, Episode 21)

It took three seasons, but they made it! The New Directions won their first trophy in the Nationals, and this one was well-deserved. The singing and dancing was on-point this time and there was no surprise kiss to ruin it all (cough cough Finchel). Rachel’s performance of “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” even wowed Carmen Tibedoux ( Whoopi Goldberg ), landing her the dream spot in NYADA. The win was emotional for the fans, but it hit a bit harder when Mr. Schuester won Teacher of the Year, and everyone in the auditorium sang “We Are the Champions.” A killer Queen track for a long-awaited Glee occasion.

Ex-JOURNEY Singer STEVE PERRY Was 'Emotionally Stunned' By 'Don't Stop Believin'' Achievement

Former JOURNEY singer Steve Perry has reacted to the news that the band's timeless rock anthem "Don't Stop Believin'" has officially been declared the "Biggest Song Of All Time" by Forbes . According to the RIAA ( Recording Industry Association of America ),the hit rock song likely heard by everyone around the world is now an 18-times-platinum-certified single.

Earlier today (Wednesday, March 20), Perry shared a link to the Forbes article and he included the following message: "When this 'Don't Stop Believin'' , 'The Biggest Song of ALL Time' article came out yesterday {3/19/24}I was so emotionally stunned. To be part of such a moment as this made me reflect on my parents. By that I mean, though I lost them both years ago, I was so happy for them because they are truly the reason this is happening. My dad was a singer and both of them were very musical. So on behalf of my Mom and Dad, I thank every one of you for so many years of support."

JOURNEY co-founder and lead guitarist Neal Schon was one of the musicians who commented below Perry 's post on Instagram , writing: "That's great Steve . God Bless. I myself reflect on the great time we had writing this song. Respectfully Neal Schon ".

You've heard "Don't Stop Believin'" literally everywhere since the 1980s: on the radio of every car you've ever owned, at every major sporting event you've attended in the last 20 years (including a live performance by the band at this year's NFC Championship Game between the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers ),sung by Tom Cruise , Alec Baldwin and Mary J. Blige in the film "Rock Of Ages" , and covered by the cast of the TV show "Glee" . You heard it and then stared at a black screen in horror for a full 10 seconds wondering whether your DVR wasn't set to record the full episode, and then had it running through your head while you argued with friends over whether Tony Soprano got whacked in the diner or not.

Released in October 1981 for JOURNEY 's seventh studio album "Escape" through Columbia Records , "Don't Stop Believin'" quickly became the band's signature song. Critical acclaim was instant, with Billboard praising the "fluid guitar and vocal." AllMusic declared "Don't Stop Believin'" a "perfect rock song" and an "anthem", featuring "one of the best opening keyboard riffs in rock." Schon wrote the instantly recognizable bass line, and keyboardist and rhythm guitar Jonathan Cain had kept the song title from encouragement his father gave him as a struggling musician living on Sunset Boulevard. Decades after its release, the song became the best-selling digital track from the twentieth century, with over seven million downloads.

In a 2009 interview with CBC 's "Q" cultural affairs show, Perry said he always thought "Don't Stop Believin'" had potential as a single. It was always a hit with live audiences, though it didn't get great radio play at the time it was issued, he said.

"When we were doing the song in 1981, I knew something was happening, but honestly, when I saw it in the film 'Monster' with Patty Jenkins , I started think, 'Oh my goodness there's really something.'"

He added: "The lyric is a strong lyric about not giving up, but it's also about being young, it's also about hanging out, not giving up and looking for that emotion hiding somewhere in the dark that we're all looking for. It's about having hope and not quitting when things get tough, because I'm telling you things get tough for everybody."

Current JOURNEY singer Arnel Pineda , who has been fronting the band for 17 years, told CBS News in 2012, "Even before I discovered 'Don't Stop Believin'' , it has been my motto — you know, to never stop believing in myself. The life that I've gone through, all those hardships, I never stopped believing that someday there is something magical that will happen in my life."

In 2020, at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, "Don't Stop Believin'" became a rallying call for patients recovering from COVID-19 at two hospitals in New York and Michigan. The 1981 hit was being played at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan and the New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital during celebrations for patients prevailing over the coronavirus.

Perry reunited with JOURNEY for the first time in years as they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in April 2017. The iconic singer appeared onstage with his former bandmates as they each gave speeches, but did not perform with the group later in the event.

Perry 's final full concert with JOURNEY took place in early 1987. He later rejoined his bandmates for a brief performance in 1991 to honor late concert promoter Bill Graham . He also appeared with JOURNEY when they received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2005.

JOURNEY will team up with DEF LEPPARD for a 2024 stadium concert tour of North America. The 23-city tour opens July 6 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis and concludes September 8 at Coors Field in Denver. The opening act for most of the tour dates will be fellow Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer Steve Miller and his band. Two other Rock Hall inductees will alternate as opening acts for the seven shows Miller is not playing — CHEAP TRICK and HEART .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Steve Perry (@steveperrymusic)

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Lea Michele Is Pregnant, Expecting Baby No. 2 With Husband Zandy Reich

Lea michele and zandy reich, who just celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary, announced that they’re expecting their second baby..

Lea Michele has some gleeful news.

The Glee alum shared she and husband Zandy Reich —who are parents to son Ever , 3—are expecting their second baby together.

Alongside photos of Lea caressing her baby bump in a white shawl, she captioned her March 27 Instagram post, "Mommy, Daddy and Ever are overjoyed."

The darling news comes two weeks after the couple celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary. Lea commemorated the milestone by sharing a red carpet pic with her husband, simply writing , "I love you Z."

Lea and Zandy's journey to parenthood came not long after they tied the knot in 2019, when they welcomed  ever in August 2020. 

Since then, Lea, who returned to her Broadway roots for the Spring Awakening anniversary reunion in 2021 before taking the stage in Funny Girl the following year, has shared insight into balancing motherhood and her career.

"I definitely had mom guilt, for sure, of leaving him and not being there 24/7," she told E! News in April 2022 . "But it was so important for me to show him me doing what I really love."

But through the highs and lows, Lea was born to play the role of mom. "Motherhood is beautiful, it's intense, it's hard," the 37-year-old continued. "It's the greatest thing I've ever done."

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It also helped to have a partner like Zandy.

"He's such an incredible father," Lea reflected . "He really just helps me to relax. I'm a very anxious person. Luckily it just brings me down to earth and grounds me and helps me to just enjoy it more and be less hard on myself. I'm very lucky to have such a supportive partner." 

Keep reading to see where forever began for Lea and Zandy.

The actress is first romantically linked to the retail entrepreneur in July 2017. "They have been friends for a while and started dating recently," an insider confirms to E! News. 

At the 2017 Emmys, Lea tells E! News exclusively on the red carpet that her new man is "The One," at least according to  Glee creator  Ryan Murphy . 

"So Ryan is like my family… one of the greatest friends in the world that I have, so when my boyfriend got the seal of approval from Ryan Murphy, that's it. Yeah, my parents, friends, whatever, but Ryan Murphy, done deal seals the deal," she gushes. 

In April 2018, Zandy proposes to Lea with a 4-carat diamond ring. "They couldn't be happier," a source tells E! News at the time. 

Lea sends her hubby a sweet Valentine's Day message in 2019, writing, "Happy Valentine's Day Z. I love you!"

Lea and her besties, which include  Emma Roberts , Jamie-Lynn Sigler and JoAnna Garcia Swisher , head to Hawaii for an unforgettable bachelorette party  in Feb. 2019. 

Wearing a drop dead gorgeous bridal gown by Monique Lhuillier, Lea exchanges vows with Zandy on March 9, 2019 in Napa Valley, Calif. "We are so excited to be married and grateful to be surrounded by our friends and family. And most of all, we're so happy to spend the rest of our lives together," they tell  People .

After tying the knot, the newlyweds enjoy a tropical honeymoon vacation. As for how they're adjusting to married life, an insider shares, "They spent the first month on their honeymoon and basically reliving the best moments of the wedding. They've been going through photos and videos and just reaching out to thank everyone that was involved. They were so ecstatic about the entire weekend and just keep talking about how magical and incredible it was."

Zandy and Lea make their first official appearance as husband and wife at the GLAAD Media Awards in March 2019. 

"My forever valentine," she writes on Instagram in Feb. 2020. "love you z."

In April 2020, a source confirms to E! News that Lea, 33, is pregnant and expecting the couple's first child.

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