Morgan Lanyon
On March 20, Glee, the musical dramedy that ran from 2009 to 2015 came to an end with a very unexpected storyline. As millions of “Gleeks” mourn the end of their favorite show, they also ponder the changes it underwent throughout the years, and the direction that the writers took in the finale.
This was the show that defied the standards that television had previously set. Touching on topics ranging from teenage pregnancy to dying young, Glee brought out every social issue and embraced it.
The show persevered following actor Cory Monteith’s (and his protagonist’s Finn’s) death in 2013. Consequently, the original ending was changed. According to a statement released by show creator Ryan Murphy, the original ending was going to depict Rachel as a big Broadway star, returning home to Mckinley High School, where Finn (Monteith) would be a teacher. Their reunion would have been the end of the show.
The actual finale was touching, yet odd, to say the least. It included many predictable scenarios, such as Kurt and Blaine having a baby, with Rachel as a surrogate. However, the ending also incorporated some unforeseeable events, like Rachel marrying Jesse St. James, who was the main antagonist of season one, and Sue Sylvester being Vice President under Jeb Bush in the year 2020.
Now, in my middle school days, I was a die-hard, scream out loud, cry-during-scenes, concert-going fan. But, as the show and I aged together, my love for Glee’s gleeness seemed to fade. It seemed as if it had lost its original values, and were only looking to gain new viewers.
The plot of the show following the graduation of many glee club members has been disorganized to say the least. However, the final episodes of the show really brought it back to its original beauty and style by bringing back past and present characters, and really touching upon what the show’s purpose was from the beginning: loving yourself.
As creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk continue on with their FX series American Horror Story, the world says goodbye to Glee: the show that reminded them to “don’t stop believing.”
