Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Edgy musical comedy has positive messages, sexual content.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Glee
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 189 parent reviews
Based on 701 kid reviews
Kids say that this show is a mix of humor and serious themes, addressing issues like LGBTQ+ representation, bullying, and teen challenges, although some find its handling of sensitive topics problematic. The music is widely praised, making it enjoyable for sleepovers and binge-watching, but many suggest it's more suitable for teens aged 12 and up due to the presence of sexual innuendos and mature content.
- sexual themes
- music praised
- humor mixed
- mature content
- representation important
- binge-worthy
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In GLEE, high school Spanish teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) renews his own passion for music by starting a glee club composed of talented misfits. His star pupils turn out to be a pitch-perfect but unpopular overachiever Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) and Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith), a well-rounded jock whose friends practically disown him for putting singing before sports. Other glee club members such as Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer), Mercedes Jones (Amber Riley), Artie Abrams (Kevin McHale), and Quinn Fabray (Dianna Agron) add their talents to the group. Will is committed to the club, but his home life—spats with his wife (Jessalyn Gilsig) and with the cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch)—isn't as fulfilling. As the series progresses, the glee club faces teen pregnancy, love, first-time sexual encounters, and even death, and the members express their thoughts about all of it with song-and-dance numbers.
Is It Any Good?
The combination of offbeat characters, fantastic performances, and a willingness to take on controversial topics make this show a winner despite its flaws. Some critics have complained about Glee's uneven narrative and its overreliance on musical numbers at the expense of story development, but its catchy sensibility will have theater-loving teens buzzing. The show's unusual blend of different high school fare, from Election, High School Musical, and Mean Girls is exciting, as are guest appearances by artists such as Ricky Martin, Gwenyth Paltrow, and Neil Patrick Harris.
If you love singing, musical theater, or show choir, Glee will likely make you happy. For one thing, there's the presence of two big Broadway names (Morrison has starred in shows such as Light in the Piazza, while Michele is known for her stellar work in Funny Girl and Spring Awakening). Adding to the fun is the talented supporting cast, which includes the always-reliable Jane Lynch (of Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, and Party Down fame), a comedian whose gift for deadpan one-liners practically guarantees she'll steal any scene she's in.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about high school hierarchies and whether students truly divide themselves into groups like they do on Glee. Kids: Does your school have cliques, and do you ever have trouble making friends outside the lines? Parents: Do cliques still happen in adulthood, or is high school its own world?
Do you know anyone who's had a problem with bullying (either face-to-face harassment or cyberbullying)? Have you ever tried to stop someone from getting picked on? What might you do if you or someone you know was being bullied?
The show tackles important themes but also leans into stereotypes at times. What stereotypes do you notice? Does the show do anything to challenge them? Why is it important to be aware of stereotypes and the potential damage they can cause?
How do the characters on Glee demonstrate compassion and empathy? What about perseverance and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
Several of the cast members from Glee sadly died at a young age, including Cory Monteith, Mark Salling, and Naya Rivera. Does that knowledge affect how you feel when you watch the show? Where might you turn if you or someone you know were struggling in your own lives?
TV Details
- Premiere date : May 19, 2009
- Cast : Cory Monteith , Lea Michele , Matthew Morrison
- Network : Fox
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School ) , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Empathy , Perseverance , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Awards : BAFTA - BAFTA Nominee , Emmy - Emmy Award Winner , Emmy - Emmy Award Nominee , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Winner , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Nominee , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate