On Oct. 21, fans of the hit TV series Glee woke up to the news that a revival of the show had been ordered by Disney+ and Hulu. The original series, which ran from 2009 to 2015, was praised for its tackling of real-world issues, and had an ensemble main cast, with names like Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Amber Riley, Kevin McHale, Chris Colfer, later joined by Heather Morris, Naya Rivera, Darren Criss, Harry Shum Jr., Alex Newell, and Chord Overstreet, among others. Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan created the series, which would go on to win six Primetime Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and the 2009 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
No two episodes of the original series were the same. Over the course of 121 episodes across six seasons, there were 729 musical performances, with songs ranging from show tunes to chart hits to classics. Additionally, it inspired a reality TV spin-off, The Glee Project, where the winners of the show (and other notable contestants) would have recurring roles on the main show, as well as Glee Viet Nam, a Vietnamese adaptation that aired on FPT Play, DANET, and Zing TV in 2017.
While the original series was great, many fans, like myself, are concerned about the direction the reboot will take. One of these particular issues is the fate of a fan-favorite character, Santana Lopez. The snarky, sarcastic character, portrayed by Naya Rivera, is often described as one of the more iconic characters from the original run. However, in 2020, Rivera tragically passed away while saving her son when their boating trip on Lake Piru took a turn for the worse. As such, fans worry that her character will be killed off-screen. This would not be the first time this has happened, as Cory Monteith’s character, Finn Hudson, was killed off-screen following Monteith’s death in 2013, prior to the production of the fifth season. Rivera’s character, Santana, was in a relationship with Brittany S. Pierce, played by Heather Morris (who has confirmed her participation in the reboot). The relationship portrayed on the show was considered a milestone for lesbian representation and visibility in the media, and as such, many are hoping Santana is not killed off, instead hoping for some off-screen contribution to the plot to keep Rivera’s memory alive. I personally believe this would be the best way to go forward, as any other option would feel disrespectful to Rivera’s memory.
Fans are also hoping for the return of fan favorite characters Kurt Hummel and Blaine Anderson, portrayed by Chris Colfer and Darren Criss, respectively. There is doubt as to whether either would be open to returning, as Colfer has previously stated a return would be emotionally difficult, especially after the deaths of Monteith and Rivera. Criss is currently active in numerous projects and is booked for more, and fans worry that scheduling conflicts could prevent a return. I personally like both of their characters, so I am hoping they are brought back, even if it’s only for a few episodes.
Another fan-favorite character that many hope to see return is Sue Sylvester, portrayed by Jane Lynch. Despite being considered the main antagonist, the character is often seen as iconic due to Lynch’s straight-faced yet scathing delivery and unforgettable one-liners. Lynch has alluded to a return, posting news of the reboot on her Instagram story. As far as I’m concerned, this is good news, as it could mean the return of an over-the-top TV villain with that signature deadpan humor that always makes me laugh.
Personally, I would like to see Jake Zyrus return in some capacity. Zyrus, who appeared in the original series as Sunshine Corazon, has since publicly transitioned, and his return would provide the show with an opportunity to acknowledge its history while welcoming back an artist whose life and career have evolved since his time on the show. If he were to return, I would love to see his identity respected in his return, and it would be wonderful to see him reconnect with the franchise on his own terms.
I would also love to see Damian McGinty reprise his role as Rory Flanagan. McGinty, who won the first season of The Glee Project, appeared in 18 episodes of the original series, but was well known prior to his appearance on the show, having been a member of Celtic Thunder since he was 14 years old. Since then, he has remained a member of Celtic Thunder, and in 2023, he competed on the sixth season of the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars, where he and professional partner Kylee Vincent were one of three runner-up couples.
Glee was not a show I watched during the original run. However, upon joining my school’s glee club in senior year of high school, I started watching the show to compare my experience to it. Many of the numbers that we did were numbers from the show, which was an added bonus, and I often found that the Glee versions of the songs we performed were easier for me to sing, as someone with a lower vocal range.
The return of Glee will likely be very successful, but I personally would like to see the return of the cast members and characters mentioned above. While not much is currently known about the reboot, nicknamed the “Gleeboot” by fans, if it can find a way to draw in new fans in younger Gen Z and Gen Alpha, while keeping the original Millennial and older Gen Z fanbase, it will almost certainly succeed.