Glee was a pop culture phenomenon throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s. While it dropped off most people's radars by 2012 or so, Glee nevertheless remained an important part of television history. It proved that musicals could be successful, it reinforced the popularity of the high school genre, it introduced millions of people to a ton of great music, and it heralded a rise in social justice.
But at the same time, there are various aspects that to this day look incredibly dated, even though the show is barely over ten years old. Such is the fickle nature of television! These are five ways Glee aged well, and five ways it didn't.
Well: The Music
Glee contained a lot of great music, and many of the songs that the show has done remain timeless. The good thing about Glee is that it ran the gamut from timeless Broadway belters to classic songs from the 70s and 80s to modern masterpieces.
It also tackled a wide range of subjects, ensuring that there is a little something there for everyone. Glee is nothing if not an entertaining musical, and what a musical it is!
Poorly: The Music
Unfortunately, the quality of the music bends both ways. Some songs were classic belters that will never get old. And others were very much a product of their day, resulting in musical numbers that seem horrifically dated today.
Some of the more egregious examples include Party Rock Anthem, Gangnam Style, Blurred Lines, and Sexy and I Know It. Maybe those songs will be classics, but for now, they reek of the early 2010s.
Well: Equality
If there's one thing Glee was really great at (well, aside from the music that is), it was vouching for social equality for all. Throughout the first two seasons, the show primarily concerned itself with Kurt and Blaine's gay romance.
Following that the show also veered into issues of poverty, physical disabilities, eating disorders, racism/stereotypes, and transgender issues through Unique Adams. Glee undoubtedly helped herald the liberal social justice of the late 2010s.
Dated: After School Special-y
Unfortunately, many of these issues were handled in a very "after school special" sort of way. The show was often criticized for its patronizing "after school special" tone, as if it thought we weren't smart or sensitive enough to understand the issues it had presented.
A modern show may find a more natural and fluid way to integrate its progressive messages. Glee just shoved them down our throats in the most blunt manner possible.
Well: Choreography
We suppose good choreography never really grows dated, but there's definitely a sense of time in the way people dance. Watch a musical from the 1950s and you'll know that it's from the 1950s (even without the more obvious visual cues like costumes and camera/color quality).
Ditto for disco. Is there anything more 70s than disco? Luckily, Glee still looks fresh when it comes to the dancing. Just ignore the Gangnam Style dance.
Poorly: The Cast
Unfortunately, very few - if any - of the Glee cast have gone on to bigger and better things. Because of this, it feels very much a product of its time, stuck in the pop culture scene of 2011.
Aside from maybe Jane Lynch, Melissa Benoist, Jonathan Groff, and Darren Criss, the actors haven't been in anything of note, and none have really launched extensive or prosperous music careers.
Well: High School Story
There's a reason that high school dramas and comedies are still so popular - they're universal, owing largely to the general issues of teenage life.
Even a high school story from the past - say, Grease - still feels relevant owing to the issues that the characters face. Bullying, scary career prospects, college, not fitting in, acceptance, tough parents - these are things that we will forever face, and Glee embraces them wholeheartedly.
Poorly: The Cast's Reputation
Going hand in hand with the slowly-fading cast are their reputations. Unfortunately, many stars of Glee have faced controversy throughout the years, and it's doing uncountable damage on the Glee brand.
Lea Michele and Naya Rivera have developed poor reputations for their personal behavior, and Mark Salling committed suicide over his impending prison sentence.
Well: The Production Values
Nothing ages quite like a show's production values. Whether it's cheap sets, poor lighting, dated costumes/outfits, or just the general quality of the cameras, many shows from the 2000s have grown dated owing to their production values. But not Glee.
Glee never seemed to skimp on budget, and it still looks fantastic to this day. Especially the extravagant dancing numbers. Even the relatively cheap first season still looks fresh and modern, despite being over ten years old.
Poorly: Some Themed Episodes
This one is sort of in-line with the dated music previously mentioned. Every once in a while, Glee produced themed episodes that centered around one particular artist.
Some of these themes have not aged particularly well, like episodes centered around Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry. All great artists, but all very much products of their time. You certainly wouldn't see a Katy Perry episode in 2020, that's for sure.