Glee!
Glee is basically about a bunch of underdogs coming together and trying to succeed. It’s a comedy, a drama, a musical. It’s cliché and ridiculous and faily and awesome, all at once. It definitely has its bad and rage-y moments, but it’s also touching and funny and worth it.
Glee has a really huge cast, okay, and they tend to favour only a few, unfortunately. Just so you know, my bias shows through a lot, I can’t help it! Also, I’m trying not to spoil anything, so I’ve left out a lot of character connections.
Let’s start with the adults.
Will Schuester
The driving force behind glee club. He takes over the glee club in the first episode, and also teaches Spanish. He’s married to Terri, but has feeling for Emma Pillsbury, the guidance councillor. He pretty much has a big, messy love life. He’s generally well-meaning but not exactly the best teacher.
Sue Sylvester
Cheerleading coach. Generally mean and very much comic relief. She’s pretty awesome and definitely has a softer side. She hates Will and is constantly trying to bring down the glee club.
Principal Figgins
Principal of McKinley. He’s always concerned with the school budget, which doesn’t favour the glee club. Sometimes good, sometimes mean. Always awesome.
Emma Pillsbury
Guidance councillor. Majorly in love with Will. Has OCD. Has lots of pamphlets.
Ken Tanaka
Football coach in season one. Likes Emma.
Shannon Beiste
Football coach in season two. Really awesome and a great coach.
Terri Schuester
Will’s wife. Intense and kind of crazy. Lady has issues.
Burt Hummel
Kurt’s dad. Really great, mostly because he tries so hard with his son, and he’s not perfect. An awesome dad.
Carole Hudson
Finn’s mother. Pretty awesome.
There are a lot of adult guest starts on Glee, some have more screen time and plot than others. This could go on forever if I mentioned them all, and it would spoil the plot, but these are the main adult characters.
The students!
Rachel Berry
The star of the glee club and constantly lets everyone know it. Obnoxious and intense. Very talented and demands recognition from all. I love her a lot, she definitely grows on you.
Finn Hudson
Quarterback of the football team. Very concerned with popularity and image. Kind of dopey. Always has girl problems. Lead guy in the glee club.
Quinn Fabray
Cheerleader. Also very concerned with popularity and image. Has major self-esteem issues and many of her problems relate to guys.
Noah Puckerman
Goes by Puck. Jock on the football team. Self-described badass. Sleeps around a lot. He’s Jewish and it’s a big part of his identity.
Kurt Hummel
He’s gay, which is a very big part of his character. Loves fashion and singing. Sarcastic. Has an awesome dad. He has amazing range, can go very high and very low. He’s absolutely amazing.
Mercedes Jones
Self-described diva, also into fashion. One of the best singers, but sadly underused.
Tina Cohen-Chang
Goth-like fashion sense. Really comes into her own as the show goes on and is so awesome in season two. Also underused.
Artie Abrams
In a wheelchair. Unfortunately sexist and the biggest nice guy.
Santana Lopez
Cheerleader. Awesomely conniving and mean. A very complicated person. She has much more screen time in season two, she’s amazing.
Brittany Pierce
Cheerleader. Dim but loveable. Amazing dancer. Becomes more prominent in season two.
Mike Chang
Footballer. Doesn’t do much until season two, then he becomes completely amazing. He has the best background reactions and faces. Also and amazing dancer.
Sam Evans
Transfers in season two. Footballer. Wants to be popular but he’s very much a dork.
Lauren Zizes
Joins glee club in season two. Wrestler. She’s pretty great.
Matt Rutherford
Footballer. Don’t get too attached because he randomly disappears after season one. Pretty much a fill-in dancer for the glee club.
Jesse St. James
Member of Vocal Adrenaline. A leading man. Conniving and awesome.
Again, there are more but I don’t want to spoil the show.
Some random pictures and gifs:
[gifs mostly from here.]
Unfortunately Fox is really annoying about videos on youtube and a lot keeps getting removed, but here:
Click to viewAnd I can't find it but one of my absolute favourite songs on Glee is by a rival glee club, Vocal Adrenaline, they sing Bohemian Rhapsody.
Unfortunately Glee fandom is spread out and a lot is on tumblr. Here are some places to find stuff:
gleeclub [glee news and info]
glee_tunes [dl links for the music]
fyeahgleeclub [source for spoilers and news]
GleekIvan [this guy posts all sorts about glee, gifs, videos, news]
Obviously there are lots more, and lots specialising is one character/actor.
So yeah, a really sloppy, super quick primer. Watch it! :D?
And if you want episode downloads, I can totally provide.