Glee is about a Glee Club in a fictional high school that houses most of the outcasts and 'losers' of the school. Sweet, optimistic Spanish teacher Will (Matthew Morrison) decides to take over the club when the last teacher is kicked out of the school, but he may get more than he bargained for. Lead singer Rachel (Lea Michele) is a star with a fantastic voice, but her overbearing personality and awkwardness does not make her a favorite among the other students. Will manages to blackmail popular football star Finn (Cory Monteith) into joining when he hears the boy's natural singing voice, and Rachel is instantly smitten by her co-star. The club also has sassy Mercedes (Amber Riley), stuttering Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz), handicapped Artie (Kevin McHale), and gay soprano Kurt (Chris Colfer). In time other members of the team join for various reasons.
Major storylines include Will's wife and her fake pregnancy, the real pregnancy of Finn's girlfriend Quinn (Dianna Agron), although the father is Finn's best friend Puck (Mark Salling), and the relentless hatred for Glee Club by cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch). The show is funny, snarky, sometimes cruel, often awkward, and it has some moments of being a little too hokey and preachy, but the fans either love that part or learn to forgive it. The first season is all about the club's rise from nothing to a serious contender for the State Sectionals, and the struggles they have along the way with one another and their own problems.
The show itself is extremely well written and humorous, with exceptional comedic performances from all of the leads, but let's face it, the thing that makes Glee stand out is the music. The singles from each episode are released on iTunes every week and are downloaded greedily almost immediately. The CD came out and was very successful. Songs that you've always loved before from Queen, The Police, Kanye West, and Rihanna are given new treatment from the show's talented performers. The cast sings, dances, acts, and they are just bubbling with talent and enthusiasm. It's impossible not to get sucked in with them.
The DVD comes with all thirteen episodes from the first season, including the early aired pilot, and with a bunch of small extras. Most of the extras have already been released by FOX as they prepared to release Glee, but they're still all great to see here. There's full audition pieces from Lea Michele and Amber Riley, two special behind-the-scenes look at casting and the show's start, dance boot camp information, a few cute clips of Jane Lynch, fun video footage of the stars telling you things you didn't know about them, and the best part: video diaries! Most of the cast went to a press junket in New York City when the show was about to premiere and they were asked to take video footage of what they did. I could watch those videos over and over, because it really shows you how warm and friendly the actors are, and how special the crew really is.
For anyone who loved the show, this is a must-have DVD set. Yes, they probably could have waited until the show was over, and yes this is likely just a grab for more money to milk the popularity of Glee, but fans won't care. They want the episodes and extras, and they want them now! If you haven't tried out this excellent, creative show, this is the perfect way to get caught up before it returns in April. Give Glee a shot, you won't be sorry. Glee Season 1 Volume 1 is out in stores now!
ComicsOnline gives Glee Season 1 Volume 1 five out of five beautiful harmonies.
Buy Glee Season 1 Volume 1 at Amazon.com now
