Why You Should (and Shouldn't) watch Glee

I just finished the season finale, Sectionals, on Hulu this week.  Sorry I am late to this.

What your normal high school tv show or movie does:  Focus on kids.  The teachers are only there for the enhancement of the kid development--Tina Fey in Mean Girls is a prime example.  We know very little about her life other than as entertainment for the kids or the personal development of the kid characters.  Other shows will focus on ONE teacher, usually the only one on campus who cares about kids--like Dangerous Minds, Stand & Deliver, or Freedom Writers.  These shows will often show how horrible kids lives are so they can overheroicize a particular teacher (at the expense of other teachers on campus who are portrayed as purely evil).

What this show does:  Both kids and teachers are equal.  The kids have lives that are both tough and good--some have parents that are not really understanding of them, some have parents who are loving and amazing, they all focus most on their friends which is exactly where most kids are mentally in high school. The teachers, however, are equally highlighted--not just the ONE inspiring one but the nice coach type guy, the counselor, the Cheerio leader (brilliant!) who surprises you by caring lovingly for a sister with Down's Syndrome in spite of being almost pure evil otherwise.  What is even more miraculous, the kids and teachers have separate spheres that intersect during school and extra curriculars. They bond with kids, but they have separate lives--exactly the way it is and should be portrayed.  There was a brief moment of a whimsy crush but it was done on a limited basis, not as a focal point.

The reason you should not watch it--the show highlights the way kids actually act and talk in high school which, if you have been there recently or taught in that environment, is fairly unsavory.  It does not have the appearance of an uplifting show but the moral, the MORALITY of the show is incredible for kids today.  The main character is surprisingly humble.  She is full of strength in her talent and seen as overly confident in that area, but she is willing to admit when she is wrong, she has empathy for others, and most importantly, when faced with adversity, she trusts in herself and is loyal to people who need her protection.

I love this show and if you don't mind the gritty reality of teenagers, you probably love it too.