One of the best episodes of TV ever premiered 17 years ago today

‘You think this is hard? Try being waterboarded, that’s hard.’

It’s the utterly bonkers – and yet somehow pitch-perfect – opening line to the pilot episode of Ryan Murphy’s magnum opus: Glee season one (yes, even over American Horror Story, argue with the wall)

Jane Lynch’s acerbic Sue Sylvester’s megaphone-touting declaration to her cheer squad kicks off 50 minutes of television so absurd and yet so compelling that it’s a masterclass in how to open a TV show with a bang.

If you were living under a rock in May 2009 and somehow missed the launch of this cultural phenomenon, then let me catch you up.

Much like Marc Jacobs-clad teen Kurt (Chris Colfer) is unceremoniously chucked into a bin by high school jocks Finn (Corey Monteith) and Puck (Mark Salling) in the first minutes of the episode, we viewers are plunged into the cutthroat world of American high school in the late 00s.

Enter Mr Schue (Matthew Morrison), a Spanish teacher who can’t speak Spanish with a passion for show choir and a hankering for his own high school glory days, where he no doubt peaked in life.

After the current choir teacher, Sandy, is kicked out over child predator accusations from the ambitious and slightly unhinged Rachel Berry (Lea Michele), Mr Schue launches his bid to set up the brand spanking new Glee Club.

Oh, and this is all in the first four minutes.

Then, we get the auditions – the perfect vehicle to introduce us to our main players. There’s Kurt with his baffingly deadpan delivery of Mr Cellophane, the birth of Tina Cohen-Chang’s (Jenna Ushkowitz) ‘stutter’ and Mercedes’s (Amber Riley) overlooked powerhouse vocals.

Then we have the aforementioned Rachel, whose musically infused monologue about being a star holds up as some of the best character exposition in TV history.

It includes the show’s first of many slushee throws, her dramatic fake crying, and the revelation she isn’t homophobic as she has ‘two gay dads’ – it’s a fever dream.

And just when you think the show can’t possibly go even more leftfield, Mr Schue threatens to expose high school heartthrob Finn’s non-existent drug stash unless he agrees to join the club.

What’s perhaps most impressive is that Ryan manages to plant the seeds for so many wild dynamics fromMr Schue and Sue’s ever-escalating rivalry to his wife Terri’s ‘pregnancy’ and flirtation with fellow teacher Emma.

That’s not even to mention the students’ own plethora of problems. One thing is for sure: there’s trouble in paradise for the school’s power couple, cheerleader Quinn and our plucky protagonist Finn.

You would think the episode would feel ridiculously overstuffed, but somehow every thread seamlessly merges into a glorious hotpot of high camp nonsense you can’t stop watching.

This all culminates in the final number of the show, Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing with Rachel and Finn leading the powerful cover that is now synonymous with the show.

I’m not afraid to admit that to this day, hearing those opening notes makes me misty-eyed with nostalgia (and remains a karaoke staple for my sister and I).

And I’m far from alone.

The splash this made at the time cannot be overstated. As one Reddit user, LiveFromNewYork95, put it: ‘It’s hard to explain just how much that pilot episode of Glee moved the needle.’

This was the show to watch; it changed the game for LGBTQ+ TV in the years leading up to same-sex marriage being legalised in the US and reinvented the wheel when it came to meta coming-of-age shows that haven’t quite been replicated since.

Only Glee could get away with the storylines and whiplash-inducing dialogue it puts on screen.

‘One of the best pieces of television ever aired,’ Metro reporter Danni rightfully declared.

‘Somehow the most progressive yet the most offensive show at the same time. There’ll never be another one like it,’ Ana shared on X.

‘Made me who I am and I’m so serious,’ martymauser echoed. ’17 years ago herstory was made,’ Brooke agreed.

The bold humour, perfectly tempered satire and genuine levels of musical talent exuding from this show created the perfect storm and, even 17 years on, it’s a standout pilot episode and is showrunner Ryan at his very best.

Since that shining first episode, the show has taken a more sour turn, tainted by the real-life loss of cast members, behind-the-scenes controversy and a truly terrible final three seasons.

But none of what came after can take away from the brilliance of the pilot.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a Glee rewatch I’ve accidentally started.

Glee is available to stream on Disney Plus now.

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