Top 10 Best Glee Characters

It’s impossible to talk about Glee without bringing up this driven and talented diva. Played by Broadway veteran Lea Michele, Rachel was among the first to audition for the New Directions in the series’ pilot and instantly established herself as a force to be reckoned with. Over Glee’s six seasons, Rachel experienced love, heartbreak, success, and failure, all while learning to grow as a performer and a person. Many Glee fans consider the show to be, at its core, the story of Rachel Berry’s journey to becoming a Tony Award-winning Broadway actress. Regardless of if you agree or not, you can’t deny the show would definitely not be the same without her.

Sam first appeared in season two as a character very similar to Finn Hudson’s in Glee’s first season: a talented jock who generally reserved his singing voice for the shower. In later episodes, Sam grew into a sweet, honorable, and slightly dorky character that was completely unique to him. He dated many of the girls in glee club, but seemed so genuine and sincere in all his relationships that he never came across like a playboy. In his most vulnerable moments, Sam opened up about his body image issues and insecurities, which only made him all the more relatable. He’s such a funny and endearing character that we just can’t help but smile anytime he appears on screen.

Although she wasn’t always front and center, Quinn experienced so many ups and downs and changes to her personality throughout the series that they made her a truly enthralling character to watch. Originally introduced as a typical high school queen bee-type antagonist, Quinn found herself knocked down the social ladder when she became pregnant. Quinn became a much more down to earth and caring person in later seasons after learning some important life lessons about popularity and friendship. After season three, an appearance from Quinn was a rare but welcome treat in any episode, and we wish we could’ve seen more of Quinn’s post-McKinley life.

As a self-proclaimed diva with a big voice and an even bigger personality, Mercedes quickly became a fan favorite with every song and scene she appeared in. She was the first to audition for the New Directions, and throughout her time at McKinley was never afraid to advocate for herself and her talents. Though she often felt like she was living in Rachel Berry’s shadow, Mercedes proved time and time again that she was a powerhouse in her own right. Fiercely loyal with a generous heart, Mercedes deserved all of her musical success following her graduation from McKinley, and we still get chills listening to her beautiful voice.

Though originally a member of a rival glee club, the Dalton Academy Warblers, Blaine instantly became a character well loved by many from his first appearance in season two. Of course, that’s not very surprising when you consider he had the advantage of Darren Criss’ incredible voice. As Kurt’s love interest, Blaine is shown to be very confident in his sexuality, but occasionally clingy and possessive of Kurt. His flaws make him a much more compelling and complex character, and we enjoyed watching his story unfold just as much as we enjoyed his solos. After all, only Blaine could make us cry at an acoustic cover of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream”.

As Glee’s main antagonist, Sue got her fair share of screentime, and we loved every minute of it. Whether she was coaching the Cheerios or plotting to sabotage the New Directions, Sue was delightfully wicked and one of the most entertaining parts of any Glee episode. She showed her sensitive side in the way she cared for her sister Jean and Cheerio Becky, both of whom had Down Syndrome. Sue didn’t have many solos throughout the series, but those she did have were absolutely unforgettable. From her iconic tracksuits to her witty insults and comebacks, Sue Sylvester was a big part of what made Glee such an exceptional show.

Rachel may have been the star of the glee club, but Finn Hudson was the heart. As the quarterback of the football team who joined the New Directions after Will heard him singing in the locker room, Finn dealt with a lot of pressure from the various social circles he interacted with. He often felt like he was underachieving in comparison to his peers, but never realized how much his friends looked up to him as a leader. Following the death of Finn’s actor, Cory Monteith, Finn died in the show as well. An episode titled The Quarterback aired as a tribute to both Finn and Cory that showed how much he meant to everyone he knew.

Heather Morris, a former background dancer for Beyoncé, landed her role as Brittany when she was on set teaching choreography to the Glee cast, and we’re so thankful she did. From season one and onwards, Brittany’s character grew from just another Cheerio to the complex, funny, and talented character we know and love. Although she often comes across as ditzy due to her frequently absurd non sequiturs, Brittany clearly has a huge heart and never judges anyone by their outward appearance. She is also undoubtedly the best female dancer in the Glee cast, and it’s always a treat to see her show off her skills during a complicated dance number.

As the first openly gay character on Glee, Kurt’s struggle with his sexuality was one of the first social issues the series tackled. This made many viewers relate to and sympathize with Kurt from very early on in the show. The role was specifically created for Chris Colfer to play after his initial audition for the role of Artie Abrams, which makes Kurt feel all the more realistic and genuine as a character. Kurt brought a lot of heart to the series, especially in his relationships with his love interest, Blaine, his father, Burt, and his stepbrother, Finn. He is a very important character to many Glee fans, but especially to those who have ever struggled with their sexual identity.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Tina Cohen-Chang
A Shy & Reserved Student Who Comes Into Her Own Thanks to Singing

Mike Chang
A Caring Student Who’s Talented at Football & Dance

Sheldon Beiste
An Intense But Sensitive Football Coach

Artie Abrams
An Ambitious Student Who Tries His Best Not to Let His Disability Bring Him Down

Burt Hummel
A Protective & Accepting Father (& Eventual Stepfather)

Originally introduced as a minor antagonist in season one, Santana was a little hard to love initially due to her tendencies to intentionally stir up drama and chaos wherever she went. However, as her character continued to develop, audiences began to fall in love with Santana and the talented actress behind her, Naya Rivera. By far the most intriguing aspect of Santana’s character development was her coming to terms with her sexual identity as a lesbian, and how her acceptance of herself helped melt away her cold exterior without sacrificing her quick wit. With the 2020 passing of Naya Rivera, each scene Santana appears in feels even more important to fans of Glee as an enduring part of her legacy as a performer.