The BEST episodes of Glee season 1

Every episode of Glee season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Glee season 1!

In the face of much criticism, an optimistic high school teacher challenges a group of outcasts to realize their potential in the school's glee club.

Last Updated: 11/22/2024Network: FOXStatus: Ended
Journey to Regionals
star
8.27
3283 votes

#1 - Journey to Regionals

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 6/8/2010

Quinn is getting more anxious by the minute as she expects the baby, plus, Regionals is finally here, but will the Glee Club be able to triumph over Sue Sylvester's plots?

Directors: Brad Falchuk
Writer: Brad Falchuk
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Sectionals
star
8.15
3157 votes

#2 - Sectionals

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/9/2009

Sectionals is finally here for the Glee Club, but when Quinn’s secret unravels, the club may not be able to recover in time to compete. Meanwhile, Sue’s scheming hits an all-time high, and with Emma and Ken’s marriage looming, Will makes a decision that could change his life forever.

Directors: Brad Falchuk
Writer: Brad Falchuk
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pilot
star
7.86
4185 votes

#3 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/19/2009

Will Schuester an optimistic high school teacher, tries to reinvent the McKinley High School's glee club, while reinventing himself. He challenges a group of outcasts to realize their true star potential, while facing harsh criticism from everyone in the school.

Directors: Ryan Murphy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Power of Madonna
star
7.85
3422 votes

#4 - The Power of Madonna

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 4/20/2010

Mr. Schuester is concerned that the girls in the glee club are being disrespected and bullied by the guys. Looking to Madonna and her musical message of equality as inspiration, he challenges the entire team to choose Madonna songs as their next assignment in the hopes that the girls embrace her strength, independence and confidence and that the guys will see the error of their misogynistic ways. The glee club takes the assignment to heart as they perform some of Madonna’s greatest hits, including “Express Yourself” and “Like A Prayer.” Meanwhile, Kurt and Mercedes give Sue a vote of confidence with a makeover that is definitely in “Vogue”.

Directors: Ryan Murphy
Writer: Ryan Murphy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Funk
star
7.82
3111 votes

#5 - Funk

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 6/1/2010

The glee club gets some news that’s sure to rattle a few nerves. Meanwhile, Quinn connects with her “funky” side with a little help from Mercedes, and Will gets revenge on Sue.

Directors: Elodie Keene
Writer: Ian Brennan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Preggers
star
7.76
3400 votes

#6 - Preggers

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/23/2009

Kurt joins the football team just to impress his father. Finn and Quinn's relationship gets a shocking development.

Directors: Brad Falchuk
Writer: Brad Falchuk
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ballad
star
7.74
2793 votes

#7 - Ballad

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/18/2009

Mr. Schuester has the Glee Club split up into pairs to sing their favorite ballad, but when one kid gets sick, he’s forced to step in and winds up in a sticky situation. Meanwhile, Finn has dinner with Quinn’s parents.

Directors: Brad Falchuk
Writer: Brad Falchuk
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mattress
star
7.74
2735 votes

#8 - Mattress

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/2/2009

When the Glee Club is left out of the yearbook because of budget cuts, everyone seems to be relieved that they won’t have to suffer the ridicule of years past. Everyone except Rachel, that is, who wants her legacy cemented in print. Meanwhile, Quinn makes it her mission to be in the Cheerios yearbook photo, and Will and Terri’s relationship is shaken to its core.

Directors: Elodie Keene
Writer: Ryan Murphy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Theatricality
star
7.67
3342 votes

#9 - Theatricality

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/25/2010

Rachel confronts her mother, while Tina faces an identity crisis. New Directions were given a task to sing Lady GaGa songs.

Directors: Ryan Murphy
Writer: Ryan Murphy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Rhodes Not Taken
star
7.65
3099 votes

#10 - The Rhodes Not Taken

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/30/2009

A new face stirs things up for New Directions when April Rhodes (guest star Kristin Chenoweth) lends her voice to the show.

Directors: John Scott
Writer: Ian Brennan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Bad Reputation
star
7.65
3136 votes

#11 - Bad Reputation

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 5/4/2010

Mr. Schuester starts an investigation when a salacious list about members of the glee club circulates the halls of McKinley High. Meanwhile, Sue is mortified when a video of her performing the Olivia Newton-John classic "Physical" surfaces.

Directors: Elodie Keene
Writer: Ian Brennan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Hairography
star
7.65
2673 votes

#12 - Hairography

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/25/2009

Eve guest-stars as a rival glee club’s instructor. The Glee Club checks out their hair-raising competition, and Kurt gives Rachel a makeover.

Directors: Bill D'Elia
Writer: Ian Brennan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Hell-O
star
7.65
3117 votes

#13 - Hell-O

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 4/13/2010

Fresh off their monumental win at Sectionals, New Directions is on top of the world. With an extra spring in their step, they get to work on new numbers for Regionals. But when Rachel and Finn’s budding romance hits a bump in the road after she becomes involved with a competitor, Jesse St. James , it threatens to derail the entire club. Mr. Schuester pays a visit to Shelby Corcoran, coach of Vocal Adrenaline, to confirm Jesse’s motives. Meanwhile, Will is newly single, but is he ready to take his relationship with Emma to the next level? And to top it all off, Sue Sylvester returns from her condo in Boca with a renewed focus on destroying Will and disbanding the glee club.

Directors: Brad Falchuk
Writer: Ian Brennan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Throwdown
star
7.64
2916 votes

#14 - Throwdown

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/14/2009

Sue's new job as Glee co-chair gives her new opportunities to break up the club as she introduces a tough competition to the group.

Directors: Ryan Murphy
Writer: Brad Falchuk
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Wheels
star
7.60
2860 votes

#15 - Wheels

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/11/2009

Will encourages the Glee Club to support Artie, and asks each of them to perform in a wheelchair. Meanwhile, Kurt and Rachel compete for a big solo.

Directors: Paris Barclay
Writer: Ryan Murphy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Laryngitis
star
7.56
2924 votes

#16 - Laryngitis

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 5/11/2010

When a sore throat affects Rachel's singing voice, she goes into panic mode. Meanwhile, Kurt tries to change his persona to impress his father, and Puck makes a strategic move to elevate his social status.

Writer: Ryan Murphy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Dream On
star
7.56
3373 votes

#17 - Dream On

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 5/18/2010

Mr. Schuester’s former high school nemesis, Bryan Ryan, causes trouble for the glee club. Meanwhile, Rachel struggles with a life-long personal issue, and Artie’s dreams take him on an adventure.

Directors: Joss Whedon
Writer: Brad Falchuk
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mash-Up
star
7.56
2885 votes

#18 - Mash-Up

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/21/2009

Inspired by the students, Will composes a mash-up for a very special occasion. Meanwhile, in a shocking reversal of roles, McKinley High's cool kids are dethroned in an "icy" fashion, and Sue shows off her softer side in the "Mash-Up" episode of GLEE.

Directors: Elodie Keene
Writer: Ian Brennan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Vitamin D
star
7.51
3163 votes

#19 - Vitamin D

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/7/2009

Will decides to give New Directions some competition between them by having the boys go against the girls. Terri becomes the school nurse to check on Will.

Directors: Elodie Keene
Writer: Ryan Murphy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Showmance
star
7.47
3725 votes

#20 - Showmance

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/9/2009

The Glee Club performs for the school for the first time. Meanwhile, when Quinn sees that Rachel has feelings for Finn, she goes to any length to keep him. Later, Mr. Schuester's wife reveals some surprising news.

Directors: Ryan Murphy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Acafellas
star
7.41
3322 votes

#21 - Acafellas

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/16/2009

Will forms an a capella group and spends more time with them than he does with New Directions after he is asked to perform at the PTA meeting with some surprising additions to his group. Meanwhile, Kurt is under pressure in his life which isn't helped by Mercedes' newfound interest in finding a relationship.

Directors: John Scott
Writer: Ryan Murphy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Home
star
7.34
3041 votes

#22 - Home

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/27/2010

When Kurt sets his dad, Burt, up with an unexpected partner his plan for a nuclear family may backfire. Sue demands that the Cheerios! go on a crazy diet in preparation for a big interview with “Splits” magazine and April Rhodes returns to save Will and the glee club.

Directors: Paris Barclay
Writer: Brad Falchuk
Watch Now:Apple TV