The WORST episodes of Glee

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

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: 2/17/2024Network: FOXStatus: Ended
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Previously Unaired Christmas
star
6.96
880 votes

#1 - Previously Unaired Christmas

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/5/2013

Sue Sylvester introduces the episode as a Christmas special that FOX did not allow to air from last year. The members of New Directions audition for roles in McKinley's living Nativity Scene. Meanwhile in New York, Rachel, Kurt and Santana work as Santa's elves at a mall.

Directors: Wendey Stanzler
Writer: Ross Maxwell
Old Dog, New Tricks
star
7.08
613 votes

#2 - Old Dog, New Tricks

Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 5/6/2014

Santana helps Rachel do damage control for her flagging public image; Kurt tries to help a home for retired Broadway performers with their production of Peter Pan; to prove he is responsible, Sam adopts a dog - despite Mercedes’ objections.

Directors: Bradley Buecker
Writer: Chris Colfer
Sadie Hawkins
star
7.14
1135 votes

#3 - Sadie Hawkins

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/24/2013

McKinley’s Sadie Hawkins dance offers several gleeks a rare chance to feel empowered. Sam and Blaine investigate a possible cheating scandal at sectionals. Kurt makes a new friend at NYADA.

Directors: Bradley Buecker
Writer: Ross Maxwell
Tested
star
7.15
637 votes

#4 - Tested

Season 5 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/15/2014

Blaine suffers a crisis of confidence after gaining the dreaded “Freshman Fifteen.” Artie discovers that his newfound success with the ladies comes at a price. Mercedes tells Sam she’s still a virgin.

Directors: Paul McCrane
Puppet Master
star
7.17
968 votes

#5 - Puppet Master

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/28/2013

Blaine believes he has the best plan to win Nationals, but he doesn't take the glee club's criticism too well when the students accuse him of being too controlling. Over in New York, Kurt also runs into control issues when the band disagrees over the venue of their first official gig that Kurt booked. Meanwhile, Sue reveals the story behind her iconic tracksuit and gets in touch with her feminine side.

Directors: Paul McCrane
Child Star
star
7.19
420 votes

#6 - Child Star

Season 6 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/27/2015

The members of New Directions must come together to prepare for their first public performance at a high-strung tween's bar mitzvah.

Writer: Ned Martel
The Rise and Fall of Sue Sylvester
star
7.19
472 votes

#7 - The Rise and Fall of Sue Sylvester

Season 6 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/6/2015

Dalton Academy burns to the ground, and the Warblers must combine with the New Directions to form a super group. Meanwhile, Rachel begs Carmen Tibideaux to let her return to NYADA.

The Hurt Locker: Part 1
star
7.23
498 votes

#8 - The Hurt Locker: Part 1

Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/23/2015

Rachel hopes to form a deal in which Will's glee club purposefully underperforms at their invitational; Sue wants Sam to distract Rachel.

Directors: Ian Brennan
Writer: Ian Brennan
Trio
star
7.23
749 votes

#9 - Trio

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/4/2014

As graduation approaches, Tina, Blaine and Sam band together to hold a senior "lock-in" at school, hoping to savor their last chance at hanging out together. But their plans are thwarted when Becky joins unexpectedly. Meanwhile, in New York, Elliot is stuck in the middle between Rachel and Santana's feud.

Directors: Ian Brennan
Girls (and Boys) on Film
star
7.26
1236 votes

#10 - Girls (and Boys) on Film

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/7/2013

The kids of New Directions go head-to-head in their annual boys vs. girls mash-up competition; this time using the music of the movies. Meanwhile in New York, Santana makes herself at home in the loft a little too quickly for Rachel and Kurt's comfort.

Directors: Ian Brennan
The Purple Piano Project
star
7.27
2653 votes

#11 - The Purple Piano Project

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/20/2011

The glee kids are down in the dumps following their disappointing showing at Nationals, so Will assigns them a project to get them back on track. Meanwhile, Ms. Sylvester wants to go to Washington: Sue's running for Congress.

Directors: Eric Stoltz
Writer: Brad Falchuk
I Am Unicorn
star
7.29
2241 votes

#12 - I Am Unicorn

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/27/2011

Shelby Corcoran returns to the halls of McKinley High. Meanwhile, Mr. Schuester initiates a boot camp for some of the members of New Directions.

Directors: Brad Falchuk
Writer: Ryan Murphy
Loser Like Me
star
7.33
489 votes

#13 - Loser Like Me

Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/9/2015

After Rachel's humiliating failure as TV actress, she comes home to Lima to figure out what she wants to do next. Upon discovering that Sue has banished the arts at McKinley, Rachel takes it upon herself to reinstate and lead the Glee Club. Meanwhile, Blaine, no longer in a relationship with Kurt, has moved home to coach the Warblers while Will is coaching rival Vocal Adrenaline, and Sam is the assistant coach for the McKinley football team.

Directors: Bradley Buecker
Home
star
7.34
3031 votes

#14 - 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
Feud
star
7.35
1328 votes

#15 - Feud

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/14/2013

Open with the kids addressing the recent awkwardness between Will and Finn. And the two Glee leaders are given an assignment: the two must perform a song together using the theme of feuds. Blaine and Sue will have a sing-off, while Ryder has a scary story coming.

Directors: Bradley Buecker
Glee, Actually
star
7.37
1216 votes

#16 - Glee, Actually

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/13/2012

A tribute to the film "Love, Actually" with five different storylines all dealing with the holidays. Sam and Brittany live as if it's the end of the world as the Mayans know it. The Puckermans, including half-brothers Puck and Jake and their mothers, come together for Chanukah. Artie suffers a head injury in which he slips on ice and has an epiphany through a dream sequence. He wonders what may have happened if he was never in a wheelchair and glee club never formed. His black-and-white vision has Rory as his guardian angel, reminding him of who he was to the glee club. Kurt spends Christmas with Blaine and his father in New York, whilst discovering his father has prostate cancer. Sue struggles to get a Secret Santa present for Marley's mother, Millie, but has a change of heart after seeing Marley and Millie struggle.

Directors: Adam Shankman
Wonder-ful
star
7.38
1120 votes

#17 - Wonder-ful

Season 4 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/2/2013

The members of New Directions take on the greatest hits of music icon Stevie Wonder. Meanwhile, Artie receives news that could affect his future and his mom. In New York, Rachel prepares for her "Funny Girl" callback.

Directors: Wendey Stanzler
Writer: Brad Falchuk
Big Brother
star
7.38
1828 votes

#18 - Big Brother

Season 3 - Episode 15 - Aired 4/10/2012

Much to Blaine's chagrin, his big-shot Hollywood actor brother, Cooper, comes to visit.

Directors: Eric Stoltz
Bash
star
7.39
712 votes

#19 - Bash

Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 4/8/2014

Rachel is faced with a decision that pits her education against her career. Sam and Mercedes consider rekindling their romance. Kurt comes face-to-face with a hate-crime.

Directors: Bradley Buecker
Writer: Ian Brennan
Diva
star
7.39
1152 votes

#20 - Diva

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/7/2013

Finn encourages the glee-club members to channel their inner divas. Elsewhere, Rachel's arrogance causes Kurt to reach a breaking point; and Emma throws herself into wedding preparations.

Directors: Paris Barclay
Writer: Brad Falchuk
A Night of Neglect
star
7.40
2785 votes

#21 - A Night of Neglect

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/19/2011

The glee club agrees to help raise funds for another under-the-radar group; big decisions are made and relationships are tested.

Directors: Carol Banker
Writer: Ian Brennan
Rumours
star
7.40
2663 votes

#22 - Rumours

Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 5/3/2011

Sue Sylvester revives the school newspaper and decides to print a few inflammatory blind items. The glee club gains a whole new respect for Sam when they discover some interesting new information about his family life. Meanwhile, April Rhodes (guest star Chenoweth) returns to Lima and tries to convince Mr. Schuester to hit the road with her.

Directors: Tim Hunter
What the World Needs Now
star
7.40
444 votes

#23 - What the World Needs Now

Season 6 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/6/2015

Brittany and Santana plan their wedding. The Gleeks weekly assignment is the music of Burt Bacharach, and reigning diva Mercedes is recruited to act as a mentor for the new singers. Brittany learns a shocking family secret.

Directors: Barbara Brown
Watch Now:Amazon
The Back-Up Plan
star
7.41
557 votes

#24 - The Back-Up Plan

Season 5 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/29/2014

Rachel is presented with a unique opportunity which could either take her career to the next level, or possibly kill it entirely. Meanwhile, Mercedes asks for Santana’s help finding a “new sound” for her latest single, and a wealthy New York socialite takes Blaine under her wing.

Watch Now:Amazon
Acafellas
star
7.41
3306 votes

#25 - 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:Amazon