Glee (TV Series) The Quarterback (2013) User Reviews

Excellent - But Feels Wrong

[MikeAbrams · 10/10 · 30 August 2016]

If you read all sorts of things online about this episode, you will know that this was filmed "as is". Everyone in this episode is sad. This isn't acting sad but just sad... and you can tell from the opening number how much trouble everyone was having trying to get through each sequence.

I agree with everyone here...this was a great episode. Maybe too good.. which if you watch it closely sort of feels "wrong" to be watching it. Sort of like you are infringing on people in grief that should be left alone. It is obvious the sad faces and tears are everyone trying to get through the filming of this episode is all real.

Watch it again and you will see what I mean if you really look at the actors. I felt this the first time it aired, and if you watch online you can see it also... Great episode... It is so good it feels weird to be there.

A beautiful tribute

[Chanandler-Bong · 10/10 · 23 July 2019]

This episode is the most beautiful episode of any show I've ever watched. I think Cory would have been very touched by it and to know that so many people loved him. I'll be honest I cried throughout the whole episode. I remember watching it when it aired and I cried then, and 5 years on I've cried again as an adult. The emotion of the cast was so raw, you can feel the pain from every single person. I think that that's a testament to the person that he was and the impact of his character in Glee. I couldn't imagine trying to do an episode like that whilst grieving, so the cast did a brilliant job. I know what people mean when they say it's odd to watch the cast grieving through the episode. But I commend the cast and crew for getting through it and helping their fans grieve too.

Cory, you were a star and I hope that midnight train has taken you to a happier place.

Cant stop crying.

[sailor_julia · 10/10 · 31 July 2020]

I'm rewatching Glee since the annonce of the death of Naya. Still can't believe that 3 of the original cast is dead, specially Finn. For me since the beginning of the show they were like a family like a lot of persons and the death of Cory was hard, still is. Watching those seasons with him alive is like a breath of fresh air, then reality come back specially with this episode. Watching the whole cast talk about him, was very sad and I fell like I shouldn't watch them in that private moment. You can clearly see the emotion and sadness of the cast. This episode will always be one of the best and the most true episode.

Never cried so much in my Life for a simple TV-episode

[faithrandon · 10/10 · 12 October 2013]

This episode was so perfect and so sad at the same time that I have a problem to describe it. I cried almost the full episode and I'm not a 15- year old sentimental Gleek, I'm an adult woman and often very cynical, a little bit like Coach Sylvester. The episode wasn't too soft it was just simple, but packed with great songs. For the cast it was probably the hardest episode they have ever filmed and I congratulate them for their perfect job. And I thank the production team for the one funny woman with the tree, Coach Beiste and Puck, that actually let me stop crying :-D

We will miss you Cory, It's a shame!

Such a beautiful goodbye

[titch_screams · 10/10 · 7 September 2019]

I actually never watched another episode of Glee after the death of Cory Monteith, so I haven't seen any of the seasons after the 4th, until now. I started from scratch and have just finished this episode, where I cried non stop.

The storyline was somber, and the amazing original cast just oozed emotion from start to end. Lea Michele broke my heart, her sorrow was apparent and the emotion in the song was so touching.

Having watched this from the first episode and stopping when the main actor died, I feel that watching this now has given my soul closure.

Cory was a fabulous Finn, and he will be remembered for the way he portrayed the character. For all his life's struggles, his death was sudden and sad. He was taken far too soon from this world. RIP Cory Monteith.

Amazing tribute

[niyahsnewacc · 10/10 · 20 May 2021]

I was uncontrollably sobbing throughout this entire episode to the point where I could barely see my screen. I didn't expect this episode to come so fast and it makes me extra sad knowing that we really didn't know that last season was going to be the last time we saw Finn. This episode nailed all the different stages of grief and the song selection was immaculate. The only thing I would've asked for was a montage of Finn at some point in the episode. This episode hurts to watch but a beautiful tribute. Rest In paradise Cory Monteith.

Genuinely one of the best episodes of television

[mollymouse-35236 · 10/10 · 8 June 2021]

I have my problems with Glee as a whole, as someone who watched every episode of it over the course of quarantine. There's a lot of things I could hate write about regarding it, but I'm not going to. This episode is one of the few saving graces of the entire show. It opens with a beautiful tribute to Cory Monteith, and keeps the tears streaming throughout the entire episode as we see the other characters reactions to the loss of their friend. Anytime I even think about this episode I start getting emotional. It's so beautiful, and incredibly fitting.

I could express my problems with Glee. But "The Quarterback" will never be one of them.

Words Can't Describe

[funkymunky15962 · 10/10 · 16 October 2013]

This is absolutely THE best episode of any show that has been aired. The fact of the matter is that this episode in its entirety is raw emotion and as close to reality as anything on television can get. And in order to understand the level of emotion encapsulated in this episode, one must realize that this isn't just a character having to be disposed of due to poor audience ratings. No. These people lost someone close to them, someone they spent years with. The emotions the show aren't feelings they're trying to channel in order to get into character. This is what they feel whenever they think about Cory Monteith. And that right there is what makes this episode beautiful. Raw emotion and truth.

In addition, I would highly recommend this episode to anyone with suicidal tendencies. I, myself, have been in such places thinking of how easy it would be. But after watching how the actors respond to Monteith's passing, it's hard to imagine being the catalyst for all that pain.

This is definitely an episode I will watch over and over. Thank you, cast of Glee.

An excellent episode

[justair · 9/10 · 11 October 2013]

This entire episode was/is Glee at it's finest. You still have the little bits and pieces that many of us have come to expect and others have grown to dislike but at it's core it was touching, tasteful, and done with a respect that's not always seen in some of their more controversial episodes.

Having new cast members make up the backbone as the chorus (visible but not front and centre)and having Kurt as the comforting supportive observer was a smart move that feels right and should play well with most fans. Rachel's entrance near the end helps to underscore that this episode is not about her but all of them and their connection to the one they have lost. My only criticism is the absence of Quinn, although they did try to smooth that over somewhat with references to her.

Many of us have been to events that pay tribute to loved ones lost thru performances that touch the soul. The quality transcends what we see/listen to on a day to day basis and lives on in memory. There were moments during "The Quarterback" where we were watching the tribute play out in that special way. A rare thing to capture so precisely on film.

Hollywood is a heartless mess. But thank you!

[hgeri-49441 · 10/10 · 16 November 2019]

Yes, Cory just died shortly before the filming of this episode. The cast was devastated, and the feelings were pretty fresh. The writers, the director, the producers used that to get genuine reactions. A**holes.... right? Well, yes and no. Seeing real people's real reactions was refreshing, regardless of what the creators' intent was. One of the most tear jerking hour of television you've ever seen.

The Quarterback

[js1522 · 10/10 · 15 October 2013]

First of all, I personally love glee, and it is such an exciting show. This episode was very sad, and paid tribute to Cory Monteith's character, Finn, extremely well. The songs were perfect, especially Rachel's, and you could really feel everyones emotions coming through. The acting is amazing, and everyone had to be strong. It is astonishing how Lea Michele could pull such a hard song off, and actually make it perfect. The directors delt with this episode very well, and it will be hard for Glee to top this. Hopefully the rest of Glee's season is amazing, and I am excited to see what will happen next. Overall, this episode is very well done, and it deserves a 10/10!

He was gone.

[patriotiron · 8 October 2020]

I didn't know that Cory Monteith was gone during the production of season 5. It was a memorial with a light but strong message. I remember what Puck said, you know what's tripping me out is this line between the two years. it's his whole life.

Sad... but missing one thing

[rebeccaj-90028 · 5/10 · 29 February 2020]

This was a heartbreaking episode. But one thing was glaringly obvious. Quinn was missing. Why? It was never explained though some information found on the web stated Lea Michele did not want her to return. True? Only the diva knows. Perhaps some people didn't notice her absence as no excuses were made. But with her being one of the original cast members and having a strong history with Finn, her absence left a hole in the episode. While it's nice that they focused on his life instead of the cause of his death, I do think they should have popped some sort of crisis number at the end for people who need help breading their addiction to drugs. No, they didn't explain the cause of Finn's death. But Cory Monteith's death made headlines and the reason was clear. This said, millions of fans related strongly to his character, and some may have benefited from that information being provided on the screen at the end of the episode.

Raw emotion and love

[wchart-05646 · 10/10 · 25 July 2020]

I usually don't write reviews here but this episode was so heart felt. The episode was taped so close to the actual event and the love for the real life person was so evident. It could have gone without the humor of the Sue character for this specific episode. His character was written as lost and unsure of his true identity and then in real life lost. It should have been more evident in the episode to help those struggling with depression using substance abuse. And recently losing Naya and also how Puck died years ago as well. This characters truly lived their roles beyond the characters. Rest in peace to all those lost so tragically.

I am broken

[lewis-02738 · 10/10 · 9 March 2021]

Probably the most emotional episode of a series I love. I watched Glee too late but still knowing the tragic story outside of the fiction. This episode is a perfect tribute to Cory Monteith, I had a tear down my face throughout. The episode itself is beautiful yet harrowing to watch, seeing Carole (Finn's mum) break down hits me very time so I can't control myself.

But no matter what I say, I just hope the memory of Cory Monteith lives on, a beautiful man inside and out, Finn Hudson is our quarterback

Poetic

[TheHoodOfSwords · 10/10 · 18 December 2020]

The best acting Glee has and will ever see. Powerful and you can feel they aren't just acting.

Wonderful Tribute

[rmatousek32 · 10/10 · 13 October 2013]

This tribute show was the best I have ever watched. You can see the emotion that each cast member is feeling as well as hearing it in the songs as they recorded them. Almost all of us can relate to how each are feeling because we have lost someone close to us so this brings it to the surface for us all, especially if it is a fresh wound. I understand the reasoning for the 2 from the original cast not being there but I don't understand why Vanessa Lengies wasn't there. She hasn't been there long but it was a noticeable exclusion, for me anyway. Lea's performance was wonderful and I am sure it was one of the hardest things for her to do. I know they did most of the filming in one take because they couldn't take doing them more. My heart goes out to all who knew Cory or felt a connection to him through the show. Thank you for making such a wonderful tribute and having proceeds of the song purchases going to one of his charities. Becca

RIP Cory! We love and miss you!

Tears

[rileymyszka · 10/10 · 26 June 2022]

This episode shows such raw emotions of his co stars mourning his death. Everyone deals with it in their own way and how their character would, but the real emotion is present.

I Know what's coming and yet.....

[dharmawannab-83920 · 10/10 · 27 March 2021]

I cry so hard. Knowing none of this was acted.....the emotions are real. This is one the best tribute episodes to a lost costar I've even seen. They acknowledged the loss without having to create a reason for his passing. It was honorable to not have his character pass the same way he did and while not creating a false way he died taking us out of the realness of it because we all know why Finn is gone. It was great to have Kurt right off the top of the show say this.....it doesn't matter how he died, the point is he's gone and they want to mourn and celebrate his life together at Mckinley high.

Doesn't matter how many times I've watch the series, this episode gets me every single time!

I am sadden to say the remaining episodes of the series start to decline which I feel is a result of losing a major key actor who had storylines they never got to show so without those it felt like the creators and writers were grasping which meant B Story lines became the A story lines. They tried though. I still love the show.

Rest in Peace Cory and Naya.

Raw and emotional

[justnarelle · 10/10 · 8 April 2022]

It's been almost 10 years since I first watched this episode and it still makes me cry. At times I almost feel like a voyeur watching the raw emotions play out on the screen. RIP Corey Monteith I hope you are now at peace.

So Sad, yet still an amazing episode

[gracemassoni-63296 · 10/10 · 12 December 2022]

I absolutely loved Finn so I knew that this episode would be hard for me. I am 12 years old and didn't want to watch this in front of my parents cause I knew I would cry. One day I was home alone and decided I would watch the episode. Five minutes into it my eyes started to water. I then got onto the scene where his mom was sorting through his stuff and Kurt saw his jacket and started crying. I burst into tears, it was so sad and it wasn't even that the character died it was that the actor died, it made the episode so much harder to watch. I couldn't handle it. Watching Santana burst into tears while singing just was so sad, it was shocking too cause of how much Santana made fun of Finn. Everything those actors were feeling was all real and it was just too sad.