Glee first premiered back in 2009 to a positive reception from audiences and a mixed one from critics. Watched by 9.619 million viewers in its initial airing, the musical comedy showed a lot of promise, with reviewers agreeing it was imperfect but potentially heartwarming.
The Pilot episode laid the foundations for the show, but there were still some key plot points that were either forgotten with the ing of time or quickly dealt with in the first season one. As such, several things in the first episode might seem surprising or actually strange to even the faithful fans of the show.
Terri Claims She Had Diabetes
One of the main antagonists of the first thirteen episodes, Terri successfully manages to trick Will into believing she's pregnant. At one point in the Pilot episode, she rejects a sandwich from Will, stating that the mayonnaise might make her diabetes come back, which in turn might put their chances of getting pregnant in jeopardy.
Ignoring the fact that diabetes can't simply go away, the fact that Will seems to either ignore this comment or actually believe it, further calls his intellect into question. The Schuesters' marriage is one of season one's most problematic elements, and Terri was never a particularly popular character. It's safe to say fans weren't sad when she eventually stopped appearing.
Rachel's Gold Star
During her introduction, Rachel mentions that she always gold star next to it. It's meant to signify that she is a star, and it's a nice way to introduce the overachieving, intense girl.
The show makes little effort to continue this character trait after the Pilot. The star shows up sometimes in season one, like when she signs up for the school musical in "Preggers," but it is mostly dropped as the show progresses. Audiences grow very acquainted with Rachel throughout Glee, so the star metaphor was no longer necessary. Still, it would've been nice to keep it going, for continuity's sake.
Finn Was A Bully
In the opening minutes of the Pilot, Finn and the rest of the football players are shown throwing Kurt into the dumpster. Finn is certainly the kindest of them, as he allows Kurt to remove his designer jacket before being tossed in, but he still willingly participates in the bullying.
Later in the episode, Finn actually has a change of heart when he rescues Artie from the port-o-potty that Puck wants to flip. It's true that the bullying here has clearly escalated, considering Artie could have been seriously injured, so Finn merely did the decent thing. Still, it's easy to imagine that Puck and the other football players did stuff like that all the time, most likely with Finn's help.
Sandy Ryerson
The original Glee Club director, Sandy Ryerson was a creepy, borderline predator, who the show used as comedic relief, despite his incredibly problematic tendencies.
In the Pilot episode, he is fired after he inappropriately touches a student. After being let go, Sandy is still seen lingering on school property, becomes a drug dealer, and actually gives Will a pack of medicinal marijuana. Sandy was a pretty awful character so it was probably for the best that he never returned.
Ken Tanaka
Another character who pretty much disappeared after the first thirteen episodes, Ken Tanaka, was the original football coach in McKinley. A rough, loud, somewhat aggressive man, he somehow convinces Emma to marry him, and most of his storylines center around the engagement.
Once Emma breaks the engagement off, Ken seems to take it pretty badly. His last appearance in the show is in the episode "Bad Reputation," when he confronts Will for his mistreatment of Emma. He is mentioned one last time in season four as a possible dating option for Coach Beiste.
Will Almost Quits Teaching
Once he discovers Terri is pregnant, briefly considers quitting his teaching job and becoming an ant. He actually goes as far as applying for a job at H. W. Mencken, before Emma and the newly formed New Directions convince him otherwise.
It's strange why he thought he could become an ant overnight. The show never makes it clear what Will actually studied. He starts as a Spanish teacher, then becoming a History teacher after his poor Spanish skills are put into question.
McKinley Was In Dire Economical Problems
It was no secret that the main impediment for the Glee Club to exist was budgetary restrictions. At least that's the excuse that Principal Figgins always used. Indeed, in the Pilot episode, McKinley's financial situation is presented as an extreme one.
At one point, Ken Tanaka states that Figgins got rid of the coffee machine at the teacher's lounge because of budget cuts. In another scene, Figgins actually tells Will that the choir room will have to be used as an AA meeting place to earn some extra money. Glee is very inconsistent with McKinley's economic problems, but at least in the beginning, it was made clear that money was running low.
Vocal Adrenaline Didn't Have Jesse St. James
During the Pilot, Will and Emma take the original six Glee kids to Carmel High to see Vocal Adrenaline perform. Will states that VA doesn't have the talent that the New Directions have, but is soon rendered speechless as are all the others when VA delivers an impressive rendition of Amy Winehouse's "Rehab."
During the performance, Jesse St. James is nowhere to be found. Instead, the song is performed by Vocal Adrenaline as a whole, with just a small solo by a character named Giselle. Within the show's continuity, it's unclear why Jesse wasn't present, considering that, by the time was introduced in "Hell-O," he had been the lead soloist of Vocal Adrenaline for four years.
Rachel Had A MySpace Page
During her introduction, Rachel states that she is very active on MySpace. Her schedule is so busy that she doesn't have time to date. She tries to post one video per day to keep alive and well.
Suffice it to say, her videos are just extra material for the Cheerios to bully her even more. Quinn actually leaves the following comment in her rendition of "On My Own:" "If I were your parents, I would sell you back." Still, Rachel, although hurt, doesn't stop working. Stick and stones, or in this case, slushies, might try to break her, but they were no match for her determination
Will Blackmailed Finn Into ing Glee Club
Perhaps the most dubious, unprofessional thing Will Schuester ever did, his blackmail of Finn is one of the things that has aged the most poorly in the entire show. After hearing Finn singing in the shower, and knowing the teen will never willingly Glee Club, Will uses the medicinal marijuana he got from Sandy to coerce Finn into ing the New Directions.
His plan works, and Will eventually shows remorse for his actions, even confessing them to Finn during the last episode of season three, "Goodbye." Finn forgives him and acts like it wasn't a big deal, but in reality, it was. And the fact that Will was willing to stoop so low to get his way is just one of the reasons why the character's popularity has dwindled over the years.