How do you address the issue of one of your stars dying during a break in filming? This was the quandary facing the writers and producers of Glee when Cory Monteith died of an accidental drug overdose while the series was on hiatus. At first they considered not filming anymore. Their two main stars were Monteith and Lea Michele who were not only on-screen lovers but their off screen relationship was great tabloid fodder and has a million tumbler accounts and youtube mash-up video’s dedicated to it. Would Michele want to continue on a show after the tragedy? After consulting with her they decided to film three episodes and then take a break to decide on the direction they wanted to take with the 5th season. They would film the first two episodes they had previously planned and then they would write a tribute episode to Monteith’s character Finn.

In the episode, that broadcast in the states this week, they do not give an explanation for Finn’s death. It is set weeks after the funeral as Mr Schuester invites the Glee club members, past and present, to memorialise Finn in the choir room. As many of the original actors in Glee have “graduated” from school and are no longer appearing in the show, it was a welcome return for some familiar faces such as Puck and Mercedes. I have to admit that I didn’t really watch the last season of Glee. After enjoying the first few seasons, I wasn’t all that interested in the new casting, but Jane Lynch always makes it completely watch-able. But I would say there will be a sharp uptake in the ratings on Friday night. All the songs featured in the episode can be watched on YouTube and Naya Rivera’s performance of “If I Die Young” is amazing but will be overshadowed by Lea Michele singing the Dylan classic “Make You Feel My Love”. In order to address Monteith’s death, the cast made PSA’s that were shown about seeking help if you or someone you know is affected by drug addiction.

Monteith was very open about his struggle with addiction that began when he was a young teenager trying to fit in. He had publicly entered into a rehab facility in the months before his death. He was, by all accounts, just as goofy, friendly, warm and loving as the character that he played on the show. He just wasn’t able to outrun his demons. The opening song in “The Quarterback” asks how do you measure the life of a person and proposes that we should measure it in love. Good-bye Cory and Finn. You were loved.

By LAW