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The Worst Episodes of Glee

Every episode of Glee ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Glee!

Worst episode
S5E8 Previously Unaired Christmas
6.01,253 votes
Best episode
S5E3 The Quarterback
9.63,941 votes
Top season
Season 2
8.2avg
Binge time
3d 19h
121 episodes
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons6

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Glee Season 5 Episode 8 - Previously Unaired Christmas
    6.0/10(1253 votes)

    S5:E8

    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.

    Director:Wendey Stanzler
    Writer:Ross Maxwell

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  2. Glee Season 5 Episode 5 - The End of Twerk
    6.6/10(1115 votes)

    S5:E5

    The glee club learns the dance of the hour: twerking. Meanwhile, Marley discovers Jake's relationship with Bree, and Rachel tries to convince Kurt they both should get tattoos.

    Director:Wendey Stanzler
    Writer:Michael Hitchcock

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  3. Glee Season 5 Episode 7 - Puppet Master
    6.6/10(1106 votes)

    S5:E7

    Blaine believes he has the best plan to win nationals, but the other club members think he's too controlling; members of Kurt's band disagree over the venue of their first gig; Sue gets in touch with her feminine side.

    Director:Paul McCrane
    Writer:Matthew Hodgson

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  4. Glee Season 5 Episode 18 - The Back-Up Plan
    6.8/10(977 votes)

    S5:E18

    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.

    Director:Ian Brennan
    Writer:Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

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  5. Glee Season 4 Episode 20 - Lights Out
    7.0/10(1109 votes)

    S4:E20

    When the power goes out at McKinley High, Will and Finn enlist the members of New Directions to "unplug" and perform acoustic numbers. Meanwhile, Isabelle Wright asks Kurt to volunteer at the Vogue.com charity event, with Rachel and Santana in tow.

    Director:Paris Barclay
    Writer:Ryan Murphy

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  6. Glee Season 5 Episode 20 - The Untitled Rachel Berry Project
    7.0/10(1042 votes)

    S5:E20

    Rachel meets a famous television writer, whose eccentric personality catches Rachel off guard. Meanwhile, Sam and Mercedes deal with the pressure of commitment as their careers take off, and the time has finally come for Blaine's big showcase with June Dolloway at NYADA.

    Director:Brad Falchuk
    Writer:Matthew Hodgson

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  7. Glee Season 5 Episode 16 - Tested
    7.0/10(995 votes)

    S5:E16

    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.

    Director:Paul McCrane
    Writers:Garrett Lerner, Russel Friend

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  8. Glee Season 4 Episode 11 - Sadie Hawkins
    7.1/10(1175 votes)

    S4:E11

    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.

    Director:Bradley Buecker
    Writer:Ross Maxwell

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  9. Glee Season 6 Episode 4 - The Hurt Locker (1)
    7.1/10(1084 votes)

    S6:E4

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

    Director:Ian Brennan
    Writer:Ian Brennan

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  10. Glee Season 6 Episode 9 - Child Star
    7.1/10(989 votes)

    S6:E9

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

    Director:Michael Hitchcock
    Writer:Ned Martel

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  11. Glee Season 2 Episode 17 - A Night of Neglect
    7.2/10(1526 votes)

    S2:E17

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

    Director:Carol Banker
    Writer:Ian Brennan

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  12. Glee Season 4 Episode 7 - Dynamic Duets
    7.2/10(1273 votes)

    S4:E7

    A love triangle heats up among Marley, Jake and Ryder, and Blaine has a run-in with the Warblers.

    Director:Ian Brennan
    Writer:Ian Brennan

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  13. Glee Season 5 Episode 4 - A Katy or a Gaga
    7.2/10(1169 votes)

    S5:E4

    The members of New Directions tackle their assignment of getting out of their comfort zones and determining whether they're more like "Katy" (Perry) or (Lady) "Gaga." Kurt holds auditions for his new band and must decide if he'll let in the overly bold performer, Starchild. Meanwhile, Jake gets closer to Bree as he and Marley grow apart.

    Director:Ian Brennan
    Writers:Garrett Lerner, Russel Friend

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  14. Glee Season 5 Episode 6 - Movin' Out
    7.2/10(1056 votes)

    S5:E6

    The New Directions pay homage to the Piano Man: Billy Joel. As graduation looms closer, the seniors make plans for their futures beyond the halls of McKinley.

    Director:Brad Falchuk
    Writer:Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

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  15. Glee Season 5 Episode 19 - Old Dog, New Tricks
    7.2/10(1025 votes)

    S5:E19

    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.

    Director:Bradley Buecker
    Writer:Chris Colfer

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  16. Glee Season 6 Episode 10 - The Rise and Fall of Sue Sylvester
    7.2/10(995 votes)

    S6:E10

    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.

    Director:Anthony Hemingway
    Writer:Jessica Meyer

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  17. Glee Season 3 Episode 9 - Extraordinary Merry Christmas
    7.3/10(1533 votes)

    S3:E9

    Artie is asked to direct and produce a Christmas special for the local PBS station, while some of the New Directions learn the 'true' meaning of Christmas.

    Director:Matthew Morrison
    Writer:Marti Noxon

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  18. Glee Season 6 Episode 6 - What the World Needs Now
    7.3/10(1020 votes)

    S6:E6

    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.

    Director:Barbara Brown
    Writer:Michael Hitchcock

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  19. Glee Season 5 Episode 10 - Trio
    7.3/10(924 votes)

    S5:E10

    When Sam, Tina and Blaine plan a lock-in at the school, Becky unexpectedly joins in; Elliot (Adam Lambert) gets caught in Santana and Rachel's feud.

    Director:Ian Brennan
    Writer:Rivka Sophia Rossi

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  20. Glee Season 4 Episode 2 - Britney 2.0
    7.4/10(1301 votes)

    S4:E2

    Brittany hopes the music of Britney Spears will get her out of a funk; a new friend helps Rachel adjust to life in New York.

    Director:Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
    Writer:Brad Falchuk

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  21. Glee Season 4 Episode 12 - Naked
    7.4/10(1213 votes)

    S4:E12

    New Directions produces a sexy calendar to raise money for their trip to Regionals. Rachel is faced with a personal dilemma when she's cast in a student film. Finn and Sue go toe-to-toe.

    Director:Ian Brennan
    Writer:Ryan Murphy

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  22. Glee Season 4 Episode 13 - Diva
    7.4/10(1199 votes)

    S4:E13

    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.

    Director:Paris Barclay
    Writer:Brad Falchuk

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  23. Glee Season 4 Episode 3 - Makeover
    7.4/10(1158 votes)

    S4:E3

    In the wake of Kurt's departure, Blaine tries to distract from his loneliness by entering the race for Senior Class President. The move puts him in direct conflict with Brittany who looks to repeat for a second term. After struggling to come up with fresh ideas for New Directions, Will begins to fear that he's losing his enthusiasm for show choir. When an opportunity to reignite his passion and make a lasting positive impact on his students presents itself, the procrastinating Will gets prodding from two vastly different sources. After landing an internship with fashion icon Isabelle Klempt, Kurt comes up with an out-of-the-box idea to revitalize the fashionista's sagging brand. While his initiative earns him a new mentor and earns Rachel a much needed makeover, his success also has a troublesome impact back in Lima.

    Director:Eric Stoltz
    Writer:Ian Brennan

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  24. Glee Season 1 Episode 3 - Acafellas
    7.5/10(2172 votes)

    S1:E3

    As Will aims towards completing New Directions, a visit from his father reminds him how much this all means to him. New songs are introduced and a song originally given to a star, is given to a celibate. Will forms an all-male a cappella group, but when he neglects the glee club, the kids decide to hire a well-known choreographer to coach them. Meanwhile, Mercedes falls in love. The other six additions to New Directions are introduced. Josh Groban appears as himself.

    Director:John Scott
    Writer:Ryan Murphy

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  25. Glee Season 3 Episode 1 - The Purple Piano Project
    7.5/10(1721 votes)

    S3:E1

    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.

    Director:Eric Stoltz
    Writer:Brad Falchuk

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Previously Unaired Christmas" is the worst rated episode of Glee. It scored 6.0/10 from 1,253 votes. Directed by Wendey Stanzler and written by Ross Maxwell, it aired on December 5, 2013. This episode scored 0.6 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The End of Twerk".

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