Cory Monteith & Lea Michele: A TV fairytale
On screen and in life, Cory Monteith and Lea Michele were Glee's lightning in a bottle.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News, Top Stories
Every once in a while television produces a fairytale romance that defines a series.
Scott and Charlene. Ricky and Lucy. Scully and Mulder. Darren and Samantha. Sam and Diane. Homer and Marge.
Until yesterday I’d never seen Rachel and Finn from Glee in the way I do today.
In life as on screen they were a match-made couple and today it’s heart-wrenching to watch their duets on YouTube.
The death of Cory Monteith is especially hard given his tender age of just 31 years, and if early reports are to be believed, such a senseless way to go.
Fans have been pouring out their emotions through social media, especially professing their love for Lea Michele.
Glee was a shooting star when Ryan Murphy brought it to screen, boldly returning music drama to television and capturing our imagination. Its young cast became overnight sensations, with songs charting and tours selling out. Cory Monteith and Lea Michele were at the centre of its universe.
For this young couple, the fairytale of meeting on set, playing partners on screen and realising it in real life, was pitch perfect for the audience. As Glee‘s football player and girl next door, Finn and Rachel constantly sang of their love, dueting on Don’t Go Breaking my Heart, Smile, Open Your Heart, I Just Can’t Stop Loving You, With You I’m Born Again, and You’re the One That I Want -we bought it all.
In interviews they couldn’t hide their devotion. Even Matthew Morrison had said one day he wanted to sing at their wedding.
Admittedly, Glee has plummeted almost as quickly as it rose, but it’s hard not to look back on those early seasons, knowing they will never again be realised. Little did we know, it was lightning in a bottle.
Canadian-born Monteith had an extensive history of substance addiction. He was admitted into rehab in March where he remained until late April.
But he had previously received treatment when he was 19 and had spoken about his addiction struggles, saying he had a serious problem and took just “anything and everything.”
Today so many young fans will be feeling this tragedy more than many celebrity deaths. Monteith’s young age, the popularity of Glee and the romance with Lea Michele all make his passing more profound.
While the tribute videos are already emerging on YouTube, here are just a few passing memories from happier times on Glee.
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10 Responses
One cant help but worry and be a little spooked by the amount of responses referring to “Finn” and “Rachel” and commenting on how the storyline should go,and who should end up with who. Clearly people who watch this show do not live in the real world.
Most of the responses here are for Cory? But it’s logical that we discuss how the character of Finn will be resolved. It’s a valid question given the circumstances.
One would imagine that Rachael & Finn would have married in the final episode, but now that will never be. 🙁
Nice to see Itunes exploiting Cory’s death to sell Glee product.
“Glee:” was a once in a generation lighting in the bottle series. So so sad, the series had really lost its way in the last 18 months. Surely the truly good way would be to do a movie length final episode that would mainly pay tribute to Cory and then let the series, like its undoubted star, rest in peace.
Beautifully written. That’s exactly how I feel.
Maybe ELEVEN could do a poll on our top eleven favourite Glee episodes and show them over a few nights.
We see celebrities rise and fall, there battle with drugs and alcohol is front page material, when it was revealed in April Cory was in rehab it was a surprise to me, his battle was never really that, he wasn’t all over the front page with headlines screaming drug fuelled this and drug fuelled that.
To then hear only a few months he has died from an overdose is hard to believe. considering there are so many who have battled with drug and alcohol abuse issues for years (publicly) and seem to rise again.
Outside of Glee I didn’t know much about Cory, but on screen he was a pure gentleman, charming and funny. There was a warmth about him, You didn’t need to meet him to know he was a genuine lovely young man.
“Celebrities can touch us and change our lives, We can’t touch them”.
R.I.P Cory.
Well written David!
My heart goes out for Lea Michele, family and friends, the cast and crew and the millions of fans around the world. #RIPCoryMonteith
Quite a legacy he leaves behind. Glee is/was a once in a generation show. A real shame.
Beautifully written David!