'Glee' Might Honor Cory in the Worst Way Possible

Following the death of Glee star Cory Monteith, the show's creator Ryan Murphy announced over the weekend that they will delay production on season 5 and have pushed the premiere date back to September 26. Murphy also confirmed that Monteith's character Finn Hudson will indeed be killed off the show and that there will be a tribute episode.

But before they get to that, a Glee source told Hollywood Life that they're thinking of using old footage of Finn in the episodes leading up to the tribute — they don't want his exit to feel so out of the blue. The source said:

"There has been talk about writing the first few episodes around old footage of Cory from the show and actually have Finn be alive for a bit in order to lead into a more emotional goodbye — so it doesn’t feel sudden. The producers are weighing what the cast and his family think of the idea, and of course Lea Michele, to see if it’s at all plausible to attempt. Regardless, they want to do any angle with dignity."

Murphy told Deadline that Michele's already blessed every decision, so if the rumors are true, it looks like we'll get a posthumous view of Monteith as Finn for the first few episodes of the season. The question is, though, does that makes sense?

Between the magic of editing and the likely large amount of unused Finn reel they have lying around, there's no doubt that Glee could bring Monteith back to life, and realistically, at that. But even though it can be done doesn't necessarily mean that it should be done.

If the ostensible goal of using old Finn footage is to make his death less of a shock, doesn't that somehow teach the young Gleeks that death is something that can be prepared for? Monteith died of a sudden overdose. It was unexpected and jolting, even if he had been open about his drug and alcohol addictions. He didn't spend his last moments saying his goodbyes. There was no emotional send off. There was only drugs.

Resurrecting Monteith for Glee sends a mixed message and sugar-coats the lesson his death might have otherwise taught impressionable fans. Finn will be given the chance to sing and dance one last time with his friends, but Monteith wasn't. Finn's death will be eased into. Monteith's wasn't. Finn's last moments will be curated with slow-motion smiles and winks and laughter and hugs and kisses and oh-so warm and fuzzy feelings. Monteith's final moments were probably the complete opposite.

Glee should find another way to honor Monteith.