The Price of Glee reveals behind-the-scenes of the series that marked generations

Everyone must be familiar with the concept of an "unauthorized biography." Every now and then, one of them becomes controversial in the market when their subjects refuse to accept their existence. Unauthorized biographies are a genre responsible for spreading myths and speculations, forming the basis of most of our impressions about celebrities. And these biographies are unauthorized for a reason: there are parts of our lives that we make a point not to show to anyone.

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At the same time, an unauthorized biography is, in the first instance, much more "entertaining" than a biography authorized by the subject. In Brazil, in fact, bookstores are filled with memoirs written by famous artists who are not interested in the controversial aspects of themselves. So, when it comes to seeking "good gossip," it's best to look for a spoken portrait, which may not represent the truth exactly but has much more distinctive lines.

Glee aired from 2009 to 2015. Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan, the series became a global phenomenon and, of course, opened itself to sensationalism. The central cast, consisting of young actors, helped build the atmosphere: they had relationships with each other, disagreements, ego clashes, and vanity. Nothing different from what happens in the corridors of any Hollywood studio. But fame generates interest, and interest sustains the image industry. When cast members started dying, that interest was fueled with steroids, and the realm of the "unauthorized" became an irresistible territory.

The documentary The Price of Glee was based on one of these illegitimate biographies. Produced by Discovery and available in our country on HBO Max, the documentary was announced as a glimpse behind the scenes of the series, as described by the people involved and the loved ones of the deceased cast members. In the promotional material, the faces of Cory Monteith, Naya Rivera, and Mark Salling served as the essential appeal. The photos and the title implied an intrinsic connection that was a delight for the viewer who indulges in unauthorized speculation, but which doesn't necessarily have any connection to reality.

The pejorative nature of the documentary becomes evident very quickly—not because it speculates about what led to the actors' deaths, but because absolutely no one relevant to the story agreed to speak to the production. Among those who give their testimonies are stunt doubles, professionals from the hair and makeup department, set designers... and almost all of them did not go beyond the first or second season of the series. Apart from them, journalists, roommates, and Naya Rivera's father (perhaps the most relevant on this list). None of these interviewees were at the core of the events, and their testimonies are inevitably superficial.

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Over three episodes, the documentary attempts to weave its narrative around the deaths of Cory, Naya, and Mark; however, only Cory died while on the series, forcing the production to spend more time exploring the alleged causes of his death. The weakening of the argument lies precisely in this dynamic. It is clear that becoming famous placed a dangerous pressure on him—a drug addict in treatment. But the deaths of Naya and Mark had no connection to the series, they did not come from any professional branch, making the link implied by the title and promotional material devoid of meaning.

The use of images from the series itself is limited, but the testimonies were recorded in locations significant to the story (the auditorium, the school courtyard, the gym...). The people involved in the production of Glee can somehow provide information about the shooting routine, share a few interesting backstage details, but they don't have real insight into the lives of the cast members outside the realm of speculation. Moreover, they don't offer the viewer anything they don't already know: Cory was a drug addict, Naya didn't get along with Lea Michele... At times, the documentary feels more like a collection of established elements than a key piece revealing new information.

There is a small effort to discuss the industry as an oppressor of mental health for those involved, and that is indeed a very relevant aspect of the discussion. To capitalize on the phenomenon, the cast worked too much, spent too much time together, and faced excessive pressure, and insufficient care was taken regarding its effects on their mental well-being. However, when this discussion is seen through the lens of third parties, the documentary neglects serious problematization to give voice to cheap sensationalism. When a barber who took care of Cory's appearance makes his "big revelation" about the case, the documentary reaches the climax of its mockery.

There is a profound and sad coincidence surrounding the series' cast experiencing so many tragedies. It is true that other long-running series must have lost many cast members over the years. But when three principal actors have tragic deaths, everything related to Glee comes wrapped in mystery and peculiarity. Nevertheless, they are still coincidences. Naya's death was an accident, Mark's suicide had nothing to do with the series. The major problem with this documentary is sensationalizing the stars while demonizing the work.

By no means is Glee innocent in this recipe (Ryan Murphy's negligence regarding Lea Michele's behavior is a prime example of that). Absolutely no title in the entertainment industry has angelic wings. Some hide their skeletons better than others. Glee was an important piece in the historical mosaic of pop culture; it had clever writing, aimed for diversity, produced good music, and made mistakes, many mistakes, which become part of this recipe depending on each person's perspective.

There is an unfathomable depth to everything that happened that this documentary could never reach, but a significant portion of entertainment is based on the shallow. The Price of Glee clarifies nothing, reveals nothing, explains nothing. It's just there, as a title in a streaming platform's lineup, ready for quick consumption and the delight of speculation.

It's regrettable because Cory, Naya, and Mark probably wouldn't place the series at the top of the list of fatal mistakes they made in their lives (and here we are, also engaging in mere speculation). Their talents were woven into earthly existence because of that choir... If there was a price to be in Glee, I suspect they would have been willing to pay it.