Finn Hudson


Finn Christopher Hudson is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. The character was portrayed by Cory Monteith and first appeared on television when Glee premiered its pilot episode on Fox on May 19, 2009. Finn was developed by Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan. Glee follows the trials of the New Directions glee club at the fictional William McKinley High School in the town of Lima, Ohio. Finn is the quarterback of his high school football team the McKinley Titans. As a popular jock at the top of the school's social hierarchy, he is seen going along with his peers who bully the less popular students. When he is forced to join the school's very unpopular glee club, he discovers that he loves it and chooses to continue in the club despite the risk of alienation by his friends for remaining a member.
His storylines often see him struggle with his decision to stay in the club, which is at the bottom of the social ladder, while he maintains his popular reputation and the respect of the other jocks. The character has dealt with his attraction to both the stunning head cheerleader Quinn Fabray and ambitious, self centred glee club star singer Rachel Berry, the series' female lead.
Following Monteith's death on July 13, 2013, it was announced that Finn's own death would occur in the third episode of the fifth season, titled "The Quarterback".
Monteith felt that Finn has had to grow up a lot during his time on the show. The actor said, "Finn started off as the stereotypical dumb jock but as the show has gone on, Finn's not dumb anymore, really, he's just a little naïve." Early reviews of Finn from television critics were mixed; Emily St. James of The A.V. Club said that he and Michele were "both agreeable and a little desperate for an outlet" in the pilot episode. Commenting on the fifth episode of the first season, Eric Goldman of IGN wrote, "We got to see a bit of a darker side to Finn it's good to see this, because up until now, Finn's been a bit too straight-laced to totally invest in." In the second season's eighth episode, "Furt", Entertainment Weekly Tim Stack said, "It's been a while since we’ve gotten some Finn focus, and I think I just missed Cory Monteith. But I also forgot what a good, natural actor he can be." Monteith as Finn won the 2011 Teen Choice Award for Choice TV: Actor Comedy, and was nominated in the same category in 2010.
Although he was not a singer before being cast as Finn, Monteith sang lead or joint lead on many songs on the show, most of which have charted in the US and abroad. "Jessie's Girl", which Finn performed as a solo, was certified gold in Australia, one of only three singles to do so from the show's releases in that country; he was joint lead on "Don't Stop Believin' in the pilot episode, the show's first single sung by the glee club, which was certified gold and platinum in Australia and the US.

Development

Casting and creation

Finn Hudson is portrayed by Cory Monteith. He has also been portrayed as a child by Jerry Phillips in "Pilot" and as a preschooler by Jake Vaughn in the episode "The Substitute". When Glee was being cast, Monteith's Vancouver agent, Elena Kirschner, submitted a video of him drumming with some pencils and Tupperware containers. Series creator took notice of the video, but pointed out that he had to be singing, as auditioning actors for Glee with no theatrical experience were required to prove they could sing and dance as well as act. Monteith submitted a second, musical tape, in which he sang "a cheesy, '80s music-video-style version" of REO Speedwagon's "Can't Fight This Feeling". He then attended a mass audition in Los Angeles; his vocal skills were considered weak, but he later performed very well with one of Glee casting directors, who said that his audition captured the most elusive quality of Finn's, his "naive, but not stupid sweetness". Monteith said of his casting process, "I was like a lot of kids, looking for something to be interested in. Something to be passionate about. All you need is permission. Not only for Glee, but for anything in life."
In December 2010, Murphy announced that some members of the cast of Glee would be replaced after the end of the third season in spring 2012, to coincide with their graduation. Murphy said: "Every year we're going to populate a new group. There's nothing more depressing than a high schooler with a bald spot." He added, "I think you have to be true to the fact that here is a group of people who come and go in these teachers' lives." Although Murphy said in July 2011 that Monteith would be one of the actors leaving at the end of the third season, Falchuk later stated that while Monteith, along with Lea Michele and Chris Colfer, would graduate at the end of the third season, "because they're graduating doesn't mean they're leaving the show." Falchuk insisted that "it was never our plan or our intention to let them go.... They are not done with the show after this season."

Characterization

Finn originated as a character who "walks a fine line between following his dreams and balancing what other people expect of him." Monteith's former acting coach said: "You've got to be incredibly smart to understand how dim Finn can be", though Monteith appreciated the fact that Finn is more than "just a dumb jock". He has admitted that he is sometimes frustrated by Finn's "convenient dumb-guy writing", and commented, "I think every actor wants to be stretched. But it's also important to realize that whatever we're doing works. I realize that this happens to an actor about once every ten lifetimes. To be on a show that's this good, it's rarefied air." Finn has matured during his run on the series—in January 2011, Monteith noted that he had "grown up a little bit" and become "a little wiser". He later expanded, "Finn's not dumb anymore, really, he's just naive. The opposite of me. I love Finn's optimism. He's very idealistic; he wants a good girl to love him, and he chases after what he wants in life—that I can relate to." The actor hoped that in time his character would be able to grow and mature more. He said in an interview with MTV, "I think the harder it is for him, the better, you know? I think Finn has a lot of growing up to do and I think that Finn has a lot of struggle left for him. I think dealing with a lot of his dad stuff, the passing of his father and dealing with the unrequited love all of a sudden from Rachel, I think the more trouble he goes through, the more interesting it is for me as an actor."
Over the course of his run on the series, Finn's primary relationship has been with the glee club's main singer, Rachel. In a meeting with the press at PaleyFest2011, which occurred when the characters were in the middle of a months-long breakup, Monteith commented: "That's a very important central relationship to the show. I think it's important, and I think they're endgame, but I can't be sure of when. I try not to get too attached to the pairing, so I can focus on storyline that does come my way." Falchuk said of the Finn–Rachel relationship ahead of the third season, "We're not interested in breaking them up this year but at the same time the challenge is they are graduating, they are different kinds of people and where does that take you?" During the PaleyFest2011 Glee cast interview, Monteith said, "There are a lot of people who really, really want Finn and Rachel to be together. But at the same time, I think that it's really interesting when they're clearly in love with each other but they're apart. I think it makes for good television." He added, "I think there's a different dynamic to Finn with Quinn and with Rachel, and single."

Storylines

Season 1

Finn is introduced as the stereotypical, somewhat clueless popular jock, captain and quarterback of the William McKinley High School football team. Finn is seen as a 'go with the flow' character in the beginning, concerned more with popularity and reputation than exerting real leadership, but is also shown to have a conscience. He's aware of the bullying and pranking that he is expected to participate in, but he does his best to avoid or downplay his level of participation without actually taking a stand against it. For example, in his opening scene he stands by idly as his teammates throw Kurt Hummel into a dumpster, but not before Finn first allows Kurt to remove an expensive designer jacket.
Finn is discovered singing in the locker room shower by his Spanish teacher/Glee Club Faculty Director Will Schuester, who then blackmails him into joining the glee club in hopes that securing a popular, strong male lead will attract interest of other students and entice them to join the club as well as improving the overall status of the club.
Despite being ostracized by the other football players, including his best friend Puck, Finn comes to enjoy being in the club. After rescuing Artie Abrams, who uses a wheelchair, from a bullying incident in a port-a-pottie, Finn finally begins to find his voice as a leader and takes a stand against bullying, proclaiming to Puck and the football team that both football and glee need him to succeed, therefore he will continue to do both.
Finn exercises his leadership skills, introducing the glee club members to the show's most identifiable quintessential song, Journey's Don't Stop Believin'. As Finn spends more time singing and rehearsing with female lead Rachel Berry, it becomes apparent there is a growing attraction and strong musical chemistry between them, to the point where during vocal practice in the second episode "Showmance", he kisses Rachel in the auditorium. His decision to remain in glee worries his girlfriend, head cheerleader Quinn Fabray, who joins glee to keep an eye on him, afraid that Rachel's apparent interest in Finn may be reciprocated.
Quinn discovers that she is pregnant, and while she had cheated on Finn with Puck, she tells Finn that the baby is his, even though they never actually had intercourse. Due to Quinn joining the club and a perceived lack of acknowledgement of her talent from Mr. Schuester, Rachel quits glee club, leaving the team short a strong female lead and diminishing their chance of success at competitions. Realizing he needs to plan a future to support his child and hopeful to gain a music scholarship, Finn entices Rachel to return to glee club by using her feelings for him and invites her on a date to a bowling alley where they kiss again. Finn is increasingly conflicted by his feelings for Rachel while feeling obligated to stand by his responsibilities to Quinn and the baby. After convincing her to return to the club, Rachel learns of the pregnancy and confronts Finn, slapping him in the face and again refusing to rejoin the club. Quinn moves in with Finn and his mother Carole after Finn reveals her pregnancy to her parents through song, and they evict her. In episode 13 "Sectionals," Rachel figures out that Puck is the father and informs Finn, who then attacks Puck, breaks up with Quinn, and quits the glee club in a fury. However, after cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester sabotages the glee club's first show choir competition, Finn is able to set aside his anger and return to lead the club to victory. He and Rachel briefly date, but he follows advice proffered by Mr. Schue and ends the relationship to focus on his own well-being. By the time Finn realizes that he truly does want to be with Rachel, he is chagrined to discover that she has started dating Jesse St. James, the lead singer of rival glee club Vocal Adrenaline.
Cheerleader Santana Lopez offers to take Finn's virginity to improve her social status and his, and he accepts, but afterward he regrets having done so and tells Rachel that he did not go through with it; she, in turn, falsely claims to have had sex with Jesse. Finn becomes increasingly jealous of Jesse, who had transferred schools to McKinley and joined their glee club. When Rachel becomes ill in episode 18 "Laryngitis" and loses her singing voice, Finn takes her to the doctor and again confesses his feelings to her in an effort to win her back. At the next glee rehearsal, he sings Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" in an obvious effort to prove his feelings to Rachel.
Fellow Glee club member Kurt, who is gay, has a private crush on Finn, and sets up his widower father Burt with Finn's widowed mother Carole in the hopes of spending more time with him. Finn initially opposes the relationship between his mom and Burt, worried that his mother will forget about his late father, but relents when Burt tells Finn that he loves Carole, though Kurt is dismayed by the deepening rapport between Finn and Burt. Finn and his mother eventually move in with the Hummels. Finn becomes uncomfortable rooming with Kurt, realizing he has a crush on him. During an argument, Finn uses a homophobic slur in reference to the way Kurt redecorated their shared space which is overheard by Burt, who then throws Finn out of his house. Finn is ashamed, and in episode 20 "Theatricality" makes amends by standing up for Kurt at school when he is victimized by bullies Azimio Adams and Dave Karofsky.
By the time the club reach the next stage of show choir competitions, Jesse has betrayed Rachel and broken up with her, opening the door for Finn and Rachel to get back together. In the season finale, as Finn and Rachel are about to go onstage, Finn finally tells her that he loves her. They lose the competition but become a couple as of episode 22, Journey to Regionals.