Remembering Finn Hudson - The Last Glee Episode

Mr. Arlo Torphy 19 Jun 2025

The passing of a character on a beloved television program can often leave a lasting impression on those who watch, particularly when the person bringing that character to life is no longer with us. For many who followed the story of McKinley High's New Directions, the character of Finn Hudson held a very special spot in their hearts, you know. His presence on the show brought a certain kind of warmth and a sense of genuine connection, and so, when the time came for the series to address the real-life absence of the actor who played him, it was a moment that many people felt very deeply. This particular episode was something more than just a regular installment; it was a collective expression of sorrow and fondness, really.

The show, which brought singing and dancing into living rooms every week, faced a truly difficult situation. How do you continue a story when one of its central figures, someone so important to the narrative, is no longer there? The creative team behind the program made a decision to address this challenge head-on, choosing to dedicate an entire episode to remembering the character of Finn Hudson. This approach allowed the people involved in the show, both on screen and behind the scenes, to share their feelings and thoughts in a very public way, which was quite a big thing to do.

This discussion will look at the specific installment that marked the final on-screen appearance for the character, and also how the show chose to say goodbye to someone so significant. We will explore the original plans for the character's story arc, which were quite different from what actually happened, and touch upon the atmosphere among the cast and crew during the creation of this very poignant piece of television. It's almost like revisiting a shared memory for a lot of people, that.

Cory Monteith - A Look Back
What was the last Glee episode with Finn?
- The Final On-Screen Moments of Last Glee Episode with Finn
How did Glee handle Finn's Departure?
- The Emotional Tribute to Finn in Last Glee Episode with Finn
What was the Original Plan for Finn's Ending?
- Unseen Futures for Finn's Character in Last Glee Episode with Finn
The Impact of Finn's Absence on Glee
- Continuing the Story Without Last Glee Episode with Finn
Behind the Scenes of the Last Glee Episode with Finn
- The Atmosphere on Set During Finn's Farewell in Last Glee Episode with Finn

Cory Monteith - A Look Back

The person who brought Finn Hudson to life was Cory Monteith. He was a performer who, for many, became truly linked with the character he played on the popular musical program. His passing on July 13 was a truly sad event that affected a great many people, especially those connected to the show and its many followers. The tenth anniversary of his passing prompted many to reflect on the considerable influence he had on the series, which is something that tends to happen when someone so memorable leaves us.

Here is some information about Cory Monteith, based on what was shared:

Detail	Information
Name	Cory Monteith
Character Portrayed	Finn Hudson
Date of Passing	July 13

His work on the program, along with other cast members like Kevin McHale, Jenna Ushkowitz, Lea Michele, and Chris Colfer, helped shape the feel of the show, especially during its earlier years. There are pictures of them performing together from 2010, which really shows how long they had been working as a group. He was, in a way, a very central part of that creative family, and his absence was felt by everyone involved, you know.

What was the last Glee episode with Finn?

Many people often wonder about the specific installment where Finn Hudson made his final appearance on the screen. The actor, Cory Monteith, was last seen on the fourth collection of episodes of the series in an installment titled “Sweet Dreams.” This particular show aired on April 18, 2013, so it was some time before the tribute episode. In that specific story, Finn had just started going to college, and Rachel, another main character, was making her life in New York City. It’s almost a quiet moment for him in a way, as he was moving into a new phase of his character's story.

The Final On-Screen Moments of Last Glee Episode with Finn

While "Sweet Dreams" was his last full appearance, there's a little bit more to consider regarding his very final on-screen moments. His last musical performance, and the scene where he was in the same room with Rachel, was a song called “We’ve Got Tonight” from an earlier episode in the fourth collection, titled “I Do,” which was number 4x14. It’s interesting, but his very last song overall, not necessarily with Rachel, was “Fight for Your Right to Party.” So, in some respects, there were a few different "lasts" for his character's musical journey on the show. It's just a little bit of a detail that sometimes gets overlooked, you know.

People sometimes ask why Finn was not present in episodes 4x20, 4x21, and 4x22. It seemed a bit strange to some viewers because he had just been back with Mr. Schue, and the regional competition was coming up for the New Directions. This absence was something that viewers noticed even before the news about the actor’s passing, creating a sort of quiet gap in his character's presence on the show, which was pretty much unavoidable given the circumstances that followed.

How did Glee handle Finn's Departure?

The way the show chose to address the loss of Finn Hudson was truly a significant moment for television. The program mourned the passing of the well-liked athlete, played by Cory Monteith, on its third episode of that season, which aired on a Thursday. This special installment, which premiered on October 10, was titled “The Quarterback.” In this story, students were shown gathering at a makeshift place of remembrance at Finn’s high school, a very touching visual representation of collective sorrow. It was a very powerful way to show how much he meant to everyone, really.

The Emotional Tribute to Finn in Last Glee Episode with Finn

Throughout this particular episode, the people in the story worked through their sadness and shared their fondness and respect for Finn. Rachel, played by Lea Michele, returned to the choir room on that October 10 episode to join the New Directions group, where each person remembered their friend, Finn Hudson. It was a very personal and deeply felt expression of sorrow from the characters themselves, which, in a way, allowed the audience to grieve alongside them. The episode generally received good feedback from those who write about television, with many people saying very kind things about how it was put together.

The episode was, essentially, a way to honor the memory of Cory Monteith and the character he so memorably brought to life. It was a difficult task, but the show found a way to continue without this much-loved character, which was a challenge, to say the least. The decision to flash back to 2009, for example, presented a problem because the show had to do so without the actor, Cory Monteith. This was a challenge that the program handled in a way that many felt was done very well, considering the circumstances. It helped keep the spirit of the iconic Finn alive, even when he wasn't there.

What was the Original Plan for Finn's Ending?

It's interesting to consider what might have been for the character of Finn Hudson. Ryan Murphy, one of the people who created the series, had at one point shared his initial thoughts for how the show would ultimately conclude. His original idea for the program’s very last moments was to have Rachel Berry, played by Lea Michele, come back to her home in Ohio to be reunited with Finn Hudson, played by Monteith. This was the long-term vision for their story, a sort of happy resolution for their connection, you know.

Unseen Futures for Finn's Character in Last Glee Episode with Finn

In this original vision, Finn was going to have become a person who teaches in a school, settled down happily in Ohio. He would have been at peace with the choices he made for his life and would no longer feel like someone who hadn't achieved much in Lima, Ohio. The very last spoken words of the entire series, according to this initial plan, were meant to be simply, “Sweet dreams.” It paints a very different picture of how things might have turned out for the character, a future that, sadly, never came to be on screen. This really highlights how much the actual events changed the path of the story, in some respects.

The Impact of Finn's Absence on Glee

The absence of Finn Hudson, and by extension, Cory Monteith, had a profound effect on the television series. In the setting of Glee, the departure of this one character brought about a wave of strong feelings like nothing else before it. It was a very deeply felt moment for everyone involved with the show, from the actors to the people working behind the cameras, and certainly for the many people who watched every week. The way the story had to shift and adapt was a significant change for the program, too.

Continuing the Story Without Last Glee Episode with Finn

Despite the immense sadness, the program did go on to broadcast thirty more episodes across its final two collections of stories. This shows a certain kind of resilience, really, to keep going after such a significant loss. Eventually, the show gave one last mark of respect to Monteith by changing the name of the McKinley High School auditorium. This act served as a permanent way to remember him and his contribution to the show, ensuring that his character and the actor who played him would always be a part of the school's fictional history. It was a pretty fitting way to acknowledge his lasting presence.

For better or for worse, the series did find a way to keep telling its stories without this much-loved character. It was a very difficult task, and it meant that the show had to adjust its plans and its direction in ways that were probably not foreseen. The character of Finn Hudson was such a central part of the early years of the show that his absence truly left a noticeable space that the other characters and storylines had to try and fill. This adjustment was a big part of the show's later seasons, you know.

Behind the Scenes of the Last Glee Episode with Finn

The atmosphere behind the scenes during the creation of the episode that paid tribute to Finn Hudson was, as one might expect, quite heavy. Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz, who were also part of the Glee alumni group, have shared that the feelings on the set were "off" during the time they were filming Cory Monteith’s last episode for the popular musical program. This suggests a sense of unease or sadness that was present among the cast and crew, which is very understandable given the circumstances they were all facing. It was a truly difficult period for everyone, that.

The Atmosphere on Set During Finn's Farewell in Last Glee Episode with Finn

It wasn't just the main actors who felt this way; according to McHale and Ushkowitz, it was a general feeling among the group. Creating a show, especially one that is so focused on happiness and music, while dealing with such a personal loss, must have been incredibly challenging. The fact that they were able to produce an episode that resonated so deeply with people, despite the difficult circumstances behind the cameras, speaks to the dedication of everyone involved. It really shows how much they cared, in a way, about honoring their friend and colleague, and the character he played. They were, in essence, working through their own feelings while also creating something for a wide audience, which is a lot to ask of anyone.

This discussion has touched upon the final on-screen appearance of Finn Hudson in the episode "Sweet Dreams" and how the series subsequently honored Cory Monteith's memory in "The Quarterback." We looked at Ryan Murphy's original ideas for Finn's character arc, which involved him becoming a teacher and settling down in Ohio, a future that was never shown. The article also covered the impact of Finn's departure on the show's continuation, including the renaming of the McKinley High School auditorium as a lasting tribute. Finally, we considered the challenging atmosphere behind the scenes during the production of these very emotional episodes.

Opposite wordcard for first and last 455875 Vector Art at Vecteezy

Last Meaning | Definition of Last - YouTube

Last Meaning - YouTube

East Coast Current