Ryan Murphy’s Glee was one of those shows that, for a time at least, was a cultural phenomenon. It demonstrated that the musical genre was not only alive and well, but also that it could be adapted to fit into a serialized teen series. There was something infectiously optimistic about the show, and the characters, while at times frustrating, were nevertheless fundamentally good people who wanted to make it in the world.
These young characters are especially fascinating (and have surprising depth) when considering the Glee characters as zodiac signs.
Updated on June 20, 2022 by Amanda Bruce: More than five years after the series came to an end, fans still debate the best covers, the best couples, and the most ambitious characters of Glee. The series brought much-needed representation to teen television when it premiered, and the huge cast of memorable characters managed to do a great job at reflecting the personalities of people who populate the real world, even as storylines became more outlandish. Now, fans can spend time with their favorite characters again as the show has found a streaming home on Disney+ thanks to the Disney-FOX merger.
Aries – Sue And Karofsky
Sue Sylvester is one of Glee‘s most interesting characters. Part of this, no doubt, stems from Jane Lynch’s inimitable performance, but it also has to do with Sue’s relentless ambition and passion. While Aries is best known for their impulsivity, they’re also incredibly passionate people. Sue’s passion lies in cheerleading and often in bringing down the glee club. Her constant scheming against New Directions provides both dramatic excitement and comic relief.
Though Karofsky is very different from Sue, the two line up when it comes to zodiac signs. Where they are similar is in their passionate attitudes. Karofsky just happens to be a little lost in high school, and he lashes out at others while trying to figure out who he is.
Taurus – Finn And Beiste
Glee is a show that knows how to create characters who are both endearing and infuriating in equal measure, and few exemplify this as much as Finn. While he’s a lovable guy, and certainly very loyal to those that he loves (including, of course, Rachel), he can also be infuriatingly stubborn, and this leads him to take some actions and say some things that he probably would have been better off avoiding. That loyalty is the hallmark of a Taurus, just like stubborn resolve.
What’s also true of a Taurus is their resistance to change. The audience sees that in Coach Beiste, one of the sweetest and most supportive teachers at McKinley. Beiste goes through a lot of struggles outside of school, from an abusive husband to making the decision to transition. Beiste might be a grounding force for the students, but the coach is very resistant to changes in his own life.
Gemini – Emma And Tina
Emma is Will’s primary love interest for much of the series, and the woman that he clearly wanted to be with. Unfortunately for him, she has all of the traits of a Gemini – the good and the bad. She is sweet and charismatic, but she has that fundamental flakiness of this air sign, which means that she ends up hurting Will far too often, mostly because she is focused on her own needs more than anything else.
Tina is also charming once she gets over her shyness, and the glee club is part of what helps her with that. The club also helps her make some lifelong friendships as she’s able to connect to people in a whole new social setting.
Cancer – Mercedes And Unique
Even in a show noted for its vocal talents, Mercedes managed to stand out in nearly all of Glee’s auditorium numbers. She had one of the most powerful voices in the glee club, and there were times when she was far and away the best singer. As a Cancer in Glee astrology, she was very loyal to her friends, but she also tended to have another Cancer trait, namely a tendency to be more than a little moody, and there were also a few times when she could be a little self-centered. While Mercedes was very in tune with the emotions of others and able to make friends easily, she always put herself first.
Fellow Cancer and member of the second class of New Directions, Unique Adams is very similar to Mercedes in that way. Unique is someone who strives to make friends and connections with the entire group, and is deeply hurt when people they believed were their friends reject them. Both Mercedes and Unique are capable of holding a grudge once hurt, but they are equally able to forgive easily, as they do with many of their fellow club members. Mercedes frequently forgives the actions of Rachel, while Unique does the same with Ryder.
Leo – Blaine And Sam
Though he wasn’t a member of the original club, from the moment that he appeared, Blaine cast a spell, both over Kurt and the audience. He has a powerful charm that is totally in line with the Leo personality, and it’s absolutely impossible to avoid liking him — or for him to avoid the spotlight. It certainly helped that Blaine was also a good boyfriend for Kurt, and the fact that they actually managed to end up together was one of the brighter things about the show’s later seasons.
Also packing tons of Leo charm and a love for the spotlight is Sam. Like Blaine, Sam also joins the club after the initial group, managing to steal attention from Rachel and Finn with his guitar playing and his contributions to the group numbers. Sam and Blaine might seem like completely different people, but their love for performing — and the people they care about — is the same.
Virgo – Rachel And Terri
Anyone who has seen even a single episode of Glee knows that Rachel is one of the most driven and ambitious characters in the show. She has dreams of making it big, and she isn’t going to let anything stand in her way. Because of this, she tends to be a little sanctimonious, somewhat of a character flaw for Virgos. Nevertheless, Rachel is still a character that fans cheer for. She has an undeterrable Virgo spirit and always finds her way to the spotlight, and Rachel had some selfless moments on Glee when she helped other characters achieve their dreams.
Another Virgo in the series, but one whose plans don’t work out, is Terri. High school sweetheart of Will Schuester, Terri dreams of success, but can’t seem to get there. When she struggles in her marriage, Terri pretends to be pregnant until she can adopt Quinn’s baby, a plan that has a lot of flaws and doesn’t go the way she wants. When given a leadership role at work, Terri has a lot of the same attitude as Rachel as she delegates tasks, but she doesn’t have Rachel’s same drive.
Libra – Artie And Ryder
Artie brought sensitivity and nuance to a character with a disability (though there were problems with the fact that an able-bodied actor played this part). In the world of Glee zodiac signs, Artie is a Libra, the scales. As a Libra, Artie also brought a sense of balance to the cast, since he didn’t often indulge in the sort of large personality hijinx as some of the other more prominent characters. He was someone well-liked by all of his glee club members, even when everyone was taking sides.
Like Artie, Ryder also brought a sense of balance to the next class of New Directions members. He was always there to provide another point of view in a discussion, and someone who had a firm sense of right and wrong that the rest of his classmates didn’t always share. Like Artie, sometimes, Ryder could say things before entirely thinking about the consequences, but he always tried his best to rectify his missteps.
Scorpio – Santana And Kitty
Santana was, without a doubt, one of the most flamboyant characters on the show. She had a Scorpio’s aggressive approach to going after what she wanted. It was very refreshing to see a character that was both Latina and a member of the LGBTQ+ represented on screen in such a compelling and richly textured fashion. Some things about Santana make no sense, but her storylines remain some of the most compelling and emotional of the show.
When the new generation of glee club members joined, Quinn thought Kitty was a lot like her, but the truth is, she’s very similar to Santana. Kitty didn’t allow herself to be vulnerable until she was comfortable. Instead, she preferred to compete with those she admired, just as Santana did with Rachel and Quinn. Kitty also went after solos with a vengeance, much like Santana.
Ophiuchus – Quinn And Lauren
Not everyone believes in the validity of the thirteenth zodiac sign, Ophiuchus. Quinn likely would as she’s someone who is willing to try just about anything once. And even when she struggles to preserve her image in a dropped Glee storyline, she seems to have a soft spot for the outsiders.
Ophiuchus has the passion of a Scorpio and the sense of adventure of a Sagittarius. Quinn has both. She unapologetically pursues her goals, even when it alienates her from her friends. She’s also willing to set aside those goals once in a while for a real adventure, like performing with the glee club, or starting her life over in a new state after high school graduation. It’s no surprise, then, that Quinn finds common ground with Lauren after Lauren is the one to out her past to the rest of the school. The two are a lot alike in the way they pursue their interests and decide to leap into the unknown.
Sagittarius – Puck And Becky
Like Santana, Puck always seemed to have a bit of an edge. His life was a troubled one, and he often projected that inner turmoil onto others. As a Sagittarius, he tended to burn with a powerful flame, though there were several instances where he was able to show others that there was a softer, more tender side of his personality. A Sagittarius often speaks before they think, and Puck certainly finds himself in trouble for just that.
That tendency to be particularly blunt is a trait Sagittariuses share, and Becky is the same way. Like Puck, Becky finds herself boxed in by her reputation, though hers is as Sue’s protégé and not the school bad boy. Both characters struggle to find a path outside of their respective boxes, but they share a passionate approach to their life.
Capricorn – Will And Mike
As the leader of the glee club, Will was one of the show’s anchors. In fact, he was the one person that every member of the glee club knew that they could come to if they needed help, and for that reason, he’s one of Glee‘s best characters. As a Capricorn, Will is a very stable sort of person, one who will more often let logic and reason rule his actions rather than giving in to emotions.
Another Capricorn among the Glee zodiac signs is Mike. Like Will, he also tries to use logic as much as possible in his life, but still loves to dance, even if it isn’t the path his parents choose for him. Mike places a lot of importance on his family, just as Capricorns are often devoted to their family traditions.
Aquarius – Brittany And Brody
Aquarians have a well-deserved reputation for being one of the more enigmatic signs in the zodiac. They seem to always be holding some aspect of themselves back from even their closest friends. This was certainly the case with Brittany who, throughout her time on the show, always remained something of a mystery. However, it was precisely the fact that she was so strange (and sometimes otherworldly) that made her such an interesting character. She was never afraid to be herself.
Though the audience doesn’t spend nearly as much time with him Brody, he is also a good example of an Aquarius. Like Brittany, he holds a part of himself back from those around him, but he’s still walking his own path. When that includes being an escort without telling Rachel, that leads to a breakup.
Pisces – Kurt And Marley
It would have been very easy to paint Kurt as a stereotypically gay character, but luckily the show goes to great lengths to give him a great deal of depth and complexity. As a Pisces, there are many hidden layers to his personality, and Kurt is also a deeply sensitive character. His relationships with his friends, his father, and his boyfriend, Blaine, are the most important aspect of his life.
Another of Kurt’s defining characteristics is that he’s a dreamer. He shares that quality with Marley when she joins the club. Marley always tries to be an optimist, hiding her insecurities as much as she can, not unlike Kurt. When the other club members don’t believe she can do something, she takes it to heart and tries to find creative solutions to prove them wrong.