Season synopsis
Contains spoilers for this season and earlier seasons.
At William McKinley High in Lima, Spanish teacher Will Schuester revives the neglected glee club, New Directions, and recruits students who rarely share a lunch table. Star singer Rachel Berry wants every solo, while quarterback Finn Hudson joins after Will catches him singing; cheerleader Quinn Fabray hides her pregnancy and lets Finn believe he is the father. Will's marriage is already strained, and his growing commitment to the club pulls him further away from Terri.
Will discovers Terri has faked her pregnancy and leaves her. As Sue Sylvester attacks the club's budget and leaks its Sectionals set list, Rachel works out that Puck, not Finn, fathered Quinn's child. Finn learns the truth, punches Puck and leaves the club; he returns in time for New Directions to rebuild its set and win Sectionals. Ken ends his engagement to Emma because of her feelings for Will.
Rachel discovers that Vocal Adrenaline coach Shelby Corcoran is her birth mother, but their brief attempt at a relationship cannot give Rachel the family she wants. Jesse St. James, Shelby's student and Rachel's boyfriend, betrays her by helping his choir sabotage New Directions. At Regionals the students perform a Journey medley but finish third, and Shelby adopts Quinn and Puck's daughter, Beth. Sue persuades Principal Figgins to spare the losing club for another year; Will kisses Emma and says he will try to win her back.