Season synopsis
Contains spoilers for this season and earlier seasons.
Season 4 follows the New Directions and its graduates on two tracks. Rachel arrives at NYADA in New York, where demanding dance teacher Cassandra July and the pressure of the audition room unsettle her confidence; she begins a relationship with Brody while Kurt, initially rejected by NYADA, joins her in the city and finds work with mentor Isabelle Wright. In Lima, Will takes a temporary government-panel post, leaving Finn to guide the club. New singers Marley, Jake, Ryder and Unique bring their own ambitions and rivalries to the group. Kitty’s manipulation contributes to Marley’s eating disorder, and Marley collapses during the club’s Sectionals performance, costing them the contest.
The graduates’ and students’ stories keep colliding: Finn returns to Lima after his relationship with Rachel breaks down, and his confidence grows as he takes on the club, though his kiss with Emma complicates her engagement to Will. When the Warblers are disqualified for using performance-enhancing drugs, New Directions regains a path to Regionals. Rachel advances from NYADA’s Winter Showcase toward a Funny Girl callback, but the finale leaves the result unanswered. At Regionals, the club beats the Hoosierdaddies, led by Frida Romero. Brittany, newly offered early admission to MIT, leaves McKinley and admits to Santana that her abrupt breakup with Sam was a way to handle leaving. Marley first claims responsibility for catfishing Ryder, then Unique owns the messages; Ryder is hurt but still shares a post-win hug. Will and Emma marry in the choir room.