After Rachel's humiliating failure as TV actress, she comes home to Lima to figure out what she wants to do next. Upon discovering that Sue has banished the arts at McKinley, Rachel takes it upon herself to reinstate and lead the Glee Club. Meanwhile, Blaine, no longer in a relationship with Kurt, has moved home to coach the Warblers while Will is coaching rival Vocal Adrenaline, and Sam is the assistant coach for the McKinley football team.

Rachel hopes to form a deal in which Will's glee club purposefully under-performs at their invitational; Sue wants Sam to distract Rachel.

Rachel and Kurt redouble their efforts to recruit new members to New Directions after new rules are announced for the Show Choir Invitational. Sue enacts an elaborate plan to try reunite Kurt and Blaine. Will and Rachel have a much needed heart-to-heart.

A new job forces Will to take a hard look at the choices he’s made. Rachel must come to terms with the fact her family home has finally been sold. Coach Beiste, returns to McKinley and the romantic tension that has been brewing between Sam and Rachel finally boils over.

Dalton Academy burns to the ground, and the Warblers must combine with the New Directions to form a super group. Meanwhile, Rachel begs Carmen Tibideaux to let her return to NYADA.

New Directions and the Warblers go head-to-head at sectionals. Meanwhile, Rachel must choose between returning to NYADA and doing another Broadway show with her past love, Jesse St. James.