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.

Puck, Quinn, Santana, Mercedes, Brittany, Artie and Tina all return to McKinley for Homecoming and help Rachel and Kurt recruit for the new glee club.

Rachel and Kurt struggle as they try to rebuild and co-direct the glee club at McKinley. Meanwhile, Sue is concerned when Becky brings her new boyfriend to town.

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.

The members of New Directions must come together to prepare for their first public performance at a high-strung tween's bar mitzvah.