Principal Figgins (Iqbal Theba) plans an assembly to warn the students about the dangers on underage drinking, and asks glee club director Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) to have his students perform a song that send positive messages about avoiding alcohol.
With the McKinley production of Grease approaching, Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) names Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith) as interim director of New Directions during his sabbatical in Washington, D.C. Cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) opposes, citing Finn's age and lack of qualifications, but Principal Figgins (Iqbal Theba) agrees, which angers Sue.
New Directions' director Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) suspects that cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) has been colluding with rival glee clubs, and visits the Jane Addams Academy for girls recently released from juvenile detention.
In 2013, glee club director Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) selects Sam Evans (Chord Overstreet) and Tina Cohen-Chang (Jenna Ushkowitz) to create New Directions' entry for McKinley High's annual tree decorating contest, and Tina becomes obsessed with winning the grand prize, an angel sculpture.
In Lima, Ohio, glee club director Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) reunites with the returning members of New Directions—Artie Abrams (Kevin McHale), Tina Cohen-Chang (Jenna Ushkowitz), Brittany Pierce (Heather Morris), Sam Evans (Chord Overstreet), Blaine Anderson (Darren Criss), Sugar Motta (Vanessa Lengies), and Joe Hart (Samuel Larsen)—who have become popular after winning Nationals.
It features special guest star Ricky Martin as a night-school Spanish teacher whom Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) introduces to McKinley High, and shows several of McKinley's teachers competing for a promotion when a tenured position unexpectedly becomes available.