Episode 5: “The Rhodes Not Taken”
If this episode doesn’t sell Glee tickets none will, that’s for sure. Singing sensation Rachel Berry has left the glee club and director Will Schuester is concerned whether the team can perform to their fullest abilities Invitationals. In a desperate bid for success Will enlists April Rhodes, a glee club member from his old high school who failed to graduate and asks her to represent the glee club. The once Broadway hopeful is now a sad alcoholic, who proceeds to get Kurt drunk and takes Mercedes and Tina out on a shoplifting binge! These are the reasons that Glee tickets sell so well; there’s always a dash of craziness in there to keep you hooked. Guidance counselor Emma informs Will that April is leading the glee club astray so Will tries to get her to sober up. Will’s confession to April that he had a high school crush on her leads to them performing a duet of Heart’s “Alone” at a bowling alley, and April vows to clean up her act.
The title of this episode is one of the most controversial in the series – and the pregnancy referred to isn’t that of Will’s wife, Terri. It is glee club member Finn whose girlfriend Quinn is pregnant with his child. When Rachel finds out Quinn is pregnant she is angry at Finn and leaves New Directions. April really does clean up her act, though, and performs Carrie Underwood’s “Last Name” brilliantly, receiving a standing ovation. She leaves to pursue her dream once again, but the club once again lacks a lead singer for their second performance. Who else but Rachel saves the day by rejoining the club and blasting out a great version of Queen’s “Somebody to Love”.

