This week brought tears aplenty as the cast of Glee paid tribute to the classic Fleetwood Mac album Rumours. Plus, scandals rock McKinley High and drama threatens to split New Directions from their beloved coach.

Things start out with Brittany's internet talk show "Fondue For Two," where she reveals to Tina and Mercedes that Santana plays for the other team. Back at school, Rachel asks Sam to be her prom date, but he's disinterested, telling her "you're not my type."

After being a no-show last week, Sue's back, again with her Legion of Doom in tow. Vowing again to destroy the Glee club, she works with Will's ex-wife, who she's code-named "Honey Badger," to devise a plan to get Will out of McKinley for good. The attempt comes with the defunct school newspaper, "The Muckraker," which Sue revives as a way to spread gossip and turn the Glee club against one another.

Kristin Chenowith returns, filling the guest appearance void that Gwyneth Paltrow left a few weeks ago. As April, she asks Will for help launching her one-woman show on Broadway. While Will tells her of his troubled club, she responds that it sounds like they've got a touch of "the Mac," referring of course to Fleetwood Mac. Inspired by the band's classic album Rumours, Will figures out the lesson for the week: reimagine one of Fleetwood Mac's songs. He and April deliver a faithful version of "Dreams," and New Directions appears instantly hooked on the assignment.

After reading an incriminating story in the paper, Artie asks Brittany what her deal with Santana is. She just tells him that Santana isn't trying anything funny, but Artie, knowing how conniving Santana is, won't buy it. In his frustration, Artie asks how she can be so stupid, prompting Brittany to break down crying. "You're the only one in this school who never called me that," she says as she runs away. Artie, bothered and upset, sings "Never Going Back Again," with an intricate acoustic backdrop that eventually works its way into a sprawling chorus of guitars.

Spurred by rumors, Rachel accompanies Finn on a motel stakeout, where Finn believes Quinn might be cheating on him with Sam. However, they find Sam exit with Kurt instead. More rumors swirl as members of the club wonder what's up with Sam. One thing's for sure, Quinn states: Sam isn't gay.

Meanwhile, Santana brings a bummed out Brittany into the rehearsal room and sings "Songbird" to cheer her up. Brit asks why she couldn't sing it in front of everyone, but Santana's scared of being judged. Brit invites her onto Fondue For Two, where she says they can announce that they're going to prom together.

Finn and Rachel return to their stakeout, and are shocked when they actually do find Quinn and Sam walking out together. It later prompts Finn and Quinn to confront each other, questioning why each was spending time with their respective exes. The Muckraker rumor mill is spinning furiously fast now. The couple concludes that nothing is going on and that they've got to trust each other. They sing "I Don't Want To Know," though Finn throws a couple furtive glances Rachel's way. Quinn and Rachel argue over who gets to duet with Finn, but Quinn puts her foot down, saying if he wants to continue dating her, then he can't sing with Rachel.

Brittany moonlights as a reporter for The Muckraker, and asks Will if he's leaving McKinley to help April with her one-woman show. Naturally, she's simply asking questions on Sue's direction, planting the seed of doubt that New Directions' mentor will remain at McKinley.

The uncertainty lingers as Will continues to rehearse with April. She asks him to help her take the show to Broadway, but he just can't commit. He loves his Gleeks too much.

Back on Fondue For Two, Santana's a no show. Rejected, Britney interviews her cat, Lord Tubbington, instead. Later at school, Santana adds insult to injury when she dismisses more rumors about her sexuality, preferring instead to cling to her story about dating the closeted bully Karofsky.

In the teachers lounge, Will notices Emma snacking on semi-rinsed fruit. She thanks him for helping her realize her problem, and in return, she encourages him to aim for Broadway. Her support moves him to tears because he wants desperately to go, but he can't abandon his flock.

All this time Rachel has felt spurned by her ex-boyfriend Finn, and she does a solo version of "Go Your Own Way." While she makes a big deal about how she's putting her own spin on it, the only major change is that it's being sung by a gal and not Lindsey Buckingham. Still, it's a solid performance.

Quinn gets the subtext, and asks her why she's singing a love song to her man. This causes the club to erupt, with much of the blame falling on Sam. Eventually Will asks what's going on with Sam and this motel room that everyone's talking about. Reluctant, Sam admits that his dad got laid off and that's where his family lives now. He's upset, and storms out.

Rachel and Finn visit Sam at the motel, where he explains how the tanking economy left his family on hard times. For all the fantastic plotlines and exaggerated drama the show so often puts on display, the scene represents a human side rarely seen on Glee. Rachel and Finn then surprise Sam by presenting him with the guitar that he formerly pawned. Ending on a high note, they tell him that his Glee club teammates all chipped in and bought it back for him. Sam is moved to tears.

The next day he comes to school and leads everyone in the Fleetwood Mac classic/Clinton campaign song "Don't Stop." It brims with optimism, and for a moment Will looks like he's beginning to consider heading to New York to work on April's Broadway show.

NEXT WEEK: The Gleeks head to prom with some special guests we haven't seen in quite a while.

Justin Starling (@CitadelNow) for Citadel Digital © 2011