Glee-Cap: City of Angels.

Let the sunshine in, Gleeks! No, there's not going to be a production of Hair this week - thank god. This week, the Gleeks are hitting the land of sun, surf, and celebrities. You guessed it, Gleeks - the New Directions are hitting LA! It's Nationals time, and the battle is on to win one for the home team, including several departing seniors. Will New Directions come out victorious or will LaLa land send them packing as fast as a Jennifer Aniston comedy after opening weekend? It's Nationals in LA, Gleeks! Get into it!

Will calls Sam to his office and instills in him confidence to be the leader that Finn once was, despite Sam being unsure of such a title. Carole and Burt stop by the choir room, and instill their own confidence into the glee club with memories of Finn, but with optimism and fun as their main point. With the Hummel-Hudson's as chaperones, the glee club gets psyched for Nationals with "I Love LA". Once in LA, the glee clubs hits the sightseeing tour and really feel the love for the City of Angels. Once at the hotel, the glee club gets a familiar visitor in Mercedes, who has finally found success in music. The New Directions meet their competition in Throat Explosion and their leading man, Jean Baptiste (none other than Broadway's Skylar Astin). Ryder asks Marley about why she seems to have given up on her love of music, but doesn't really like that Marley is considering this Nationals to be her swan song. The New Directions sneak onto the stage to have a moment the night before performance, where Sam calls to mind Finn's promise that they'd make it to Nationals and win, and plans to keep that promise. Jean Baptiste and Throat Explosion crash the moment, and despite the gauntlet being thrown, respect the memory of their loss and struggle as a club over the years, but also reminds them that everyone is waiting to see if they can overcome their circumstances.

Tina and Sam spend time with Carole and Finn, unable to believe this is their last competition with glee club. The mood shifts when Carole makes a comment about Finn, which prompts Burt to send Tina and Sam away to talk to her. Carole reveals that she isn't sure she can handle being surrounded by things that remind her of Finn, and being the ever supportive husband he is Burt is there for her. Ryder and Jake finally break the ice over the situation with Marley, and the ice melts as their bromance warms. Ryder tells Jake about Marley's plan to quit glee club, and they hatch a plan to show Marley's songs to Mercedes. Sam can't find Finn's plaque, and confronts Jean Baptiste about it, but before a full on glee club brawl breaks out, Blaine pulls Sam back from the edge. Once back on the bus, Sam rallies the troops, and it's onward and upward for the New Directions. Hi-ho, Nationals!

Jackee, Marlee Matlin, and the woman behind Prancerize are our fierce female trio of judges, as the Amazonians take to the stage first with "Vacation" by the Go-Go's, while Burt and Carole pack it up and head to vacation. Next up is Jean Baptiste and Throat Explosion with "Mr. Roboto" by Styx mashed up with "Counting Stars" by OneRepublic. Can you say intergalactic smash hit? No, really - can you? The New Directions get ready to hit the stage, but are a little sad that Carole and Burt aren't there in the audience, but the Hummel-Hudson's show up and Carole gives the New Directions a pep talk to end all pep talks. ..Can Carole take over the glee club? Please?

The New Directions open with "More Than a Feeling" by Boston with Blaine at the lead with featured vocals by Tina. It seems the New Directions have chosen a classic rock theme, continuing with "America" by Neil Diamond. Carole is shocked when it becomes clear the New Directions are singing all of Finn's favorite songs, closing out with "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2. The glee club honors their fallen leader, with the seniors leading. Once off stage, the glee club celebrates the moment as Will and Sam share an embrace.

Mercedes gives Marley some real talk about her music, which she insists she heard thanks to a few birds known as Ryder and Jake. The results are announced, and New Directions come in second behind Throat Explosion, which means that glee club is over because they didn't win first place. Somewhere, Sue Sylvester is giggling with... well, glee.

Sam rehangs the plaque in the choir room, which was mailed back by Jean-Baptiste, who got whoever stole it kicked off Throat Explosion. The New Directions lament losing, but the Hummel-Hudson's give them food for thought about how Finn always found a way to feel like he won, despite losing. Becky interrupts the moment as Sue demands Will's presence in her office. Roz Washington soaks in the success of taking the Cheerios to victory, while Will anxiously waits for his moment with Sue. Will is disappointed when Sue delivers the news that because of not winning first place, the glee club is officially no more. Sue reminds Will that he has in fact won because he succeeded with her at his heels and playing her best game. News of the disbandment reaches New York as Kurt, Santana, and Rachel react to glee club being - o-v-e-r.

Is this really the end for glee club or is there a new silver lining waiting to be found? Is it time for the New Directions to go in a new direction for good? Only time will tells, Gleeks. Next week marks Glee's 100th episode and brings with it fan favorites and remixed versions of Glee classics. Until then, I'm going to google what Prancerizing is, and we'll meet back here next week - same time, same place.