· Rachel
How she ended this season: Rachel didn't get her mom back -- see you on Broadway, Idina Menzel -- but she did reunite with Finn and sing a killer rendition of "Faithfully." So, break even.
What lies ahead next season: Here's a fact that Glee conveniently forgets too often: Lea Michele is pretty hot. And that means Rachel is too, even if the show spends a lot of time saying she isn't. Figure that to change in season two, as Rachel will use her obvious hotness to become a Queen Bee at the school and -- basically this plot will just follow Mean Girls. See you at prom, Rach!
· Finn
How he ended this season: With Rachel by his side and Mr. Schuester in his life as a father figure. And Mike O'Malley's Burt Hummel as another father figure.
What lies ahead next season: Finn has been too goody-two-shoes for too long. And since Cory Monteith seems to possess a reservoir of dark and twisty gravitas that hasn't been tapped, how about Finn gets himself an Afterschool Special-approved drug problem? Think of the lessons!
· Mr. Schuester
How he ended this season: Will kept the glee club, professed his undying love for Emma and sorta reconciled with Sue, all while singing "Over the Rainbow."
What lies ahead next season: Certainly not his ex-wife Terri; if Jessalyn Gilsig comes back for a second season, I will literally pass out. No, figure Will to earnestly continue to teach his kids while simultaneously wooing Emma against the advances of Uncle Jesse. Also, you can bet on more white rapping.
· Puck
How he ended this season: Becoming a new dad gave Puck perspective -- even if it was just for a few minutes. He also got to sing a key part on "Don't Stop Believin'" and busted out his rhythm guitar for "Over the Rainbow."
What lies ahead next season: If Finn is going bad, then Puck has to go good. And nothing like the promised fundamentalist Christian character to put a former bad boy on the straight and narrow. Think: George Michael and Ann, but with a mohawk.
· Quinn
How she ended this season: By finally getting rid of her fake baby bump!
What lies ahead next season: For Dianne Agron's sake, hopefully something more significant than what she had to do during the second half of season one. Maybe a dalliance with an older guy?
· Kurt
How he ended this season: Fabulously holding hands with new lady BFFs Mercedes and Quinn.
What lies ahead next season: Ryan Murphy has already revealed Kurt is getting a boyfriend, so there's that. And really, that should be more than enough.
· Mercedes
How she ended this season: On a high note -- literally.
What lies ahead next season: More Jennifer Hudson-like belting, more bonding with Quinn, and -- if Murphy needs her to do something scandalous -- another body issue.
· Brittany and Santana
How they ended this season: As comic relief and not-really-fully-realized villainesses.
What lies ahead next season: Heather Morris and Naya Rivera are being promoted to full-time cast members so expect some key relationships to form. My nomination: Morris' Brittany and Harry Shum Jr.'s "Other Asian." Their combined dancing prowess alone would cause sparks!
· Artie and Tina
How they ended this season: Holding hands, making plans and still giddy over their first kiss.
What lies ahead next season: Would a show like Glee be complete without a birth control episode? Nope. And there's only one thing that could make it even more salacious: Wheelchair sex! Just ask Friday Night Lights.