48. You Keep Me Hangin On
(Throwdown, Season One) This well-worn Supremes' track was Quinn Fabrays first big solo. Not only that, but it it was her first meaningful one as well. After finding herself pregnant to her boyfriends, Finns, best friend, Puck, Quinn tries to pass the baby off as Finns but sees him pulling away from her, and towards new glee pal, Rachel. Quinn laments about Finns doubts about their future together, as teen parents, and his growing attraction to Rachel. For the first time this mini-ice queen's cool exterior is cracked, and continues to crumbled as the season progresses. The number also includes an elaborate cheerleading routine in the auditorium and on the football fields which was ambitious for one of the earliest episodes. It also cements Quinns penchant for Diana Ross / Motown songs.
47. Proud Mary
(Wheels, Season One) Wheels is the first Artie-centric episode and, obviously, includes the characters first solo. Artie is hurt when the rest of the glee club is unsympathetic to his needs as a disabled student. In this case, Will asks the glee club to raise money so they can hire a wheelchair accessible bus so Artie can go to Sectionals with everybody else. However, no one is particularly interested. It is a surprisingly honest episode and the performance marks the beginning of Arties dream of regaining the ability to walk so he can become a dancer, like hes always dreamed of. Sadly, by the end of Season One, he realises this is impossible. Nevertheless, the concluding number of this episode, which is led by Mercedes and Artie, whose voices sound brilliant together, symbolises the glee clubs apology, and acceptance, of Artie. It also features a solo line from Tina, a rare occurrence which reiterates her friendship with Artie. The layout of the performance is also pretty unique given that Artie decides to use the glee clubs fund-raising money for a wheelchair ramp for the auditorium. The whole club performs the number in wheelchairs as a tribute to him. Unfortunately these ramps were never seen again and there hasnt been much attempt to fully adapt a wheelchair into the choreography since.
46. Ill Stand By You
(Ballad, Season One) Finns dilemma with his unborn baby comes to a head as Quinn has her first baby scan. Although, Quinn is determined to give the baby up for adoption, Finn is tormented by the prospect of never seeing his daughter grow up. He is paired with Kurt to sing a ballad for glee club and Kurt encourages Finn to dedicate a song to his unborn daughter, during which his mother, Carole, finally discovers the secret hes been hiding. This is more poignant for the audience than Finn, as we know the baby is actually Pucks and root for Finn, who is sincerely apologetic to his mother.
45. (Youre) Having My Baby
(Ballad, Season One) Later in Ballad, taking Kurts advice, Finn dedicates this Paul Anka lullaby to Quinn. However sweet the dedication is, the fact that he sings it in front of her super-conservative, Christian parents makes it one of Glees most awkward scenes to watch. Unfortunately for Quinn, Finns attempt to soften the pregnancy secret for the Fabrays gets her kicked out the house. She is left to move in with Finn and Carole. As much as this number is cringe-worthy it, again, is a great character moment for Finn. His courage also makes the real father, Puck, take into consideration his own behaviour.
44. Lean on Me
(Ballad, Season One) Later still in Ballad, the rest of the glee club had abandoned their duets assignment in place of a group dedication, led by Mercedes and Artie, to Finn and Quinn. I think that this performance is the first genuine interaction between all of the original main characters of the New Directions. In particular, Quinn and Puck seemed to have grown from the earlier events of this episode. Mercedes finds out that Puck is the real father of Quinns baby and advises him to leave Quinn and Finn alone. It is also Mercedes who organises the performance which shows her friendly side (apart from her sassy attitude seen thus far) especially towards two people, who, in truth, really didn't deserve their friendship at this point.