A haunting sense of loss pervades the first few episodes of the musical dramedy's fifth season, due to the sudden and untimely death of actor Cory Monteith on July 13, 2013. The season's third installment, "The Quarterback," serves as a fitting tribute and a heartbreaking farewell to both Monteith and his character, Finn Hudson. As the season progresses, the storylines alternate between the gang at McKinley High and the alumni who have moved to New York City. Several cast members, including Heather Morris, Amber Riley, Mark Salling and Harry Shum Jr., cease being regular players in Season 5 but still appear occasionally as guest stars. The main cast includes Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele, Jane Lynch, Kevin McHale, Darren Criss, Jenna Ushkowitz, Chord Overstreet, Chris Colfer, Naya Rivera, Jacob Artist, Melissa Benoist, Blake Jenner, Alex Newell and Becca Tobin.