it's always seemed obvious that SOMETHING happened in the writer's room around Quick in S2. They were promo'd as if they'd be a main couple right next to Finchel. But then all their scenes got cut, Fabrevans happened. And I just refuse to believe this was all solely about Chord and Dianna having chemistry. Something changed even before that, imo. I used to think maybe they were getting inklings that something was off with Mark, but foisting him on Idina in S3 kind of kills that theory. So I just have no clue how they went from the obvious, bordering on Finchel-level of endgame foreshadowing in S1 to the absolute ugliness of S2-3. I mean, S1 Puck was a dick, but it was at least teenage boy thoughtlessness, not the deliberately awful stuff like humiliating Quinn with the Lucy reveal, or brutally rejecting her in S3 just to then turn around and use her after Shelby rejects him, or him having absolutely zero connection to the plot where she almost DIED, etc. Part of me kind of wishes there was more Quick fic out there just so I could see how people tried to make sense of all of it.
I think you're onto something there but I'd say that even in season 1B there was a shift. I found it so weird that I could just not tell what Quick's relationship status was in the back nine at all. There's a sense that they're sort of together and Quinn is living with him until Mercedes takes her in, but by that point Quinn has completely given up on Puck. He clearly still flirts with cheerleaders and quite explicitly still hooks up with Santana. He goes after Mercedes shamelessly in Laryngitis and Quinn doesn't care about it as far as her relationship with Puck is concerned.
That, to me, is in stark contrast to how season 1A sets them up because you're right, they're poised as a second main couple after Finchel. This love square very much gives the impression that despite alternate pairings the endgames will be Finchel and Quick. We spend much time on Puck pining for Quinn and trying to be the father to their kid Quinn doesn't want him to be, plus scenes like the baking one and the overall vibe that Quinn is into him beyond status, unlike with Finn. And it's kind of a shame that was all dropped because, honestly? In season 1A I kinda dig Quick. Puck really is trying and I just get the vibe that they're destined in the same way Finchel is signaled as destined to be to us. Even Hairography implies, imo, that though it will be a journey because Puck is still young and stupid and flirts with others, they have a real shot at it together. Idk why that wasn't the trajectory they followed but it seemed to be that Santana was destined to be an obstacle that they'd eventually overcome and Quinn would further be contrasted to her as the cheerleader who got redeemed and gets the boy. I'm not sorry Santana wasn't a part of Quick's story after this but I don't get what changed.
Puck became a complete dick to Quinn in season 1B and even their Beith scene in 1x22 implies more of a quiet defeat than hints towards a future for them. Like you say, season 2 just drops them entirely and then season 3 comes back with a vengeance and all its messiness. It's like they wanted to reintroduce Quick in season 3A and changed their minds twice, leaving another Quick moment to the very end in 3x22. Which I hate very much btw thanks for asking. But who could ever ship them by this point, after season 1B and the nothingness of s2 and the pure ugliness of s3. But then... season 5 pretends episodes between 1x14 and 3x22 didn't happen. And omg you're right Quinn almost DIED and Puck didn't have a single reaction. Not even a "that's rough buddy." He only cares about Quinn when it's convenient for the plot. You know what it is, they weren't a Finchel roadblock in s1B anymore so who gives a shit and Puck was with Lauren in s2. Beyond Finchel they're an afterthought.
All this to say that idk what happened but it's weird. Whatever I'd say about the behind the scenes stuff would be conjecture and I have no idea if something similar to the supposed reason why Pucktana stopped having scenes together happened. As far as I'm aware, that wasn't the case. I don't think anything we know for a fact explains season 1B and how they went from hinted endgame couple to "we only tolerate each other because of the baby." Surely the writers should have cared more about them even after Fuinn was over. And n season 2, okay I get it Chord came in and they wanted Fabrevans to happen and then Pizes was a thing, but they were back to being so awful in season 3. It was so all over the place and based on season 1A you wouldn't guess how they were treated. Show someone just season 1A and their reunion in season 5 and they'd think they probably had a nice enough slow burn will they won't they going on for four seasons.
I'm just so confused about Quick. Something happened. They could have had a perfectly fine, even endearing story. When Rachel realizes in Mash-Up that Puck does Glee to be closer to Quinn, I feel her. I agree with her. I see that quiet devotion in Puck and I believe that he genuinely wants to be with Quinn. But then he blows it, and then we see Beth's conception, and he treats her like shit in season 3. When they're not being actively bad as a couple, they fully ignore each other. What am I supposed to make of that? How am I supposed to find reunion triumphant?
