Abbott Elementary Season 4 Episode 1 Review: School is Back in Session
Not even two seconds into season 4 and I’m already cracking up at Ava’s antics. We start the season with the developments for our favorite group of teachers so let’s get right into it.
Let’s start with what everybody wants to know. After season 3 ended with Janine and Gregory kissing………………they started dating!!!!! FINALLY, after 3 years of back and forth, Janine and Gregory have made it official. As much as I was rooting for Janine (Quinta Brunson) to start a relationship with Manny (Josh Segarra) last season, I’ve been on this ship since season 1 and I’m excited to see how this plays out. While Janine and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) think that they are keeping their relationship a secret from everyone, the whole group already knows, except
Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) who thinks they are selling drugs on the side.
They are all trying to give the two lovebirds their space and privacy, but that has to come to an end when even students seem to catch on to Miss Teagues and Mr. Eddie’s stolen glances and sweet whispers. Surprisingly, Ava (Janelle James) decides to take action and have an HR representative come down so that Janine and Gregory can disclose the fact that are, in Jacob’s words, in like with one another to protect them and, unsurprisingly, herself.
While Gregory is ready to disclose their relationship, Janine seems hesitant and now Gregory is wondering if Janine is not as into him as he is to her. It’s a plot as old as time. Eventually, it all comes out during a presentation in front of the whole staff as well as the HR representative when Janine panically announces that they are having sex to disprove Mr. Johnson’s theory about them selling drugs. While all the staff and Gregory seem to be happy that the cat is finally out of the bag, Janine is still panicking, which leads to a sweet conversation between her and Gregory where she admits that she is scared of making things official because she really doesn’t want to screw things up with Gregory.
He affectionately reassures her by comforting her with a hug and telling her to not worry. This moment is very sweet and I’m so happy for the couple. They eventually go to Ava’s office and after a long drawn-out story told by Janine, HR gives them the thumbs up and heads on out.
We then get a really sweet moment from Ava where she congratulates the pair and assures them that she wants them to be smart about this, but then of course, Ava couldn’t end the scene without telling Gregory that their 'situationship', which never existed, is over. Classic Ava!
While all of this is going on, we have potentially introduced this season’s problem: a golf course. It may not seem like a big deal, but it is starting to build up. The first signal of fire is when Charlie, a white kid who Ava hilariously assumed was a ghost, enrolls at Abbott Elementary. This made me realize that in all of the past 3 seasons, I have not seen one white student at Abbott. It is definitely a shock to most of the teachers to see a white kid attend Abbott. The reason behind this once-in-a-lifetime experience is that the city is developing a golf course, which is prompting a lot of white families to move to West Philly. Ahh another plot as old as time, gentrification. This doesn’t seem like a big deal, until the water and gas stop working at the school due to construction, as well as constant traffic and road closures (something I can relate to a lot living in Philly).
Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter) suggests to Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) and Jacob (Chris Perfetti) that they expose that the city is using non-union workers, but this seems to be put to a stop when a lawyer stops by and offers them computers in exchange for keeping quiet about the non-union workers, which seems to work for the trio. While it might seem unlikely for Barbara and Melissa to back down so easily, after years of working in the school district and never getting basic materials, they gladly accept. I’m assuming that this isn’t the end of the golf course debacle, as it is a storyline that many people face in terms of gentrification and its effects on the current residents, but I am excited to see how this plays out.
Overall, this season has started with a bang of potential storylines, which I am very excited to see. So far, I am noticing that the characters have matured and grown since season 1, but the show still has the wonderful and charismatic energy felt between the group. I am very excited to see what’s in store for our favorite group of teachers.
What did you think of the episode? Drop a comment and remember to vote in our poll.
What did you think of the episode?
Loved it
Hated it
So/So
Comentarios