Hey fellow Abbotteers! I’m sure everyone was as excited as I was when it was announced that our favorite group of teachers is coming back for a fifth season. I don't know about you, but I have already started thinking about potential characters and storylines I would like to see next season, as well as who I think would be the best fit for the roles.
(Disclaimer: The potential storylines, characters, and actors I list are not based on insider information. These are just my suggestions, and hopefully sharing them brings them to life, lol.)
Ava’s Family
This season, we have seen a lot of character development for Ava, especially in terms of her relationships. No offense to Andre Iguodala, but I really want to see Ava further develop her flirtation with O’Shon (Matthew Law) into something more. O’Shon's presence makes Ava nervous and seemingly vulnerable, which is a rarity given her normally tough persona. I enjoy seeing this softer side of her. I was reminded of this during season 1 when we met Ava’s grandmother, Lorraine, who Ava cares for, even if she initially wanted to keep it a secret.
Speaking of family, we got a brief glimpse of Ava’s potential family drama earlier this season when Gregory met Ava’s father at the barbershop and confronted her about claiming she had no family in Philly. It’s clear that this is a sensitive subject for her. I would love for the show to revisit this storyline. There are so many different directions it could take, shedding more light on Ava’s past and explaining why she is the way she is now.
One storyline I enjoy is the possibility of Ava having a younger half-sister and her father showing favoritism towards the sister, leading Ava to feel rejected and fend for herself. Ava has mentioned that she had to fight her way to get to where she is, and she wouldn’t change a thing, even if her path wasn’t the most honest. It seems Ava lacked support at home, and I’ve noticed that she sometimes shuts down or feels discouraged when faced with rejection, particularly regarding academics. This could connect to her childhood and family life, possibly involving feelings of rejection or neglect.
I’ve also observed that Ava’s treatment of Janine might stem from Janine reminding her of someone from her past who shares the same bubbly personality and pride in academic achievements—perhaps a younger sister. When considering who could fill this role, I think of Tabyana Ali. She is best known for her role as Trina Robinson on "General Hospital," a soap opera on ABC, the same network as "Abbott Elementary." Recently, she starred in the comedy/drama "Empire Waist."
Ali would be perfect for the role of Ava’s younger sister because she shares many of Ava’s facial features and mannerisms. This storyline could take on a more mature and heartfelt tone for "Abbott," and who better than a soap opera star to deliver both drama and emotion? Of course, since it’s still "Abbott," we can expect plenty of comedic moments as well. Ali has expressed an interest in taking on more comedic roles, and she has great comedic timing.
If the writers decide to make Ava’s sister similar to Janine, Ali’s bubbly personality and enthusiasm would fit perfectly. I envision Ava’s younger sister as a blend of Ava and Janine, and Ali has proven that she can effortlessly deliver drama, glamour, tears, laughter, and sass—qualities that would perfectly suit this potential character.
Jacob’s family
Ava isn’t the only one who has alluded to family drama. Jacob has alluded to him having a bad relationship with his parents as well. Obviously this year we met Jacob’s younger brother Caleb, who everyone loved while Jacob clearly had disdain for. While Jacob was jealous of Caleb and always thought that he was making fun of him, it is later revealed that Caleb looks up to his bigger brother. While that brotherly relationship has since been prepared, we still don’t know the specifics about Jacob’s parents. But from what Jacob has stated, we can gather that their presence in Jacob’s life has left a bad taste, so much that he avoids going back home for the holidays as it always brings back bad memories. While I don’t have an idea of who could fill this role YET, I would love to see Jacob stand up to his parents and confront his demons as well. (Also if you have an idea for who could play Jacob’s parents, please comment below).
Barbara’s Teacher Journey
Ava isn’t the only one experiencing potential developments this season. Although it hasn’t been heavily discussed, I can’t forget how, in “Testing,” Barbara attempted to ask Melissa if she had ever considered retirement. This isn’t the first time Barbara has thought about this. Remember the season 1 finale when she contemplated retiring because she felt she was aging out of the profession? Obviously, she chose to stay, but this brief mention seems to reflect more on her than on any insecurity.
While I’m not suggesting I want Barbara to retire, if the story were to head in that direction, I would love to see her take on more of a leadership role, perhaps becoming more involved with the district like Janine did last season. I don’t think Barbara is ready to say goodbye to the classroom just yet, but it appears that it might happen at some point. That doesn’t mean she couldn't still contribute to the school community.
I would also like to see Barbara explore her identity outside of being a teacher. As we know, God and teaching are two of Barbara's biggest passions. Without one of these, she might face an identity crisis. This could be a compelling storyline showcasing someone undergoing such a transformation—a journey that many can resonate with. When you stop doing something you’ve done for so long, it takes time to find your new groove. Just because you’re saying goodbye to something doesn’t mean it’s gone completely; it’s simply time for a transition. I would be interested in watching Barbara navigate this journey. If she does retire from teaching, that would create an opportunity for a fresh new character to enter the scene.
New Teacher
Of course, I love my current group of teachers, but introducing a few new faces could be refreshing. While we first met Janine and Jacob early in their teaching careers, we didn’t see the very beginning. I would like to witness the process of a brand-new teacher possibly taking over Barbara’s class. One person I have in mind for this role is Ciara Riley Wilson. Many may know this Filipina actress for her role in Netflix’s “Freeridge,” a spinoff of the hit series “On My Block,” where she portrayed Demi, the spiritual and optimistic friend in the group. Her performance in “Freeridge”(which also starred Keyla Monterroso Mejia who played Ashley, Melissa’s TA) demonstrated her calming presence—an excellent quality for a kindergarten teacher—while also showcasing her ability to be eccentric when overwhelmed, making her a great fit for Abbott.
This new teacher could add a fun dynamic to the Abbott staff. Additionally, even though Janine still has a long way to go in her development, it could encourage her to step into a more leadership role like Barbara’s. Over the years, Janine has admired Barbara and sought her advice as an educator. It would be wonderful to see Janine continue teaching without her mentor and potentially become a mentor to this new teacher.
Obviously, there are a lot more potential storylines and characters that we may see in the future, but these are the ones that have been on my mind for a while. Hopefully, some of these will come to fruition, but until then, I can’t wait to see how this season wraps up!
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