Practically a yr after Abbott Elementary Season 2 got here to an finish, it is lastly time to get again to class.
This season kicked off with a double-episode premiere, giving us a full hour to meet up with Janine, Gregory, and the remainder of the Abbott Elementary employees.
After the Abbott Elementary Season 2 finale left us questioning what would come subsequent for Janine and Gregory, we could not wait to see how our favourite TV academics have been doing and whether or not there had been any developments of their relationship behind the scenes.
Earlier than diving into the brand new season, we mirrored a bit on Janine and Gregory’s “will they/will not they” relationship and in the end determined that it was finest for Janine to remain single.
So when it got here time to tune in to Abbott Elementary Season 3 Episode 1, we’ve to confess we have been a bit of nervous about what the writers may need in retailer for the 2 of them.
The premiere begins off with extra urgent issues, although: Janine would not even educate at Abbott anymore. What?!
So, yeah. I work for the varsity district now. You guys missed quite a bit.
Janine
As soon as we get the flashback on board to cowl the final 5 months of what we have missed, issues begin to make extra sense.
We get to satisfy some new characters. Manny, a consultant from the varsity district, is charming and appears to genuinely care about what occurs to Abbott Elementary’s college students.
Manny’s the one who pitches the Robeson Fellowship to Janine. We love this second of recognition that she will get. Janine craves reward and assist from authority figures, and she or he would not get it from Ava, so it is good to see.
The writers do a terrific job right here of maintaining Janine in character. She would not like the concept of leaving her college students and classroom behind, and she or he’s totally immune to the concept of working for the district due to that.
However this is the place we are able to additionally see quite a lot of progress in Janine — she begins turning to her colleagues as friends and asking for his or her recommendation.
We get some actually candy interactions between Janine and Jacob, and later Janine and Barbara, as she ponders on the chance in entrance of her.
Barbara has at all times been form of caught in her methods, so the truth that Manny is ready to win her over and persuade her that he and his group actually wish to make a distinction is big.
We have at all times recognized that Janine seems to be as much as Barbara, so it is actually Barbara’s recommendation that seals the choice for the youthful instructor.
Janine: These new district folks…they smile in your face, and inform you your concepts are good…however they suck, proper?
Barbara: You understand, I am unable to consider I’ll say this, however I even have hope for this new group. I believe they will make change.
Talking of character improvement, all of this is occurring whereas Ava is within the background having a complete persona change. Since finding out over the summer season, she’s a totally new principal, decided to stay and die by the foundations. She’s busy implementing new protocols.
She’s driving everybody completely loopy.
We actually loved watching the opposite academics band collectively to conspire towards Ava, attempting to determine the best way to make her return to regular. There’s an actual sense of camaraderie between Jacob, Barbara, Gregory, and Melissa all through the episode.
Hilariously, it was Barbara who pulled out all of the stops and lured Ava into an empty gymnasium, blaring “Again That Azz Up” by Juvenile to snap Ava out of her new inflexible methods.
Barbara’s progress has been actually enjoyable to observe over the previous few seasons as she lets a number of the youthful academics affect her. She’s a veteran instructor with a long time of expertise, however she’s change into increasingly more open to the concept of doing issues in numerous methods for the sake of her college students.
The piece de resistance of Half 1 comes on the finish when Ava reveals safety digicam footage exhibiting a (not-so-private) second between Janine and Gregory.
In it, Janine confesses to Gregory that she nonetheless has emotions for him, which comes as a shock to precisely nobody.
The half we did not see coming was when Gregory shut her down, telling her he is moved on and needs simply to be associates.
And look — that is what we hoped for. However we might be mendacity if we mentioned it did not sting a bit of watching Janine flip away, disenchanted, after placing on a courageous face and telling Gregory she agreed that their friendship was extra essential.
We do not get to ruminate on it for very lengthy, although, as a result of Half 2 kicks off straight away and it is Profession Day at Abbott Elementary.
Janine, Manny, and the opposite district workers are hanging out at Abbott for the day to assist out with Janine’s pet venture: Profession Day.
Within the midst of all of the hustle and bustle of the day, we’re struck by the truth that Gary retains making marriage jokes to Melissa, who’s clearly uncomfortable with it. The strain is palpable when she takes Gary apart to verify he is aware of she has no intention of getting remarried, and she or he tells him it might take a miracle to alter her thoughts.
This half is a bummer — it is clear to the viewer that Melissa implies that facetiously, however Gary takes it as a problem.
A extremely enjoyable a part of this episode is that we get to be taught extra about Mr. Johnson, who, because it seems, has lived a couple of thousand lives earlier than touchdown at Abbott. Jacob particularly requested Mr. Johnson for his class’s Profession Day presentation, and the youngsters are nearly as captivated as Jacob is.
That is the primary actual glimpse into Mr. Johnson’s previous that we have seen, and we love that his character is attending to develop a bit of.
Janine is struggling huge time with management. She’s dealing with Profession Day just like the skilled she is, however she’s having a tough time letting go of management in her classroom. It is refined, however it’s there.
Down the corridor, there is a advertising and marketing skilled from the Philadelphia Eagles presenting in Melissa’s class, and the category is losing interest.
The presenter is aware of simply what to do, although, and all of a sudden the Philadelphia Eagles’ real-life quarterback Jalen Hurts is video chatting with a bunch of scholars whereas Melissa and Ava have fangirl moments.
This bit is fairly cute, and we’re a sucker for a cameo. Generally these moments can really feel actually tacky, however the writers pull it off by having Jalen work together with the forged in an natural approach.
That is the half the place issues go off the rails for this episode. Gary enlists Jalen to assist him suggest to Melissa, pondering that that is the form of “miracle” she was referring to. When Melissa says no, Gary is heartbroken, and we’ve to interrupt Profession Day to observe them outdoors to hash it out.
Gary: I am okay. I will be alright. Despite the fact that I really feel like a zero proper now.
Melissa: Oh honey, you are not a zero. You are a Philly eleven.
They in the end break up, which is okay, however a bit of disappointing. They have been clearly comfortable collectively and cared quite a bit about one another, so it sucks that they could not have discovered a approach to be collectively with out getting married.
Again inside, Janine freaks out in regards to the mess that Profession Day devolved into, however Manny is as encouraging as ever.
His compliments are actually having an impact on Janine and it will be fascinating to see how she evolves professionally because of his constructive reinforcement.
Clearly, Janine is lacking her college students, however she’s doing actually essential work on the district. She’s being acknowledged for her concepts — and she or he’s bought tons of them — and she or he’s making a distinction.
The elephant within the room, although, remains to be her relationship with Gregory. Fortunately, the writers give us a second between Janine and Gregory that lastly cuts by means of the stress that is been constructing there.
In a burst of vulnerability from each of them, the 2 lastly clear the air and we’re glad to see that they are on their approach to being again to regular.
It doesn’t matter what occurs with their relationship going ahead, the 2 of them have an essential friendship.
Gregory: I miss this. Simply chatting about our days.
Janine: Oh my God, me too. A lot.
We’re trying ahead to seeing what’s subsequent this season. The large questions we’ve for now are whether or not Janine will keep on the district or if she’ll get homesick for Abbott and return to educating.
We’re hoping that she and Gregory are again on observe simply to be good associates and that they will each transfer on, however who is aware of what’s subsequent for these two.
Ensure you keep updated with the present and watch Abbott Elementary on-line. Tune in with us subsequent week as we observe together with our favourite educators.
Haley Whitmire White is a employees author for TV Fanatic. You may follow her on X.
