February 9, 2025

Abbott Elementary: With Janine and Gregory together, we need a new endgame

Abbott Elementary returned last night with its season four premiere, and it was fine. The thing about Abbott though, is that it’s usually excellent.

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The problem was that it stumbled into the happy couples trap that we had been worrying about since the show premiered. Gregory and Janine are together. It’s a trap that so many other wonderful sitcoms have unfortunately also got caught up in.

If we’re being honest, I had almost hoped that Janine’s opening confessional would have been true. I wish they had tried dating and it just didn’t feel right. Then we could watch them try again.

But also, in the show’s defense, it’s season four. In the modern era, memorable network television shows typically have five to seven seasons. I get the feeling that if I was telling this to Quinta Brunson, she’d look at me and ask “If not now, when?” and she would be right.

The solution to all of this is that we need a new endgame. A new challenge.

Our golf course antagonist is good. It continues to touch upon real world issues like irresponsible urban development. But it feels very Legendary schoolish.

The answer might be to give us more of the other characters. More Barbara, Melissa, Jacob, and of course more Principal Ava (Janelle James needs her Emmy). These characters are all built up enough that they would be more than up to the task of walking the story through different episodes.

It’s only the season premiere, and fatigue may only be temporary (and justified considering Abbott gives us more episodes than a lot of other comedies).

But I need a new goal for these characters to accomplish. A group objective that will be funny and carry this show to the end if need be.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments.

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