Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from the Abbott Elementary season 4 premiere, “Back to School.”
As if there was ever any doubt,Abbott Elementaryseason 4 continues the show’s tremendous track record of providing a multitude of laughs, exciting character developments, and intriguing new conflicts that directly affect Willard R. Abbott Elementary School.Quinta Brunson’s ABC mockumentary sitcomrevolves around Abbott’s teachers and staff workers, including Brunson’s Janine Teagues. The series focuses on their relationships with one another and their personal and work struggles. The Emmy Award-winningseries has routinely been praised for its humor and willingness to address real issuesin the public school system, and season 4 isn’t any different.
Cast
TheAbbott Elementaryseason 3 finale paid off Janine and Gregory’s story. After a season full of obvious pining for one another, it ended with them kissing in her apartment while the documentary crew tried to sneak a peek inside. Although this development was exciting for those rooting for the couple, many also worried that season 4 would backtrack and separate Janine and Gregory once again. The good news is thatAbbott Elementaryseason 4 rectifies its past mistakeswhile also taking what has worked in the past and making it new.
Quinta Brunson & The Abbott Elementary Cast Bring The Laughs In Season 4
Episode 1 Is Funny From Beginning To End
Abbott Elementaryseason 4, episode 1, reaffirms the fact thatthe ABC mockumentary sitcom has one of the most hilarious writers' rooms in Hollywood.The premiere doesn’t let us wind down from laughing at the last joke before moving on to anotherfunnyAbbott Elementarymomentor line. From Ava thinking Abbott’s new (and only) white student is a Victorian-era ghost to Mr. Johnson reporting Melissa to HR for “flirting” with him, episode 1 is a hoot for its entire 21-minute run.
[Abbott Elementaryseason 4, episode 1] increases the comedy from season 3, setting a high precedent for future episodes.
EachAbbott Elementarycast membergets multiple moments to shine throughout “Back to School.” Yet, it never feels like too much is going on. Theseason 4 premiere simply doesn’t let up on the humor,and that’s a good thing. In fact, the episode increases the comedy from season 3, setting a high precedent for future episodes. It will be hard to beat scenes like Janine and Gregory being interrogated about why he had her keys or Barbara, Melissa, and Jacob accepting the golf course lawyer’s bribes.
Abbott Elementary Season 4 Avoids Season 3’s Mistake
The State Of Janine & Gregory’s Relationship Is Immediately Addressed
Abbott Elementaryseason 2 ended with Janine rejecting Gregory because she wasn’t ready for a relationship. However, season 3’s premiere revealed that Janine changed her mind, only for Gregory to tell her he had moved on.Abbott Elementary’s will-they/won’t-they couplethen spent the rest of season 3 pining for one another. While many enjoyed the slow burn, their back-and-forth romance was exhausting and tedious. Thankfully,Janine and Gregory’s big moment duringAbbott Elementaryseason 3’s finalesuggested they would finally start dating, andseason 4 wasted no time telling us they were a couple.
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Of course,Abbott Elementarycouldn’t resist a good fakeout. Two minutes into the season 4 premiere, Janine tells the cameras she and Gregory decided they were better off as friends. But then, Gregory pops into the interview, revealing Janine was kidding and that the two characters are dating. The ABC sitcom isn’t delaying Janine and Gregory’s relationship any longer, and the premiere proves the show can still work with them dating.Abbott Elementarydoesn’t need to drag out their inevitable romanceany longer, and season 4 will be better for it.
Abbott Elementary Defies The Odds By Continuously Getting Better
Season 4 Has The Potential To Be The Best Season Yet
A TV show with great earlyseasons likeAbbott Elementarycould have eventually run out of steam, but season 4’s premiere proves that’s not the case. If anything,the comedy series is only getting better with age.“Back to School” contains numerous memorable moments that will have us laughing for a long time. Plus, the premiere sets up a (presumably) season-long conflict that directly affects Abbott and its teachers.
William Stanford Davis
Mr. Johnson
Abbott Elementaryhas tackled many real issues in schoolsbefore, and season 4 is no different. The new golf course is bringing many different people to Philadelphia (which is why Abbott enrolls its first white child in the premiere) and is already causing structural problems for the school. IfAbbott Elementary’s precedent (and the season 4 premiere’s quality) is any indication,the golf course storyline will be well-developed and address real-life problems in a thoughtful, yet humorous manner,potentially making season 4 the best one yet.
Abbott Elementaryseason 4 will air new episodes weekly every Wednesday at 9:30pm on ABC, and they’ll be available to stream on Hulu the following day.
Abbott Elementary
Created by and starring Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary is a workplace comedy/mockumentary that follows a group of passionate teachers working with - and against - a difficult principal in the Philadelphia public school system. Along the way, they’ll navigate their own messy personal relationships and find benefits from the younger and older generations as they try to bridge the gaps left by a less-than-stellar school system.
