Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 1
AlthoughAbbott Elementaryseason 4, episode 1 mostly focuses on Janine and Gregory’s relationship, this subplot allowed the show to highlight the unexpected growth of another series star. There is a lot to look forward to inAbbott Elementaryseason 4.Abbott Elementaryseason 4’sIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiacrossoverwill be a fun experiment, and it is exciting to see the family-friendly ABC sitcom merging with the R-rated world of the older, more controversial series. Meanwhile,Abbott Elementary’s cast of charactersremains as reliably hilarious as ever, and their season 4 misadventures look promising.
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Judging fromAbbott Elementaryseason 4’s trailer, viewers can anticipate a lot of zany fun from the upcoming outing. However, one thing the hit sitcom won’t be focusing on is the drama surroundingJanine and Gregory’sAbbott Elementaryseason 4 relationship. Like so many sitcom couples before them, it took the likable pair of leads a long time to admit their shared attraction to each other and start dating. However, season 4, episode 1, “Back to School,” saw the pair finally tell their coworkers they were an item in a twist that illustrated another supporting character’s surprising growth.
Abbott Elementary Season 4 Showed Ava’s Sensible Side
Janine and Gregory’s Relationship Didn’t Faze Ava
It would not have been surprising if Principal Ava stood in the way of Janine and Gregory’s relationshipfor a range of reasons. Ava has always harbored an irrational dislike of Janine, although this mellowed somewhat in season 3, and she has made no secret of her attraction to Gregory. As such, whenAbbott Elementaryseason 4 brought back Ben Onyx Dowdy’s HR rep Warren, it seemed like Ava might be using the school district’s authority to get in the way of the couple’s happiness.Abbott Elementaryhinted at this back in season 3, episode 13, “Smith Playground,” and the finale.
Surprisingly, the principal didn’t care that Gregory and Janine were dating once they were upfront about it.
Chris Perfetti
Jacob Hill
In both those episodes, Ava explicitly discourages Janine and Gregory from dating by pointing out the potential HR problems this could cause. However, “Back to School” proved that Ava bringing in HR wasn’t a petty move. Surprisingly, the principal didn’t care that Gregory and Janine were dating once they were upfront about it, and even then she only cared insofar as it affected her standing with HR. Ava was believably unimpressed with the possibility of Gregory and Janine causing professional problems for her, but she was sweetly supportive of the couple’s decision to date outside this minor detail.
Abbott Elementary Has Made Ava A Better Principal
The Corrupt, Incompetent Supporting Star Has Shown Some Growth
Some ofAbbott Elementary’s funniest momentscame from Ava’s incompetence and corruption, so this character change could seem dispiriting for viewers. Luckily, “Back to School” reassured viewers that Ava was still her old self when she blithely told teachers who were taking bribes to cut her in on the action. She may have handled Gregory and Janine’s relationship unexpectedly well, but Ava evidently has not become a saint over the summer. Thus, the show has successfully balanced her character shift. While she is still comically corrupt, it is fair to say Ava has also grown inAbbott Elementaryseason 4.
