The third season of the hit television comedy ‘Abbott Elementary’, created by Quinta Brunson, premiered on ABC on February 7, 2024. With a shortened season of just 14 episodes, the mockumentary maintained its trademark humor and intentional storytelling and continued to captivate and connect with its audience. This season dove into major character development and juggled challenges within Abbott and the school district, all while highlighting the resilience and commitment of the faculty at Abbott Elementary. The series has garnered a devoted fan base and earned numerous awards over the years due to its remarkable ability to seamlessly blend humor with thought-provoking commentary on real-life public education struggles and issues. This unique combination has made it a standout favorite among audiences and critics alike. The season finale, titled ‘Party,’ aired on May 22, 2024. It creatively showcased the entire cast, answered lingering audience questions, and left viewers eagerly anticipating a fourth season. The finale was a fitting end to a season that continued to push the boundaries of what a comedy series can achieve, solidifying ‘Abbott Elementary’ as an impactful and cherishable show.
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‘Party’ Recap
As the school bell rang for the third year, the faculty and staff of Abbott Elementary saw this as an opportunity to celebrate the school year coming to another end. Janine (Quinta Brunson), who recently returned to teaching her second-grade class, decided to host a party for her coworkers in her small apartment. And of course, wherever the faculty goes, the documentary crew follows. Staff like Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter), Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis), and Ava (Janelle James) were skeptical of Janine’s ability to host, but she had a master plan so that everyone could have “the time of their life”. She had different stations in her home for everyone to stick to, depending on their personalities and sociability. For instance, a station for gamers, dancers, social individuals, those who are socially awkward but trying, and more. And while the party was seemingly going well, as people ventured off into different areas, it caused quite a bit of chaos. The creativity and writing were so well thought out for this episode, regarding the way the party played out.
“Season 1 Janine” would have never thrown this party, but the current Janine has had such growth and is constantly stepping out of her comfort zone. Having her host the party demonstrated that, but the writers made sure to keep it overly planned and controlled, similar to Janine’s style. As things started to go awry, Janine struggled to keep everything in order and the power went out. With pep talks from both Gregory (Tyler James Williams) and Mr. Johnson, she found solace. And with Mr. Johnson’s assistance, the power was restored and the party went on. In every episode of ‘Abbott Elementary,’ there’s an underlying lesson, and Quinta Brunson and her team consistently find creative ways to incorporate it. In the season finale, Mr. Johnson imparted two valuable lessons to Janine: “Things will go wrong whether you’re doing what you want or not,” and “Regrets have always been harder to live with than consequences.” Let’s just say… choices were made with zero regrets, leaving fans on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating what’s next.
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Character Development
As viewers, one of the greatest joys of engaging with a television show is forming personal connections with the characters and witnessing their growth throughout the series. Two characters who have shown significant individual development are Janine and Gregory. Brunson’s character has matured into a more confident and ambitious young woman, developing a much better sense of style along the way. In Season 1, Janine was still learning the ropes of being a teacher and finding her place within the classroom and around Abbott. She was unsure within herself, but her goal at Abbott had always been to make sure her students had the tools they needed to learn and grow. Throughout the first two seasons, we see her frequently criticizing the school’s shortcomings and making minor changes. However, it wasn’t until Season 3 that she truly displayed her ambition and embraced a “go-getter” mindset. We see her evolve from making a viral wishlist video to obtain classroom supplies to planning a career day at Abbott, which caught the district’s attention and earned her a district-level position. As she has developed into a more self-assured person, her style choices have also evolved significantly. Previously, her outfits often consisted of dull colors, loose and “old”-looking dresses, and contrasting patterns. However, her style has transformed, now featuring more vibrant colors, tighter clothing, and a noticeable decrease in teasing from Ava.
Similarly, Gregory has had major character development within himself and as a teacher. Gregory Eddie applied to be the principal at Abbott Elementary but ultimately got hired as a substitute teacher for the first grade. In the season finale, he applies to be a full-time teacher and gets the job. Upon initial observation, Gregory appeared to run his classroom in a rather robotic manner, lacking the enthusiasm to make the learning experience unique and exciting for his students. He exhibited hesitancy and reluctance towards going above and beyond. However, his character development has been marked by a significant shift towards being more present and adaptable in his approach to teaching, learning, and engaging with the staff. The most striking illustration of his growth is the transformation from his initial classroom set up in Season 1 to his creation of a garden on campus, culminating in the establishment of the garden club, ‘Gregory’s Garden Goofballs’. Initially, his classroom lacked vibrancy and failed to foster a welcoming atmosphere for his students. However, with the assistance of Janine, he successfully revitalized the space, making it more engaging and enjoyable. His passion for gardening and newfound love for teaching not only demonstrates his personal growth but also highlights his increased presence and dedication to improving Abbott Elementary.
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Perfect Direction
The direction of the season finale by Randall Einhorn was simply perfect. The themes of living in the moment and embracing life without regrets resonated deeply throughout the episode, and Einhorn executed them flawlessly. The cinematography, writing, and scoring melded together seamlessly, enhancing the acting performances and enriching the storytelling experience. ‘Abbott Elementary’ has consistently delivered heartfelt moments, comedic relief, and relatable and informative narratives throughout its journey. As we reflect on the past three years with these characters, it’s clear that their evolution has been nothing short of intriguing. With anticipation building for Season 4, I eagerly await what lies ahead for the Abbott Elementary crew.
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Cast: Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Chris Perfetti, William Stanford Davis, Zack Fox | Director: Randall Einhorn | Producer: Brittany Nichols
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Kaili Spooner’s passion lies in sports journalism and Black TV/Film, and her writing strongly aligns with The Hollywood Insider’s values of delivering factual and in-depth coverage. While her future career goal is to be a sports journalist and do social media work for the NBA/WNBA, for now, she balances her academic pursuits with being a collegiate volleyball player at SSU and unwinding with her favorite comedy and drama sitcoms at home.
Kaili Spooner’s passion lies in sports journalism and Black TV/Film, and her writing strongly aligns with The Hollywood Insider’s values of delivering factual and in-depth coverage. While her future career goal is to be a sports journalist and do social media work for the NBA/WNBA, for now, she balances her academic pursuits with being a collegiate volleyball player at SSU and unwinding with her favorite comedy and drama sitcoms at home.
