“Abbott Elementary” - Season 2 Episode 1 Review
If the first episode was any indication, the second season of “Abbott Elementary” is going to be just as good as the first season, if not better.
After announcing that Season 2 will be getting a full 22-episode season instead of just 13 episodes like the first season, the anticipation grew for fans, and the wait was well worth it.
The season premiere was nothing short of amazing, as writer, creator, producer, and lead actress Quinta Brunson continues to cement herself as an important figure in the comedy television world.
After recently snagging the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, people were patiently waiting to see if she could continue this momentum, and she has done so with ease.
Every member of the cast continues to give stellar performances, including the recent Emmy winner for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, Sheryl Lee Ralph.
Janelle James and Tyler James Williams were also recently nominated for the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series respectively. In this season premiere, they both come out swinging, proving that these nominations have a high chance of repeating themselves next year.
The first episode of this season is all about the first day of development week, the week that teachers come in and do all the things that need to get done before the students come back the following week.
In the episode, we learn what each of our favorite teachers has done over the summer, and we learn about how Janine has been doing since breaking up with her long-time boyfriend, Tariq, in the Season 1 finale.
During the episode, all of the teachers are focused on different things. Barbara is preparing her classroom and making it more accessible for an incoming student while Melissa is preparing for a bigger workload. Jacob is telling everyone about how he is to start teaching ASL, and Gregory is meticulously planning for the start of his full-time teaching gig.
Meanwhile, Janine is planning a mixer for the teachers, and a big surprise. Ava, obviously, is being her regular self and making everyone else’s job just a little bit harder.
As the episode unfolds, we learn more about how Janine is actually doing since the breakup with Tariq. Quinta Brunson gives an excellent performance in this episode with her stunning portrayal of how it can feel to go through your first breakup.
With such a stellar ensemble cast, it’s hard to pick out the standout performances. However, I will say that all of the best moments of the episode include the exceptionally talented Sheryl Lee Ralph.
The episode also included a set up into how Melissa’s year is going to be, as it is revealed that she is going to have to teach a combined second and third grade class. We don’t see much of her reaction to this in the episode, but it is an exciting thing to look forward to in the next one.
Another thing included in this episode is a tiny sneak peek into Jacob teaching his ASL class, which, if the little part was any indication, is going to be full of charming moments.
The season premiere of “Abbott Elementary” was even better than expected, and makes me more excited than I already was for the rest of the season. This show is reviving the concept of a network comedy, and has many more accolades in its future.
Rating: 5/5
Izzy Charboneau is a second-year majoring in journalism. To contact her, email ijc5186@psu.edu.
