Abbott Elementary: Franklin Institute
April 20, 2023 6:58 AM - Season 2, Episode 22 - Subscribe
Overnight field trip, season finale.
Can someone please explain to me how Gregory, a man with very short hair that doesn't look like it moves, needs a do-rag? Like it looks good on his head as a style, but his hair isn't gonna move in its sleep....???
"Are we there yet?" "Well, the bus hasn't arrived yet, so no."
Maurice is ghosting a girl right now, she thinks he's dead, but now after this awkward conversation with Janine (you take a guy to his favorite BBQ place to break up with him in front of his friend), he's going to text her. Wowwwwwwww.
Plus, he makes Janine feel like complete shit (to be fair, same happened) and boy, does this buzzkill the rest of the episode.
"This is a museum, but let's not live in the past."
"It is no wonder your dad is a landscaper, you beat around the bush!"
"You need to be better about hiding things with your face."
Melissa smacking her bat and "we just wanna talk."
"Barbara, you already killed the alien?!"
AWW THEY ARE LITERALLY HAVING THIS CONVERSATION IN A HEART....except Janine isn't going to go there and we're gonna drag this out for another year. This is depressing. Sigh. I know this is a show that sure seems to model after Jim and Pam and you gotta drag it out for another year, but....bleah.
(Note: as someone who hasn't been loved by anyone in nearly 20 years, I don't get TURNING THE OPTION DOWN WHEN YOU HAVE IT WITH SOMEONE YOU COULD LIKE. I just don't. Opportunities do not come along as easy as you might think.)
Can someone please explain to me how Gregory, a man with very short hair that doesn't look like it moves, needs a do-rag? Like it looks good on his head as a style, but his hair isn't gonna move in its sleep....???
"Are we there yet?" "Well, the bus hasn't arrived yet, so no."
Maurice is ghosting a girl right now, she thinks he's dead, but now after this awkward conversation with Janine (you take a guy to his favorite BBQ place to break up with him in front of his friend), he's going to text her. Wowwwwwwww.
Plus, he makes Janine feel like complete shit (to be fair, same happened) and boy, does this buzzkill the rest of the episode.
"This is a museum, but let's not live in the past."
"It is no wonder your dad is a landscaper, you beat around the bush!"
"You need to be better about hiding things with your face."
Melissa smacking her bat and "we just wanna talk."
"Barbara, you already killed the alien?!"
AWW THEY ARE LITERALLY HAVING THIS CONVERSATION IN A HEART....except Janine isn't going to go there and we're gonna drag this out for another year. This is depressing. Sigh. I know this is a show that sure seems to model after Jim and Pam and you gotta drag it out for another year, but....bleah.
(Note: as someone who hasn't been loved by anyone in nearly 20 years, I don't get TURNING THE OPTION DOWN WHEN YOU HAVE IT WITH SOMEONE YOU COULD LIKE. I just don't. Opportunities do not come along as easy as you might think.)
Can someone please explain to me how Gregory, a man with very short hair that doesn't look like it moves, needs a do-rag?
Gregory has waves to protect. This interview with Quinta Brunson about the finale is interesting in its own right, but also if you look closely at the last picture, the one of Jacob and Gregory talking, you can see Gregory's waves.
I am glad Maurice got to call Janine out (but so chill and politely, Maurice remains the best), even if that did provide the reason to prolong the "will they, won't they."
"I take all your recommendations seriously. I want to know why you like things." Awwwwww.
Some very nice Jacob and Gregory bonding, Melissa dropping her Philly history knowledge, Barbara's alien CPAP, everyone's pajamas, Mr. Johnson running off to join Colonel Eddie's landscaping business (or so he claims...) Good finale, excited for school to get back in session in the fall!
posted by the primroses were over at 6:48 PM on April 20, 2023 [4 favorites]
Gregory has waves to protect. This interview with Quinta Brunson about the finale is interesting in its own right, but also if you look closely at the last picture, the one of Jacob and Gregory talking, you can see Gregory's waves.
I am glad Maurice got to call Janine out (but so chill and politely, Maurice remains the best), even if that did provide the reason to prolong the "will they, won't they."
"I take all your recommendations seriously. I want to know why you like things." Awwwwww.
Some very nice Jacob and Gregory bonding, Melissa dropping her Philly history knowledge, Barbara's alien CPAP, everyone's pajamas, Mr. Johnson running off to join Colonel Eddie's landscaping business (or so he claims...) Good finale, excited for school to get back in session in the fall!
posted by the primroses were over at 6:48 PM on April 20, 2023 [4 favorites]
Mr. Johnson: "COINTELPRO killed Teena Marie" lmao
"You know Night Jacob, he's got that dog in him."
posted by rhizome at 2:08 AM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
"You know Night Jacob, he's got that dog in him."
posted by rhizome at 2:08 AM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
Melissa dropping her Philly history...
I dunno. I thought her savaging and directly insulting of the volunteer was way over-the-line. Yeah, she’s a rude person, but the way she treated the volunteer was uncalled for. And then to have the volunteer apologize to Melissa was...I dunno...victim-shaming-ish? I get that Melissa is blunt and unencumbered by filters, but this was just mean-spirited. The whole thing felt wrong and out-of -place. It wasn’t funny in the least. It kind of killed the mood for me.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:01 AM on April 21, 2023 [7 favorites]
I dunno. I thought her savaging and directly insulting of the volunteer was way over-the-line. Yeah, she’s a rude person, but the way she treated the volunteer was uncalled for. And then to have the volunteer apologize to Melissa was...I dunno...victim-shaming-ish? I get that Melissa is blunt and unencumbered by filters, but this was just mean-spirited. The whole thing felt wrong and out-of -place. It wasn’t funny in the least. It kind of killed the mood for me.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:01 AM on April 21, 2023 [7 favorites]
Agreed that the Melissa storyline was off.
I'm among the many disappointed that Gregory and Janine decided not to pursue anything right now - but it wouldn't surprise me if they were able to pick things up immediately in the fall.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:07 AM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'm among the many disappointed that Gregory and Janine decided not to pursue anything right now - but it wouldn't surprise me if they were able to pick things up immediately in the fall.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:07 AM on April 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
The Vulture review (archive link) reminded me of another favourite line:
Jacob: “Everyone that I like knows it. Zach and Diego Luna have seen my tweets.”
posted by ellieBOA at 6:50 AM on April 21, 2023 [4 favorites]
Jacob: “Everyone that I like knows it. Zach and Diego Luna have seen my tweets.”
posted by ellieBOA at 6:50 AM on April 21, 2023 [4 favorites]
I thought her savaging and directly insulting of the volunteer was way over-the-line.
Yeah, they could have written one more line from the volunteer that messed up local history or something before Melissa decided Non-local must be destroyed.
posted by Etrigan at 7:35 AM on April 21, 2023
Yeah, they could have written one more line from the volunteer that messed up local history or something before Melissa decided Non-local must be destroyed.
posted by Etrigan at 7:35 AM on April 21, 2023
Yeah, they could have written one more line from the volunteer that messed up local history or something before Melissa decided Non-local must be destroyed.
Ehhhh...I'm more of the opinion that it was a completely over-the-top retaliation, no matter how many things the volunteer might have gotten wrong. She's a young volunteer, for fuck's sake. And, Melissa's a teacher. Use the moment to teach, not belittle and punch down.
Now, instead of a volunteer, had the character been a snooty, pushy, paid docent who was nonetheless wrong, then maybe Melissa's retaliation would have been okay-ish. Truth to power, and all that. As written, though, Melissa was little more than a total asshole.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:26 AM on April 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
Ehhhh...I'm more of the opinion that it was a completely over-the-top retaliation, no matter how many things the volunteer might have gotten wrong. She's a young volunteer, for fuck's sake. And, Melissa's a teacher. Use the moment to teach, not belittle and punch down.
Now, instead of a volunteer, had the character been a snooty, pushy, paid docent who was nonetheless wrong, then maybe Melissa's retaliation would have been okay-ish. Truth to power, and all that. As written, though, Melissa was little more than a total asshole.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:26 AM on April 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
This episode was triggering for me since I spent one of the worst nights of my life sleeping at the Franklin Institute with my brownie troop. There were troops from everywhere in the Delaware Valley, and where did our troop get to sleep? What magical exhibit? Why, the marble hall with the giant Ben Franklin statue. We didn't get blue sleeping mats either. Just a Care Bear sleeping bag on marble.
Melissa's rudeness toward the volunteer didn't bother me, because as soon as the volunteer said she was from Westchester, NY, I knew it was coming. Philadelphia is insular on a good day, but to someone from NY, too much to ask.
Jacob and Gregory's second bro hug was almost too much for me to bear. No more one-arm hugs for these bros.
posted by gladly at 7:11 PM on April 21, 2023 [4 favorites]
Melissa's rudeness toward the volunteer didn't bother me, because as soon as the volunteer said she was from Westchester, NY, I knew it was coming. Philadelphia is insular on a good day, but to someone from NY, too much to ask.
Jacob and Gregory's second bro hug was almost too much for me to bear. No more one-arm hugs for these bros.
posted by gladly at 7:11 PM on April 21, 2023 [4 favorites]
Honestly, the bit about selfishness felt more like "we want to drag the will they/won't they longer and we don't want to add more girlfriends/boyfriends" than a well-thought out, coherent character arc for Janine.
While my preference would be for Janine and Gregory to have gotten together in this episode, I'd rather they stay platonic forever than constantly have the romance dangled in front of the audience and jerked away. Spend that time on interesting / entertaining stuff instead of the same played-out moves everyone's seen before.
posted by creepygirl at 7:52 PM on April 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
While my preference would be for Janine and Gregory to have gotten together in this episode, I'd rather they stay platonic forever than constantly have the romance dangled in front of the audience and jerked away. Spend that time on interesting / entertaining stuff instead of the same played-out moves everyone's seen before.
posted by creepygirl at 7:52 PM on April 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
Honestly, the bit about selfishness felt more like "we want to drag the will they/won't they longer and we don't want to add more girlfriends/boyfriends" than a well-thought out, coherent character arc for Janine.
Yeah, I didn't get what she was trying to achieve with all that. She's just confused I guess. I had been enjoying last episode and this episode that Gregory is finally being straightforward with what his interest in Janine. So much so that even Ava is supporting their relationship!
My favorite part of this episode was Jacob's moments. I was watching on my laptop and I can't use full screen anymore because it makes my screen flash for some reason, so I really had to peer at the screen like an old lady to recognize Ketanji Brown Jackson on his pajamas.
posted by Emmy Rae at 7:06 AM on April 22, 2023 [4 favorites]
Yeah, I didn't get what she was trying to achieve with all that. She's just confused I guess. I had been enjoying last episode and this episode that Gregory is finally being straightforward with what his interest in Janine. So much so that even Ava is supporting their relationship!
My favorite part of this episode was Jacob's moments. I was watching on my laptop and I can't use full screen anymore because it makes my screen flash for some reason, so I really had to peer at the screen like an old lady to recognize Ketanji Brown Jackson on his pajamas.
posted by Emmy Rae at 7:06 AM on April 22, 2023 [4 favorites]
I was contemplating this while waiting for my kid to fall asleep last night. Maybe Janine is still recovering from her relationship dynamic with Tariq and doesn't trust herself to know where to draw the line when supporting a partner vs supporting herself. I don't think she was very graceful about it and I don't exactly get the "selfish" terminology but that would be a sensible explanation to me, especially considering how strongly she feels about Gregory - she is probably afraid of all of those feelings and doesn't trust herself to look out for herself through them.
posted by Emmy Rae at 12:11 PM on April 23, 2023
posted by Emmy Rae at 12:11 PM on April 23, 2023
Maybe Janine is still recovering from her relationship dynamic with Tariq and doesn't trust herself to know where to draw the line when supporting a partner vs supporting herself.
Yes, and we saw it when Mom recently visited and Janine was sort-of able to care for herself while still helping Mom out of her recent mess. Janine needs more practice at that before she throws herself into a relationship, particularly with someone she likes so much.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:15 AM on April 24, 2023 [4 favorites]
Yes, and we saw it when Mom recently visited and Janine was sort-of able to care for herself while still helping Mom out of her recent mess. Janine needs more practice at that before she throws herself into a relationship, particularly with someone she likes so much.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:15 AM on April 24, 2023 [4 favorites]
Abbott Elementary’s Lisa Ann Walter: ‘To play a teacher and honour them is really important’ [Guardian / Archive]
posted by ellieBOA at 5:41 AM on May 5, 2023
posted by ellieBOA at 5:41 AM on May 5, 2023
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