Abbott Elementary: Dad Fight
November 10, 2024 7:38 PM - Season 4, Episode 5 - Subscribe

Gregory inadvertently triggers a Parent-Teacher Fight Night. Melissa should really get to a doctor.
posted by simonw (7 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
I was expecting the Melissa plot to expose some dark truths about the state of health insurance for educators, but apparently she just doesn't like doctors: "You go in with a bad back, you come out in a body bag … with a bill stapled to it."
posted by simonw at 7:40 PM on November 10


This was my favorite episode of the season so far, because of this bit during the fight:

Jacob: Hey, Gregory Eddie!
Gregory: Yeah.
Jacob: I heard you've been talking trash... about gay people.
Gregory: Whoa!
Janine: What?
Gregory: No, no, no.
Jacob: Just- Just go with it.
Gregory: No, no, break character. No, stop!
Darnell: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. First you cross me. Now I'm hearing tell of homophobia.
Barbara: Gregory!
Ava: Janine!
Janine: I didn't know, I d…
Gregory: I’m not. I'm not. I'm really…
Tariq: You got regressive views, Gregory.
Darnell: That's not cool, man. We think my cousin's cousin might be gay. Now I gotta beat your ass for me, for Jabari, for him, and for Frank Ocean.

Tariq's sorrowful delivery of "You got regressive views, Gregory" just killed me. Now that's Tariq's no longer being a lousy boyfriend to Janine, I'm enjoying him so much.

(It was also trippy seeing Langston Kerman in this so soon after seeing him in English Teacher, which is a very different school-based sitcom).
posted by creepygirl at 9:29 PM on November 10 [4 favorites]


Tariq's sorrowful delivery of "You got regressive views, Gregory" just killed me. Now that's Tariq's no longer being a lousy boyfriend to Janine, I'm enjoying him so much.

Seriously. I'm still kind of waiting to make sure he's not being a lousy boyfriend/pseudo-father (he at least knew his potential son is at karate - after a moment), but the character is a lot better and funnier when he isn't saddled with being a jerk.

I think we were all a little like Janine knowing that Gregory is strong, and could potentially win a fistifcuffs, but I'm happy that it was resolved with Gregory doubling down on what was best for the student - this was very much the Abbott way.

I also thought we'd get a critique of medical insurance, but alas, no. Which at the same time meant that the Melissa B story (can we call it that?) kind of was just about her limping along, then being high, and so on, just for the sake of it. Which was it worth it without the more poignant punch? I dunno to be honest.

Meanwhile, the angry Janine over $5 was fun.
posted by Atreides at 8:25 AM on November 11 [2 favorites]


It was also trippy seeing Langston Kerman in this so soon after seeing him in English Teacher
Right? It was such a different character, too.
posted by soelo at 9:14 AM on November 11 [1 favorite]


It was also trippy seeing Langston Kerman in this so soon after seeing him in English Teacher
Right? It was such a different character, too.


I was originally familiar with him from his recurring guest role on South Side, a show that should be much, much better known than it is and also a show for which he was a writer.

There should be a law that anyone that good looking should have to be at minimum 30% less funny and talented than he is.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 1:15 PM on November 11 [1 favorite]


"We're both on Jabari's side" was heartwarming.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:51 AM on November 12 [3 favorites]


I thought the end of the fight was kind of fake and cheesy, but whatever, it's a tv show. And the lines were great, from the entire cast during the fight.
posted by The_Vegetables at 1:47 PM on November 12


« Older Movie: She Is Conann [aka Cona...   |  Movie: My Old Ass... Newer »

You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments

poster