Abbott Elementary Season 3 Is Finally Here, and It’s as Charming and Goofy as Ever

It’s been a long break (nearly 10 months!) without our favorite Philly public school and its teachers in one of the finest (if not the finest) currently airing mockumentary sitcoms on television. But Abbott Elementary is back now, baby! While we’re only getting 14 episodes this time around, the season premiere kicks things off with a supersized episode (basically two in one, which was sent out to critics), where we learn that a lot has changed since we last saw Janine (Quinta Brunson) and the bunch. But fear not, the goofy humor, heartfelt one-on-ones, and the cute, touching moments we love the series for have remained very much intact.

Right away, we begin with a five-month time jump in the show’s universe, straight to Career Day that everyone seems to dread, as usual. However, you can sense that something different is in the air. Due to ABC’s strict regulations about spoilers and new characters, I can’t really say much, but I think it’s alright to tell you that Janine was finally offered an opportunity to implement real change in her beloved school and students’ lives. Thus, the episode’s first half flashes back to show how that chance came around on Development Day five months ago. In which Ava (Janelle James) invited three representatives from the School District (played by Josh Segarra, Kimia Behpoornia, and Benjamin Norris) to observe and collaborate with the staff, seeking out areas in need of development. Naturally, those three are familiar faces from TV, so it’s easy to guess that they will stay with us for a while in Season 3.

Of course, our teachers are as skeptical as ever about what refinements these new administration people can bring about, given that they usually promise the world and then deliver virtually none of it. However, the staff’s doubts slowly start to diminish as the handsome and friendly leader of the three, Segarra’s Manny, appears to actually want to help the school with as many resources and implementations as he possibly can. While doing so, you can’t help but notice that he’s also having an awkward yet sparkling chemistry with Janine, the latest threat to her will-they-won’t-they romance with Gregory (Tyler James Williams). Speaking of which, we also get an update about their complicated feelings towards each other and where they currently stand in their mostly-platonic relationship that began to backpedal into a close friendship.

But besides tugging on our heartstrings, the greatest appeal most of us are still here watching is the hilarious, inventively witty writing and the eccentric characters that provide the essence of the series. So I’m glad to report the clever jokes are back, too, landing with aplomb and finding the right balance between contemporary pop culture references and slapstick gags that have become hallmarks of the sitcom. Every character continues to deliver what they’re best at, riding the charming rapport they’ve built over the years and giving us memorable moments of foolishness and silly fun. 

Ava, still a bragging force of nature, is now endlessly talking about her trip to Harvard, Miss Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter) is trying to dismiss the signs of her boyfriend wanting to propose, and Barbara (Sherly Lee Ralph) is slowly warming up to possible changes that she was opposed to for so long. Although Jacob (Chris Perfetti) and Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) might not get as much screen time here yet, they definitely deliver the biggest laughs. But even amidst the ensemble shenanigans, this premiere is clearly centered around Janine, who is puzzled by the amount of positive reinforcements she suddenly receives, which makes her torn about whether to take a leap of faith that could improve her career and Abbott’s future.

As creator, writer, and star, Brunson has a pretty clear idea of what direction she wants her show to be going. Though comedy is its heartbeat, Abbott has always been incisive about pointing out the flaws in the American education system and public schools, and Brunson’s ambitious approach to highlighting (and perhaps fixing) some of those issues doesn’t seem ready to flicker out any time soon. That’s especially evident in Season 3’s start—giving a vital role to Philadelphia’s School District isn’t a coincidence—which might end up being the most analytical and adamant installment yet about applying real change. Based on this supersized premiere, we’re certainly in for another intriguing and funny season in our dearest school on television.

Abbott Elementary Season 3 premieres Wednesday, February 7th on ABC.

Akos Peterbencze is an entertainment writer based in London. He covers film and TV regularly on Looper, and his work has also been published in Humungus, Slant Magazine, and Certified Forgotten. Akos is a Rustin Cohle aficionado and believes that the first season of True Detective is a masterpiece. You can find him talk about all-things pop culture on Twitter (@akospeterbencze) and Substack (@akospeterbencze).

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