Abbott Elementary Season 3 Review: Funny, Wise, and as Charming as Ever

It feels like coming home. After a long ten-month break, Abbott Elementary has finally returned for its third season, greeting loyal fans with open arms. You remember Abbott, that scrappy Philly public school filled with earnest teachers and feel-good vibes. We fell in love with stars like creator Quinta Brunson as unflappable optimist Janine, Sheryl Lee Ralph as wise mentor Barbara, and Janelle James as hilarious slacker principal Ava.

In the show’s absence, we almost forgot about the strikes that delayed its return — both the WGA walkout over streaming residuals and SAG-AFTRA’s fight for better contracts. But now, Abbott is back in session with a supersized premiere to make up for lost time. This double episode extravaganza focuses on a classic Abbott plotline: career day chaos. Teachers groom professionals for class visits with comically disastrous results. It’s a warm blanket of familiarity, kicked up a notch.

While it feels like Abbott never left, the new season also brings changes. Janine steps briefly outside her classroom. Former friends Gregory and Janine hit new romantic roadblocks. Even rule-stickler Barbara considers shaking things up. And could a new charming administrator spell trouble for Janine and Gregory’s slow-burn romance? Pour yourself a cup of tea, pull up a tiny chair, and let’s dive back into the delightful world of Abbott Elementary. We have so much catching up to do.

Mixing Up the Formula

Just when you think you know the Abbott crew, season three shakes things up. No longer is Janine glued to her classroom – she accepts a fellowship working with the district administration. While she’s only gone a few days a week, not having Janine as the peppy teacher’s pet leaves a palpable hole. Her kids even make a cutesy “We Miss You Miss Teagues” poster.

But Janine’s fellowship also strains her touch-and-go relationship with Gregory after an aborted attempt at romance last season. He rejected her advances, hoping to preserve their friendship. Now there’s awkwardness as Janine explores life beyond Abbott’s walls.

Even resolute Barbara softens up, cautiously hopeful when three cheery district reps arrive promising positive changes. Barbara sniffs, “Heard that one before.” But lead rep Manny’s persistence slowly wins her over. He even sparks a flirtation with Janine, who seems newly open to life outside Abbott.

As for Principal Coleman? She shockingly tries to run Abbott by the book after a summer “studying” at Harvard (read: an online continuing ed program). But new strict Ava has none of the fun and pizazz we love about the character. Luckily, sassy OG Ava returns quickly, wheedled into it by a twerking to Juvenile’s “Back That Azz Up.” Abbott’s balance is restored.

While the premiere resets dynamics, the characters still charm. Jacobs’s cringey wokeness endures. Melissa projects Jersey attitude as she brushes off her boyfriend’s rushed marriage proposal. And through it all, the tight-knit cast keeps that chemistry crackling with humor and heart. Just like that, it feels like Abbott never left. We’re simply turning the page to a fresh chapter.

Finding the Funny Bone

Abbott Elementary always dances along the line between humor and heart. And in season three, it continues striking that delicate tonal balance. The show’s strength remains its cast chemistry and endearing characters. We can’t get enough of Janine’s irrepressible sparkle, Jacob’s woke gaffes, or Mallory’s quiet snark from the back of class. Most of all, Janelle James’ self-absorbed Principal Coleman steals every scene, especially when trying to maintain a rigid by-the-book persona.

But while the premiere brims with Abbott’s signature warmth, it falls slightly short on laughs. As one review put it, Abbott “isn’t in the Tina Fey joke-a-minute business.” And this premiere does waste some humor opportunities by quickly resolving funny conflicts. Still, there are delightful moments – like libertarian substitute Mr. Johnson’s increasingly outlandish stories about his past, which always bring the house down.

The premiere also packed in guest stars and cameos that felt shoehorned rather than natural. Real-life Philadelphia Eagles players popped up on career day, in what was likely a play for post-Super Bowl eyeballs. But an extended sequence filmed at the Eagles stadium disrupts Abbott’s intimacy and strains credulity.

In the quest for viral moments, the showrunners would do well to remember Abbott’s magic lies in its small stories – Janine cheering herself hoarse at spirit week, Barbara gently mentoring struggling students. Not shoehorned celebrity stunts. At its best, Abbott finds humor in humanity, not flash-in-the-pan gimmicks. Let’s hope as the season continues, it re-grounds itself in the modest, heartfelt comedy we know and love this show for. The big laughs will follow.

Shedding Light on Systemic Issues

Beyond the jokes, Abbott Elementary sharpens its lens on real issues facing America’s education system. The show continues spotlighting chronic underfunding and lack of resources. But most pressing is how season three takes on teacher burnout, an increasingly critical problem.

We see the seeds planted with Janine, whose eternal optimism is tested in the face of bureaucracy and stagnancy. “I heard that one before,” the teachers scoff when presented with yet another empty administrative promise of “support.” The spark of hope in Janine’s eyes dims just a little.

Barbara too, a veteran educator, has mastered delivering quality education in scarcity. But how long until the next generation of passionate teachers like Janine and Jacob become jaded and leave education forever? Studies show up to 44% of new teachers exit by year 5, with higher rates in lower-income schools like Abbott.

Abbott argues the system squeezes educators dry without support, leading the best and brightest to abandon the field. And who does that hurt most? The vulnerable student populations served by schools like Abbott. Janine stepping back this season foreshadows that even the most stalwart servants have a breaking point.

Beyond humor and heartstrings, Abbott’s societal commentary stays ambitious. It continues aiming to highlight critical gaps in public education and inspire change. The series asks: What if schools like Abbott were truly valued institutions that empower communities? And what reforms can patch a system hemorrhaging passionate teachers like lifesaving blood? Funny or not, in its third season Abbott refuses to shy away from these systemic flaws. Its messages about education remain urgent.

Stretching Out the Story

Abbott Elementary hums along at a zippy pace, resolving conflicts quickly to keep the hijinks flowing. But season three’s expanded episode count provides the chance to stretch some plotlines longer. Slowing the burn on certain threads could give characters more dimension while keeping viewers hooked week-to-week.

The will-they-won’t-they between Janine and Gregory remains in simmer mode, though their friendship shows strain after Janine asks Gregory out pre-premiere. But rather than instantly resolving the rift in their rapport, the show could play out lingering awkwardness for several episodes. Draw out the friction to make their eventual reconciliation more earned.

Principal Coleman also swiftly shelves her entertaining new no-nonsense persona after interventions from the staff. But watching Janelle James inhabit Feisty Ava with her sunglasses and finger wagging for a few more episodes would up the comic ante.

Additionally, a major career decision Janine makes initially seems monumental but gets minimized before the credits roll. Letting big personal turns marinate could better reflect real-world growth.

While Abbott’s breezy pace keeps energy high, holding the brake on some plotlines would cultivate satisfying payoffs down the line. Let character tensions fully crescendo instead of fizzling instantly. Give big choices longer-term consequences. Abbot could stand to linger in storylines rather than putting everything back into place every episode. Because part of what keeps viewers tuning in each week is wondering excitedly: “How will things shake out next time?”

The Magic Behind the Making

While the plot keeps us hooked, Abbott Elementary’s secret weapon remains its gifted ensemble cast. The actors step so wholly into their roles that we forget they ever had lives outside West Philly. Brunson beams as the wide-eyed Janine. Sheryl Lee Ralph rules as seasoned mentor Barbara. Janelle James slays every scene as flamboyant force-of-nature Ava. Abbott’s cast chemistry remains unmatched on television.

And the writers know precisely how to tailor material to each actor’s strengths. Janine’s irrepressible pep makes her cursing attempts delightfully jarring. High-strung Jacob’s woke gaffes land perfectly thanks to Chris Perfetti’s anxious energy. The sarcastic side-eye Lisa Ann Walter delivers as Lunch Lady Melissa melts hearts behind that Jersey attitude.

Brunson and her writing team have crafted a sitcom haven where beloved characters can organically evolve without straying from what viewers cherish about them. And watching the cast grow into these increasingly multidimensional roles is a testament to both their talents and the sharp writing behind each subtle shift.

While Abbott Elementary artfully experiments with shaking up dynamics, it remains grounded by its skilled ensemble. Much like a family, the eccentric characters trade barbs but bond through unspoken understanding. And the actors portraying them slide into each scene with ease, as if they’ve worked together for years. It’s this lived-in rapport between Abbott’s indelible figures that keeps us invested – perhaps even more than the twisting storylines themselves.

Stacked with a generational comedy cast and scripts laser-targeted to their strengths, Abbott has unlocked the formula for ensemble-based magic. It harkens back to classic sitcoms like Cheers or The Mary Tyler Moore Show, where viewers tuned in largely just to hang out with characters who felt like friends. Given the talent on display, we’d happily just watch Abbott’s crew banter forever. Keep these scenes coming; we’ll grab some chalk and pull up a tiny chair.

The Heart of the Matter

While television comedy has evolved at light speed, Abbott Elementary retains the earnest charm of classic sitcoms. There are no gimmicks or snark here – just human stories told through a lovable lens. While other shows stagnate and go stale, Abbott keeps things fresh by subtly shaking up character dynamics without losing authenticity.

By sidelining Janine from her classroom for a spell, the show breathes new creative energy into her journey while keeping societal commentary ambitious. Exploration of teacher burnout remains urgent and essential. And while the show could stretch some plotlines longer to deepen the stakes, Abbott’s compassionate soul perseveres.

What makes Abbott Elementary special remains the tender heart beating under every joke and mishap. It continues balancing humor and vulnerability without losing its way or resorting to malice for punchlines. Instead, the writing finds comedy in oddball camaraderie and hopeful spirits lifted.

Abbott stands out in a television landscape cluttered with detachment and cynicism. This show handles its characters with care, even when exposing their flaws. Three seasons in, while we welcome new dynamics, that sincerity and humanity stay locked as the show’s secret strengths. We’ll keep watching as long as Abbott remembers the humble, everyday magic that won our hearts back in season one.

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