Abbott Elementary – Double Date

By starrymag | May 8, 2024

By: Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

 

 

It’s Janine’s (Quinta Brunson) first day back at Abbott Elementary and it happens without a red carpet. She is, of course, really excited to be back but most of the teachers act like they hardly noticed her absence. Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) assumed Janine returned last week. Mr. Morton (Jerry Minor) thought she was on maternity leave and Ava (Janelle James) makes an announcement about the return of cinnamon buns in the cafeteria. However, Janine’s class is really excited that she returned.

 

Janine is enjoying teaching again and tells the class they’re going to do great things this year, even though it’s nearly May. Gregory (Tyler James Williams) comes over and asks Janine for the glitter gluesticks that he lent her pre-fellowship. For a while there everything at Abbott feels a little brighter for Janine, including the bad coffee.

 

In the teacher’s lounge we learn a book club has been founded in Janine’s absence. It includes Ava, Mr. Morton, Barbara and Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter). Ava has become a reader over the past few months and upon Barbara’s suggestion agreed to establish a book club. It’s called Ava and Her Reading Bitches and the club is meeting tonight. They’re going to be discussing Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, a book Jacob (Chris Perfetti) loves but isn’t invited to discuss with them. He wonders why Mr. Morton gets to be in the book club and he doesn’t. Melissa explains that Mr. Morton is trying to better himself during his trial separation.

 

Later, Jacob invites Gregory on a double date with him, Avi (Karan Soni) the paramedic he’s been seeing and Avi’s coworker. Gregory agrees because he is getting sick of the dating apps, so he’s in. Jacob says he never needed to be on the apps as to begin with when he could’ve come to him. At any rate, the double date is on.

 

In the gym the book club is also in session and includes Rosalyn (Cree Summer) the librarian. So far it seems like everyone enjoyed the book, even if it was for different reasons. Barbara likes the role faith played in the protagonist’s story, Melissa loves books about societal collapse and Mr. Morton wasn’t a fan due to how feminist the story is. In case you’re curious, he says couples’ counseling isn’t going well. Rosalyn asks the group what skills they’d bring to the table in a post-apocalyptic society and answers vary. Rosalyn can strangle someone, Melissa can do what needs to be done, Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) can fish and Barbara brings her faith and singing voice. Mr. Morton thinks his sense of humor and scientific knowledge are his best assets. Ava asserts that she would be a great leader. The group disagrees, but Ava says she has been preparing for environmental disasters since she was a kid. And no one thinks Barbara’s faith would be particularly helpful at the end of the world.

 

When it’s nighttime, Gregory and Olivia (Lana Condor) are animatedly talking about blood and gore. A gentle reminder, Olivia is a paramedic and she’s wowing Gregory with some of her most gruesome sights on the job. Gregory, who isn’t squeamish, loves it. Avi and Jacob feel that these two weirdos are a match made in heaven. On the downside, the restaurant they’re supposed to eat at has a long wait, so they’re headed into a bar until the time comes. Once inside, the group sees Janine all dolled up with Manny (Josh Segarra). Gregory is worried they are on a date and wonders why Jacob didn’t tell them they were dating. However, Jacob is just as surprised as Gregory as he believes Janine would have said something to him.

 

Book club rages and there is a ton of disagreement. Mr. Morton believes the end of the world would ultimately necessitate cannibalism. Melissa thinks the message of the book is that you should never trust anyone ever. Mr. Johnson feels that the book says to never go to California. Rosalyn observes that reading is supposed to expand perspectives, but everyone seems to be doubling down on their existing viewpoints. She suggests everyone break off into mini groups. Melissa gets Mr. Johnson, Ava gets Rosalyn and Barbara gets Mr. Morton.

 

At the bar, Gregory is so busy fixating on Janine’s possible date with Manny that he’s ignoring his actual date. He tries to explain it away by saying he just wants to understand why Janine wouldn’t tell him that she’s been seeing Manny. Although, Olivia doesn’t seem to be buying it.

 

Back at the gym we learn that Rosalyn identified most with the main character’s empathy. We also learn that Mr. Morton is into something called hentai. (Don’t Google that unless you want to have nightmares.) Barbara is uncomfortable by this revelation and excuses herself to get water. Things get complicated when Melissa and Mr. Johnson won’t let her get water and then Ava steals it away. This is not what Rosalyn was hoping the group would get out of mini discussions. The group is interrupted by a food delivery for Mr. Morton. Melissa and Mr. Johnson convince the delivery man to join their group of lawless barbarians.

 

Gregory attempts to salvage the date by apologizing to Olivia for being distracted. He says he just didn’t expect to see Janine and asks if she has ever run into someone she knew in an unexpected place. Olivia admits that she has and seems to warm up a little and begins telling a story about her piano teacher. Unfortunately, Gregory just can’t get his mind or his eyes from Janine. Manny seems to be whispering in her ear and Gregory stands up and calls Janine out by name. This is exactly as uncomfortable as you’d imagine.

 

Gregory goes over to Manny and Janine’s table and sees that Tyriq (Zach Fox) and Erika (Courtney Taylor) are there, too. They’re all just there to tie up some loose ends at the district. Plus, Janine had plans to go out with Erika after the district business was done. He is extremely not subtle about trying to find out if they were on a date, but they make it clear that they are there just to finish up some things from the district.

 

When Gregory goes back to the table Olivia declares she’s over it and now Gregory is not on a date like Janine and Manny. Gregory tries apologizing but it doesn’t help that he was so busy obsessing over Janine that he missed the alert about their table at the restaurant being ready. Olivia is all out of second chances and leaves. Jacob apologizes to Avi, but he likes messiness, so he is unbothered.

 

The book club continued to devolve until Ava stole Mr. Morton’s dinner and refused to share. Rosalyn got fed up and left because book clubs aren’t supposed to be this hostile. Melissa and Barbara feel guilty, but then double down and end up sleeping in the gym to prove a point to Ava. The next morning it’s pointed out to them by one of the lunch ladies that the point of the novel isn’t ruling over your peers, but that diversity of thought is the key to survival. So, everyone missed the point.

 

The morning after is pretty amusing for everyone but Gregory. Jacob knows that Gregory is still interested in Janine. If Janine knows that, she isn’t saying anything, and Gregory is insisting he has it all under control.