Charlie Garner

Opinion Editor

avg6206@psu.edu

The critically acclaimed and wildly successful TV show, “Abbott Elementary,” is officially back for season 3! Even with some setbacks, due to the writer’s strike, the show is still a great and fun watch! 

The new season picks up with a time jump five months into the school year, with some flashbacks to the beginning of the school year to make it make sense. The biggest surprise of the new episode was the main character, Janine, switching to a job working for the school district. This came as a shock and a disappointment at first because her character was so passionate about being a teacher and no one could have ever seen her taking a break from that. The episode centers around Career Day at Abbott, which Janine helped with the planning of for the school board. New characters are introduced that are also a part of the school board who, shockingly, bring the teachers at Abbott hope for their school. 

In very sitcom will-they/won’t-they fashion, Janine and Gregory are still battling with their feelings toward each other. It is revealed that Janine brought up her feelings to Gregory before she went to work for the school board, but he shot them down. And it is speculated that this contributed to her leaving Abbott. And things between them seem to be a bit weird and awkward throughout the episode. JUST LET THEM BE TOGETHER ALREADY! 

As usual, one of the episode highlights is Principal Ava Coleman. In the flashbacks to the beginning of the school year, she starts actually trying to be a good principal and has seemed to have turned over a new leaf. But, as the audience, we know it is not going to last. And thankfully, it did not. I know Ava is terrible at her job, but I love her as the chaotic and hilarious character she is. And her calling Gregory “Jeremy Allen Black” was absolute gold. 

And for all of the Philly fans, there were some exciting special guest appearances from some players of the Philadelphia Eagles- Jalen Hurts, Jason Kelce, and Brandon Graham. 

Unfortunately, there will only be 14 episodes in the new season, rather than the standard 22.