Editor’s be aware: The under incorporates spoilers for Abbott Elementary Season 4.
Ever since its return, Abbott Elementary’s fourth season has been one heck of a experience. From an entirely new dynamic for Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) to Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) quietly pondering retirement, Season 4 remains to be discovering methods to subvert viewer expectations — however its newest episode makes one of many present’s boldest decisions but. After a few weeks of exploring different goings-on at Abbott, the season lastly circled again to Ava’s (Janelle James) troubled relationship with her father, Frank (Keith David). Nonetheless, as an alternative of approaching their dynamic with the everyday sitcom schmaltz, Abbott Elementary did not take the straightforward manner out — and the present is already higher for it.
Because the Abbott science honest approaches, Gregory reveals to Ava that Frank has made a donation on behalf of his barber store for the varsity occasion. In true Ava fashion, she willingly accepts the cash for the honest, however dreads the thought of seeing her father, including that it’s not solely a nasty relationship; she has no relationship with him by any means. From going through off with the varsity board to even just lately pulling off a heist with Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter), there isn’t a lot that scares Ava, so her full unwillingness to face her father is actually shocking.
Anybody who’s watched any long-running sitcom is prone to suspect that the episode is out to arrange some form of lovely reconciliation between the 2. As an alternative, the episode leaves issues on a extra open-ended be aware, with Ava solely granting her father tolerance for the day reasonably than true forgiveness regardless of his efforts and monetary generosity. It’s a daring transfer for the present, to say the least. In spite of everything, Abbott Elementary has all the time been centered on artistic problem-solving. Whether or not it’s hassle for a scholar, one of many educators, or the school itself, the collection all the time finds a artistic and full answer, normally throughout the span of the episode — however Ava and her father’s relationship is not going to be resolved that simply, and it is a greater determination for Abbott Elementary in the long term.
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‘Abbott Elementary’ Would not Attempt To Repair Ava’s Relationship With Her Father
Cash has traditionally been the way to Ava’s heart, however on this case, it actually doesn’t make up for the injury her father’s actions have induced. Whereas Frank’s previous transgressions, together with the existence of one other household, are solely briefly alluded to, as a result of Ava’s reluctance to speak about them, it doesn’t matter. Ava is clearly affected by years of trauma, and he or she doesn’t owe her father fast forgiveness. Positive, he’s making an effort, and the most recent episode units up an ongoing storyline for the 2 characters, however reasonably than attempting to tie up their story with reconciliation shoehorned in, a extra open ending additionally feels extra true to actual life.
Moreover, if Abbott Elementary had tried to include some form of stereotypical sitcom fix, it will have been a hole addition to Ava’s total arc, on condition that she has no cause to forgive her father over the course of a half-hour episode. The present has by no means shied away from its social responsibility, and choosing a tough actuality strategy with its newest episode actually solidifies an necessary message. Not all relationships are simple to repair, and a few might by no means be repaired in any respect. Whereas this may occasionally not have been Abbott Elementary‘s cleanest decision, it is actually one of many present’s finest and boldest to this point. Avoiding an unearned sitcom stereotype not solely makes for a greater story for one of many present’s fan-favorite characters but in addition highlights a much bigger, extra necessary message. In time, issues may change for Frank and Ava, however these two are clearly going to wish greater than a single episode to work by way of all of their points.
Abbott Elementary is out there to stream on Hulu.
