Abbott Elementary Review: Open House (Season 1 Episode 10)

After three long weeks on hiatus, Abbott Elementary Season 1 Episode 10, “Open House,” is back to quench our thirst with a glass full of laughter. 

On “Open House,” the teachers and staff host an extremely sparsely attended open house. So, there aren’t any students to be seen, except for on the hilarious opening sequence. 

Even though the kids rarely have many speaking lines, they add significant emotional gravity and humor to the series. While still an excellent episode, without the students “Open House” fails to pass the test like past five-star episodes have. Those little learners are why everyone is there, after all. 

That’s not to say that the show has lost its magic. There is much to love on this episode, which rounds the corner towards the Season 1 finale. 

Gregory and Janine

It’s easy to forget how much you love a slow burn until it’s right there in front of you. Gregory and Janine jog my memory right quick. 

For this flirting with flirting couple, it is the little things that draw us into their romance.

Barbra’s daughter comes in and grabs Gregory’s attention. But, we know she lives in New York and isn’t in town regularly. Meaning, she isn’t introduced as a real option for Gregory. We aren’t very worried that he’s going to fall in love or anything serious. 

The impact is really to prop up Gregory, for us as an audience and for Janine, as a person who dates. He is available, but he’s not just waiting around. Gregory can get it.

Gregory taking someone else out to dinner, making him unavailable for a celebration dinner, adds a touch of “Hurry up Janine!” to the situation. Added pressure to the relationship is a really good thing! 

There are other little Gregory and Janine ship details that stand out on the episode.

Janine, like others, notices Gregory’s less than perfect posture. Unlike others, Janine instantly connects his ever-so-slightly less than meticulous appearance to something amiss in his heart. She checks in on him in a way that conveys she really wants to know how he is doing, really. 

We learn how Gregory “did everything right” to get the principal job. We already know how Janine likes to do everything by the book. These two are absolutely cut from the same dorky, geometrically patterned cloth. 

It is going to take time for Janine and Gregory (Janory? Greganine? Subteague?) to do anything official. Thank goodness! It is a real delight to wait for the chemistry to develop into a “whispers in the teacher’s lounge” kind of romance. 

Building Blocks 

As mentioned above, the premise of the episode is an open house event that no parents actually attend. It is the foundation on which all the comedy rests. For example, Ava’s ridiculous DJ-ing of the event garners its ridiculousness from the fact that her audience is a bunch of staff in the library. 

The poker game happens because the staff doesn’t have anything going on in their classrooms, where, ya know, all the parents are supposed to be. 

There is no discussion between the staff as to why this is the case. There is no blaming of parents, other than Janine’s projection of her mommy issues onto Nina’s mother. 

The inability for parents to be able to attend school events at Philadelphia Public Schools is a very real thing. The incarceration rates for Black men are appalling. Poverty pummels parents’ ability to go to school events. 

There are a variety of significant social issues that create the environment that is the premise for “Open House.” 

But, the episode is zero percent about the poor attendance. It’s about what the characters do with that time. The episode develops the characters rather than making a point about the special issue the premise represents. 

It is far from the first time Abbott Elementary has had a serious and deeply important social issue as a foundation for an episode, but the dialogue and plot don’t directly address it. 

It is often the name of the episodes! Consider Abbott Elementary Season 1 Episode “Gifted Program”‘s premise of access to engaging content, Abbott Elementary Season 1 Episode 7 “Art Teacher”‘s premise of non-funded art programs, and Abbott Elementary Season 1 Episode 2, “Light Bulb”‘s premise of basic school building resources. 

We as an audience learn the lesson. We understand what’s happening at the school. But, we barely register that we’re, ya know, learning. 

This is a part of the very structure of the show; it’s in its DNA. Although it is very easy to overlook, such is the nature of the building blocks, this very real and rather dark aspect of the show is the largest contributor to its brilliance.

We as an audience are getting taught epic lessons wrapped up in a fun. That is exactly how excellent elementary school teachers get the job done. 

Abbott Elementary (finally) got ordered for a second season. So, us super-fans can sit back and wait for the accolades to roll in, safe in knowing our favorite educator squad will be back for more. 

Extra Credit

• Jacob becoming a pool shark at Teachers Without Borders is sharply funny. That smirk is honestly come by.
• The episode is book-ended by scenes depicting teachers connecting with students and it is beyond heartwarming.
• Barbara’s daughter is smoking hot! 
• Those disappearing three dots on Janine’s phone make me cry. What? What?! Can’t be helped.
• Ava can NOT lose her job. Surprisingly, she’s actually pretty darn good for the school.
• Mr. Johnson is perfection. 

 

What did you think of this episode of Abbott Elementary? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Abbott Elementary airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on ABC.

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