Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 1 Review: Team Building

Abbott Elementary Season 5, Episode 1, “Team Building,” sees our teachers come together for Development Day with, unsurprisingly, hilarious and heartwarming results. In times like these, we sorely need a low-stakes comfort comedy of this caliber to soften our edges and provide much-needed escapism. And if this premiere is anything to go by, we’re in for a delightful ride. 

Team Building, the Abbott Elementary Way

A representative from the district arrives at our titular elementary school to impose a “punishment” of sorts following the reveal of the teachers’ collective lying and extortion at the end of Season 4. Well, more like repercussions in the form of forced “team-building activities.” After all, it’s about rebuilding trust. 

Ava kicks off the festivities by sharing two undoubtedly crucial narrative developments to keep in mind as the season barrels ahead. Janine’s second-grade class will now consist of 40 students, since Melissa is movin’ on up to teach middle school math and homeroom. This gives us a taste of what’s to come, and it feels like the writers have a clearer vision for Season 5 than its predecessors. 

“Team Building” also feels like a true ensemble outing. Everyone gets a chance to shine, whereas in previous episodes, it felt like the usual comedic suspects — Janelle James and William Stanford Davis — turned in the most memorable and quotable performances. It makes for a strong start to the season. 

The Downstairs Grump

The Season 5 premiere boasts fun character dynamics, particularly between various pairings. Gregory and Mr. Johnson are always a blast and a half. Melissa, Morton, and Jacob are a different but equally entertaining trio. Jerry Minor delivers a hysterical performance during his brief scenes with Chris Perfetti and Lisa Ann Walter. 

Thematically, there’s an undercurrent of mentorship throughout “Team Building.” Janine, Gregory, and Barbara find themselves taking those around them under their wings. Our girl Janine struggles with her identity after Barbara offers to mentor the newbie, Dominic (played by Luke Tennie, also known as Sean from Shrinking). Janine believes Barbara is discarding her in favor of fresh blood. 

This gets the wheels turning in Janine’s head. Who is she if she’s not Barbara Howard’s mentee? Quinta Brunson hilariously bounces between new personas for Janine. A personal favorite? The Downstairs Grump. 

Growth 

Ultimately, Janine decides to step up to the mentor plate and help Dominic settle into life at Abbott. It’s a marker of lovely growth for Janine, an indication of a surge in her self-confidence. She’s evolving into a strong, self-assured teacher. Barbara taught her well. 

As for Gregory, he teaches Mr. Johnson how to ride a bike. The gang veers from the district rep’s explicit instructions for the team-building exercises and throws their support behind Mr. Johnson’s bike-riding endeavor instead. In a way, they did follow his instructions. They came together, Abbott-style, to uplift one of their own. It’s a heartwarming, soul-affirming moment. 

That’s what we come to Abbott Elementary for — laughs and comfort. “Team Building” provides that. What more can we, as fans, ask for? This series manages to provide consistency and the aforementioned comfort while molding and shaping the characters we love to be the best they can be. That’s the hallmark of a great comedy. 

Stray Observations: 

• Donut Worry About a Thing is the perfect name for a doughnut shop. It speaks to my pun-loving soul. 
• Morton is living in the ceiling of the school? I need more context for that, please. Maybe a half-episode backstory? Perhaps Jacob, as his sometimes enemy, can help him get back on his feet. 
• We need someone to document all the Mr. Johnson lore from the past five seasons. What a man; what a life. 
• I, too, would be showing off O’Shon to everyone within a five-inch radius if he were my boyfriend. He and Ava are a rising power couple in the Abbott hierarchy. 
• I love the running gag of Barbara misremembering actors. Gold. 
• On a materialistic note, Ava’s outfit is so damn cute. 

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Abbott Elementary drops new episodes every Wednesday at 8:30/7:30c on ABC, with next-day streaming on Hulu.

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