Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 3 Review: Ballgame
Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 3, “Ballgame,” whisks the teachers away to a Phillies game for baseball-themed shenanigans in the strongest outing of the season thus far. Really, Season 5 is firing on all comedic cylinders, and ensemble-heavy narratives like the one in “Ballgame” are proof positive of this.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
“Ballgame” boasts plenty of delightful Granine moments for avid followers of their slow burn since the beginning. Every time Gregory smiles at Janine, it’s tangible. You can feel how genuine it is.
Tyler James Williams is a pro at conveying this shift in body language and physicality in Gregory. Gregory is never more relaxed than he is around Janine. Janine learning to embrace baseball is adorable; she and Gregory now have another mutual hobby to add to the list.
As for our other couple, this is the first time we really see Ava and O’Shon in action. Ava is being the Ava we know and love — curating every aspect of their relationship to perfection. She obsesses over them getting their due on the kiss cam. O’Shon lovingly but firmly calls her out on her need to control, well, everything.
This is something we rarely see in an Ava scene. We’re used to her being the alpha, her dominating the conversation. The great thing about O’Shon setting boundaries is that it not only shows that he’s done the work on himself, but you never get the sense that they’re about to fight.
Sure, O’Shon’s statement about her control issues takes Ava aback; however, she recalibrates quickly. She doesn’t take his words personally. This exhibits tremendous growth for Ava. It’s abundantly clear that O’Shon will be a loving partner to Ava and will also push her to be the best she can be. On the flip side of that, Ava will also help O’Shon let loose a bit.
Chaos and Abbott Elementary Are Synonymous
The chaotic environment of a baseball game proves to be prime comedic breeding grounds for the staff of our titular school. In fact, the overall chaotic nature of this series plays well into that aforementioned environment. The footage of Janine dancing on the Jumbotron has so much happening in it, from Melissa comforting a nauseous Jacob to Gregory cheering on Janine and Barbara trying to catch Kyle Schwarber’s attention.
There’s something to be said about the solid performances in this show. Every player knows their character so well and is so keyed into their work that it makes scenes like the Jumbotron bit resonate even more. We’re also learning more about these characters five seasons in, which is incredible. It’s not hyperbole to say that these are some of the most fleshed-out characters on TV at the moment.
“Ballgame” is wall-to-wall fun, packed with well-timed jokes and hometown pride, in a decidedly new environment for our Abbott teachers. The Powers That Be always know how to keep things fresh, and in a comedy that provides all the creature comforts in TV form, newness is much-welcomed.
Stray Observations:
- I love the full-circle moment with the enterprising kid from the cold open returning in the episode’s final minutes to fleece more money from Mr. Johnson for a Kyle Schwarber-signed “Lafufu.” That girl’s gonna run the world one day.
- This also would’ve been a fun crossover with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The latter even has a Phillies-themed episode: Season 5’s “The World Series Defense.”
- Something tells me that Ava’s refusal to select Morton to attend Teacher Appreciation Night at the Phillies game might become his villain origin story.
- Barbara being a baseball diva is surprising, yet it inexplicably tracks.
- I still think Mr. Johnson is the Phillie Phanatic. He was just trying to throw O’Shon off his scent.
- Comedy comes in threes: Janine is called a “little girl” three times at the Phillies game.
What did you think of this episode of Abbott Elementary? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!
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Abbott Elementary airs new episodes on Wednesdays at 8:30/7:30c on ABC, with next-day streaming on Hulu.
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Melody McCune
Melody loves TV. Maybe too much. Besides being a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV, she's the Managing Editor for Geek Girl Authority, an Independent Contractor for Sideshow Collectibles, and a Senior Writer for Eulalie Magazine. Additionally, she has bylines in Culturess, Widget, and inkMend on Medium. To top it all off, she's a critic for Rotten Tomatoes and CherryPicks.