Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 7 Review: Goofgirl
Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 7, “Goofgirl,” tackles gender stereotypes and generational trauma as Janine pitches a club idea to Ava, Gregory’s Garden Goofballs gets a new member, and Ms. Alomar opens the therapy floodgates.
It’s not the show’s best episode, encumbered by pacing issues and weaker supporting arcs. The A-plot also feels dated — like a storyline from a ’90s sitcom with the “gendered” clubs.
Of course, that’s not say there isn’t misogyny and sexism in the Year of Our Lord 2025. There are artful ways to explore this subject, to be sure, and the message rings loud and clear. If anything, this crucial topic resonates less via the kids and more through Gregory.
We’ve seen significant growth from Gregory over the years. When we learn that the Garden Goofballs are shunning CC because they’re struggling to connect with her, Gregory admits he, too, struggled to talk to women. It’s a nice character beat that really allows us to reflect on his development.
The B-plot intertwines with the A-plot, which sees Janine pitch her fashion club to Ava. Both arcs blend seamlessly, each serving the other. Ava’s acts of generosity are always a fun pivot and a bona fide indication of the kind person she truly is.
Meanwhile, the C-plot is about generational trauma, in a lighthearted way, as Ms. Alomar attempts to get Barbara and Melissa to understand that the silent treatment is an unhealthy form of communication. There’s a delightful subversion of expectations here as Barb and Mel immediately decide to make Alomar their new therapist. It’s an apt lesson in setting healthy boundaries.
Abbott Elementary really thrives and sings when it leans into its strong ensemble and those dynamics at play, which are largely missing from “Goofgirl.”
While, again, the core message is important, it mostly falls flat, bolstered more so by clever one-liners and this seasoned cast’s consistently solid performances. But even a weaker episode is, far and away, stronger than most sitcoms today. There’s still something to love here.
Stray Observations:
- This series’s ability to build on Mr. Johnson’s mind-boggling and impressive lore should be studied. Someone should also keep a running list of everything our favorite janitor has done in his life.
- “Go-see” triggered some intense America’s Next Top Model-related PTSD in me.
- Ava’s joke about Janine buying her outfit at Build-A-Bear might be her best zinger yet.
- Admittedly, newborns do look strange straight out of the womb. Like tiny Winston Churchills.
- I love that the camera cuts from Ava’s comedic stream-of-consciousness. A great lesson in building tension/awkwardness and then abruptly cutting away from it.
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 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.