Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 13 Review: Candygrams

Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 13, “Candygrams,” sees Janine and Gregory take a massive step forward in their relationship in an all-around sweet story. Meanwhile, Ava reexamines her Valentine’s Day traditions when O’Shon expresses his discomfort, and Barbara and Melissa meddle in a student’s love life. There’s nothing like a good Valentine’s Day-themed sitcom outing to warm one’s heart in the oppressively cold, dreary month of February. 

Abbott Elementary, “Candygrams” 

While every storyline this week holds narrative merit, the Janine/Gregory A-plot carries “Candygrams.” It’s been a hot minute since the series focused on their relationship (well, at least since this season’s birthday episode with her mother). What’s great about this dynamic is that there’s no real fear of them breaking up. The writers cleverly raise the storytelling stakes in other ways without putting their relationship on the chopping block. 

For the most part, this show is a low-stakes, comfort food-esque sitcom, so it wouldn’t make sense to split up its most popular romantic pairing. The conflict here originates from Gregory not wanting to live in Janine’s apartment. After all, Tariq’s DNA is practically baked into said apartment. 

Gregory eventually confesses that he wants to live with Janine, but not at that apartment. It’s so refreshing to see a man be honest with his partner—Gregory is upfront and vulnerable here, and it’s well received. It subverts gender stereotypes and the expectation that only women have the capacity to be good communicators. 

Healthy Communication 

In the same vein, O’Shon respectfully and straightforwardly tells Ava how he feels in “Candygrams.” Our Ava thrives on attention. When O’Shon shares that the plethora of gifts from her exes makes him uncomfortable, though, she gets introspective.

Is all this material stuff worth losing her relationship with O’Shon? Ultimately, O’Shon’s truthfulness, like Gregory’s, is well-received, and Ava puts him first. This is significant growth for the titular school’s principal extraordinaire. 

Abbott Elementary never shies away from dismantling toxic masculinity — of giving it the middle finger, really — and this outing showcases two men secure in their masculinity as they’re being open with their partners. To reiterate, it’s a breath of fresh air. Janine and Ava exhibit their own fair share of development, too, as do these couples as a whole. 

Initially, Janine digs in her heels about moving out of her apartment. Later, we learn that she’s so used to paying for everything herself that it never crossed her mind to split rent with Gregory. That scene in Janine’s classroom tugs on the heartstrings when Gregory reassures her that he will help out financially. They’re equals. For someone hyper-independent (due to trauma) like Janine, having a reliable partner to lean on is crucial. 

I Heart You

The Barbara/Melissa arc is weaker compared to the other two, but it’s still breezy and light. Pretty straightforward, overall, with an adorable yet unexpected outcome. Sometimes, not every episodic plotline needs to be deconstructed beyond what it is. 

“Candygrams” is another delightful episode in the Abbott Elementary canon. It’s a candy-sweet blend of humor, heart, and satisfying character growth. Long live Granine and Avon. 

Stray Observations: 

• The cold open might be one of my favorites in the series thus far. And that full-circle moment at the end? *Chef’s kiss* I love that it’s just some random dude who thinks Janine is leaving snacks outside for him. 
• Tariq questioning if walls speak English or have their own language got a chuckle from me. 
• “You don’t give gifts when you’re the present.” Oh, Mr. Johnson. Never change. 
• I agree with Jacob. How does the candy get to God? 
• When I was in elementary school, we had to give Valentine’s Day cards to every student in class. Hey, it’s a good way to ensure that no one gets left out. 

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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 Season 5 returns on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 8:30/7:30c, on ABC, with next-day streaming on Hulu. 

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