Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 16 Review: Campaign

Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 16, “Campaign,” unexpectedly pairs up Ava and Jacob for a bit of political strategizing in another fun outing. Meanwhile, Barbara and Gregory pull a Freaky Friday by switching classes to see whose job is the most formative. Elsewhere, Janine and Melissa stage a romantic reunion between Mr. Johnson and Miss Carroll, where they prove that their dalliance earlier in the season was more than just a mere “mallmance.”

Abbott Elementary, “Campaign”

I’d like to point out that this outing references not one but two Lindsay Lohan films: the aforementioned Freaky Friday nod with the Barbara/Gregory storyline and The Parent Trap via the Mr. Johnson arc. Best of all? Melissa is an orchestrator behind both, a clever homage to her role as Chessy in The Parent Trap. The latter is also fairly subtle if one hasn’t watched that film (or recalled that Lisa Ann Walter was in it). Brava, Abbott Elementary. Brava.

Beyond that, it’s a balm for the soul to see Mr. Johnson and Miss Carroll flourish as a pair. We seldom see love stories between older people, so any time it’s depicted on screen, this writer automatically gravitates toward it. This is a fun, lighthearted C-plot. That said, hopefully, we get to see the Janitor’s Ball in full for next year’s custodial season.

Regarding the B-plot, Barbara and Gregory’s switcheroo doesn’t end well for Gregory, who realizes that, as the kindergarten teacher, Barbara provides the foundation for these students’ educations. In true Abbott Elementary fashion, it doesn’t take long for a resolution to crop up.

Barbara’s profound remark to Gregory in the end — that it’s not a competition but a collaboration — leaves an indelible impression. It speaks to the strength of the teaching community and how no one is an island. In a profession as challenging as teaching, it’s crucial to work together to ensure future generations have all the tools they need to succeed. The show understands this deeply. 

Let’s Get Political 

The A-plot, featuring Jacob, Ava, and his rival, Ms. Schwartz, holds the narrative line well. Ava and Jacob, in particular, are a fun duo. It’s also a delight watching Jacob take a page from the Ava Coleman Playbook to outmaneuver Ms. Schwartz, especially since Ava’s tactics are the antithesis of who he is. 

Of course, initially, Jacob tries it Ava’s way during the debate for the district liaison position. However, when Ms. Schwartz proves she’s more than a bit politically savvy, Jacob ditches the digs and aims to be himself.

It’s great that a character with this much passion for making a difference finally gets an outlet to effect change. Here’s hoping we see Jacob thrive in this new role. Ms. Schwartz banking on Jacob backing her for the school board certainly seems like a tease for a future Abbott Elementary storyline, so this might not be the last we’ll see of her. 

“Campaign” is strong across the board, with each respective arc standing on its own. You could’ve swapped the Jacob/Ava/Ms. Schwartz storyline for any of the others as the A-plot, and it still would’ve worked narratively. That’s the beauty of a sitcom of this caliber. 

Stray Observations: 

• If I had to explain a “like” on a post from almost a decade ago… oof. People change, you know. But this line perfectly encapsulates the state of social media and its relationship with society at large. 
• That line about trickle-down economics made me gag a bit. The biggest lie ever to lie. 
• If I had a nickel for every time a Lisa Ann Walter character orchestrated a lovers’ reunion, I’d have two, which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice. 
• Ava’s “Harvard” sweatshirt never fails to make me smile. 
• Mr. Johnson and Miss Carroll are so cute together. Love can blossom in the cleanest of places. 

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

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