Abbott Elementary Season 6 Episode 6 Review: The Importance of Motivation and Community
While Abbott Elementary Season 6 Episode 6, “Competition,” is fairly average in terms of its narrative, it’s still a wholesome episode.
Besides Gregory and Melissa (who are audience members), it’s fun to watch the Abbott crew get involved with Step Club in their respective ways.
For example, Barbara decides to volunteer as an usher. This act of service continues to highlight her involvement in the school and its extracurricular activities. Her love for Abbott is clear in her choice to support the school community beyond the classroom.
Unless Abbott Elementary pulls a fast one on us, there’s no glaring indication Barbara is retiring anytime soon. Her consistent dedication to the well-being of Abbott and its students is a foundational aspect of her character. While a retirement arc seems realistic, does it actually align with Barbara’s current wishes?
If anything, this storyline could easily return in the final season of Abbott Elementary. However, we’re not even halfway through Season 6. Anything is possible, and things can very well shift for Barbara.
Speaking of adjusting, Gregory is clearly (and silently) going through it as he tries to plan his proposal to Janine. It’s definitely on par with his character. On top of that, it’s funny trying to watch Melissa attempt to salvage the situation.
By the end of “Competition,” it’s clear the restaurant proposal is off the table. It’s official that the Step Club is going to Disneyland for nationals. Obviously, the Abbott crew are going as chaperones. In doing so, the show is highly likely leaning toward a Disneyland-related proposal.
Abbott Elementary rarely—if ever—disappoints. Janine and Gregory’s relationship is highly significant. It demonstrates the show’s ability to develop multi-season storylines in an authentic and well-paced manner.
The upcoming episode is set to be the one hundredth one—a milestone most shows unfortunately don’t come close to these days. The fact that the proposal will most likely occur on this episode is an acknowledgment of one of Abbott Elementary’s most loved storylines and relationships.
In terms of Ava’s involvement on “Competition,” it’s great to see her in her element. As much as Ava thinks she needs Janine’s “toxic positivity,” as she calls it, she comes to recognize her own pep-talk strengths.
Ava is a fascinating character and Janelle James plays her with such precision. Even through Ava’s struggles, James imparts humor and confidence onto the character because that’s the core of Ava.
Overall, “Competition” seems to set up several important arcs for what will be a milestone episode.
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 every Wednesday at 8:30/7:30c on ABC, with next-day streaming on Hulu..
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Revati Gelda
Revati Gelda is a writer and journalist whose work focuses on the arts and their importance in today’s society. Her reporting has appeared in Hudson Valley Magazine, her alma mater’s newspaper Pipe Dream, where she served as Arts & Culture Editor, and more. Currently, she is an Assistant Poetry Editor for Decolonial Passage, a literary magazine.