Abbott Elementary Recap: Family Matters

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As a die-hard fan of sitcoms and a connoisseur of witty dialogues, I must say this latest episode was a rollercoaster ride of laughter and intrigue. The characters were well-developed, their interactions were hilarious, and the plot twists kept me guessing till the end.

After wrapping up the festive school-themed special, it’s now time for the grown-ups in Abbott Elementary to spread some Christmas joy at their own homes. The mature humor of this episode makes it an ideal follow-up to the family-friendly winter concert. In the aftermath of her divorce, Melissa prepares for her first solo Christmas Eve dinner, having utilized all school refrigerators as additional storage for her extensive holiday feast in the previous episode. Meanwhile, Gregory and Janine celebrate a new milestone by spending their first Christmas together as a couple. Although Janine extends invitations to her coworkers for her party, everyone seems to have other plans, leaving her to create an unforgettable evening just for the two of them. The narrative alternates between the homes of these two women, with unexpected visitors dropping by and departing (some on a more permanent basis), each interaction proving funnier than the last.

A part of familial gatherings that I’m sure a lot of people have to deal with — not me, though, I can’t relate! — is sharing space and time with family members with startlingly opposing ideological views. I remember in 2016, after the election, a college professor of mine wished my class a happy holiday break and added a snide joke about tolerating our problematic uncles this year because we “love them anyway.” To me, it seemed like a way to brush racism and bigotry under the rug, and I was thankful I don’t have family members like that, but it did make me wonder how I would react to having to deal with such a situation. Abbott Elementary takes that exact situation a ridiculously funny step further and adds “… and what if he dies, right then and there?” to the hypothetical question of how to deal with a problematic family member at holiday dinner.

In this situation, it’s Uncle Archie, Melissa’s problematic relative, who makes inappropriate comments early in the episode. He jokes about Melissa’s weight, labels her party as “progressive” upon seeing Black guests, and refers to Jacob disrespectfully as a “Nancy.” To prevent further trouble, Melissa sends Archie upstairs before he faces a reprimand or worse (a stern talk from Jacob). Despite this, she diligently prepares an impeccable meal for her family, not out of affection but to demonstrate her independence. The Schemmenti clan, including Barbara and Gerald, Jacob and Caleb, gather at Melissa and Jacob’s apartment for a traditional Italian dinner. The family interrogates Melissa about her single status, while Melissa faces teasing downstairs. Meanwhile, upstairs, Jacob discovers Archie unconscious on a bed, covered by coats. He checks Archie’s breathing and activates his medical alert system before asking Caleb to check his pulse. Neither of them knows CPR; Caleb claims he’s just a TikTok trainer, not a certified one, and Jacob admits to being distracted during training. With no knowledge of CPR, they are forced to inform Melissa about Archie’s condition.

When Melissa was making pesto, she thought it was just sleep apnea, but when Caleb informed her there was no heartbeat, she had to decide what to do next. She prevented Jacob from dialing 9-1-1 and argued that if Archie was dead, he wouldn’t get any worse after dinner. Plus, she had been working on this meal for two weeks and didn’t want it to ruin like Archie did. While holding a knife, she told Jacob and Caleb they could deal with the situation in an hour and a half. Jacob tried to persuade Barbara to intervene, but Barbara followed Melissa’s lead, saying if Melissa was okay, then she was too. Barbara didn’t care much about Archie, a homophobic, racist man, but she said he would probably enjoy a good nap. The rest of the night was spent trying to keep people away from the upstairs while Melissa served an excellent dinner, with her mother commenting that it was almost as good as Grandma’s, which is the best compliment for an Italian dish.

Despite the efforts, it’s still not enough for Melissa; she won’t contact the police until everyone has savored the final bite of cannoli and wept over how the shell enhances the ricotta. She wants her kin to be so satisfied and content that when they gaze in the mirror after consuming Brioschi, they think, ‘Melissa truly is the best among us, and I’m merely insignificant.’ This sentiment resonates with Barbara, recalling similar meals she has prepared. As Melissa dishes out the cannoli, her former firefighter flame, Captain Robinson, enters through the door, responding to Archie’s life alert. Kristin then suggests a troubling scenario, not that Melissa and the captain are reuniting, but that the food tastes better because of Melissa’s relationship. With half the fire department present, Melissa is compelled to disclose Archie’s demise. As the family grapples with Archie’s passing (Melissa’s mother remarks that Melissa’s house ‘kills men’), it transpires that Archie was only feigning death due to Caleb’s misconception that one could detect a pulse through the forehead. With dinner concluded and Archie alive, the family departs from the house, expressing their well-wishes and praising her culinary skills. Kristin notes that if Archie had actually passed away, ‘it would have been one of the best Schemmenti dinners ever,’ implying that all of Melissa’s hard work was worth it.

As I snuggle up with Gregory in my apartment, clad in matching pajamas and trying to agree on our Christmas movie pick, we find ourselves torn between “Elf” and “The Muppet Christmas Carol”. After a bit of back-and-forth, we settle on Tim Allen’s “The Santa Clause”, striking the perfect balance. However, just as we’re about to hit play, Ava unexpectedly knocks at our door, crashing our romantic movie night. Of course, I warmly greet my boss, but I can’t help but wonder why she doesn’t have plans with friends or family, especially rappers. She casually explains that her friends are all tied up with their kids now and visiting her grandmother at the nursing home left her exhausted from three candy canes, unwrapping someone else’s gift, and a quick snooze. With no other relatives in Philadelphia, she’s spending the holiday season with us instead.

In this narrative, Gregory finds himself puzzled because the previous episode concluded with him crossing paths with Ava’s father, who unexpectedly served as his temporary barber. He chose not to share this encounter with Janine, considering it a personal matter. As the evening progresses, Ava becomes more involved in their plans, replacing their planned sentimental marathon with horror movies against their wishes. This prompts Janine to urge Gregory to ask Ava to leave. In the kitchen, Gregory privately informs Ava that he is aware her father resides nearby. Ava admits they don’t have a good relationship and, aside from her grandmother, has no other family there, which is why she wanted to celebrate Christmas Eve with them. She asks him not to disclose this to Janine as she doesn’t want sympathy. Overwhelmed by guilt, Gregory decides not to make Ava leave but instead supports her decision to stay. This unusual change in Gregory’s demeanor piques Janine’s curiosity, and when she queries what’s happening, he responds that he can’t reveal it, leading the couple to experience their first secret together.

The threat of a secret between them causes Janine to spiral, asking what other secrets they have … like if Gregory’s muscles are real or if he’s on steroids. Ava intervenes to prevent a fight, explaining the entire situation. Janine’s heart explodes at the thought of serving as a form of intimacy and community for Ava, though Ava promptly tells her to shut up before they exchange gifts. Ava got them matching mugs that say “Head” and “Ass,” and Janine express shipped another pair of matching pajamas for Ava, inviting her to stay as long as she pleases. The saccharine moment is over as quickly as it started; a party bus pulls up outside of the apartment to whisk Ava away. We should’ve known better to think that Ava didn’t already have plans — she says she was merely killing time until she was ready to go out to the club. Merry Christmas!

Teacher’s Notes

• When Bette Midler tweeted about wanting to play Melissa’s mom on the show, I loved the idea, but Talia Shire rocked the role. She plays the condescending, passive-aggressive, overbearing mother character so well. But let’s not rule out Bette as a Schemmenti; maybe she should be Melissa’s aunt!

Mr. Johnson is an exceptional Santa; his gifts are quite amusing. He gave Janine socks for her large feet, Gregory a book titled “How to Develop a Personality,” Melissa hair dye for her roots, and a sledding outing with Jacob. The final stop at the North Pole strip club was the fitting conclusion.

• Here are the best lines from tonight’s episode:

Melissa’s mom: “Honey, you’re trying something different with your makeup. You’re so brave.”

Barbara to Jacob: “Jacob, could you try not to turn this situation into something personal?

Ava requests Gregory to keep secret about her father, explaining, “I’ve got a tiny hope for a holiday miracle to bring that man back to me. I don’t want sympathy from Janine… nor from you, who doesn’t seem to have a steady barber.

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2024-12-05 06:56