Abbott Elementary Recap: The Gang Goes Back to School

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Until recently, I hadn’t given “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” a proper watch. There was a good explanation for that! Is there a piece of media you can’t help but connect with a past relationship that didn’t work out because the other person was irritating? But when “Abbott” announced the crossover episode, I realized I needed to rewatch the series for my recap tasks. If I happen to overlook any significant references or jokes, don’t hesitate to correct me in the comments.

At first, I found the initial episodes tough to get through, feeling like an entire season was missing with Danny DeVito. But now, halfway through the second season, I must admit I’m pleasantly surprised. However, when I heard about the crossover, I couldn’t help but wonder what these characters would do to our cherished Abbott Elementary. In the opening scene, it’s clear that the notorious owners of Philadelphia’s worst bar are stepping in as volunteers, which has the staff excited given their stretched resources. But for anyone familiar with It’s Always Sunny, it’s clear that Dee, Mac, Charlie, Dennis, or Frank don’t possess an ounce of selflessness or care about Philadelphia’s youth.

The staff of Abbott soon discovers that the group is present to complete 100 hours of community service as a consequence of dumping 100 gallons of baby oil, 500 Paddy’s Pub T-shirts, and a Cybertruck into the Schuylkill River. Coincidentally, this predicament recalls an episode from season two of It’s Always Sunny, where Dee, Mac, and Dennis were given community service for arson and tasked with coaching a youth basketball team. This narrative thread ties back to one of the show’s long-standing jokes about Charlie’s inability to read, which is further highlighted when he spends time at an elementary school. In this episode, the gang becomes just as competitive and absurd while working at Abbott Elementary, echoing the style the show is famous for.

It’s clear that only Melissa has interacted with the owners of Paddy’s Pub, who have a unique cultural exchange that Ava describes as Caucasian. Melissa recognizes them from a fight at an Eagles game – Go Eagles! – and later from what she considers the sleaziest bar she’s ever visited. She labels them as lowlifes, pushing them to disclose their criminal past. Janine manages to convince her colleagues to let them stay, arguing that their crime was minor and if they’re kicked out, the district won’t provide more volunteers. Each character pairs up with a counterpart; Dee goes to Janine’s classroom, Mac assists Ava with administrative duties, Charlie repairs a vent in Jacob’s class, and Frank helps with Gregory’s garden. Dennis spends most of his time operating the camera, aware of filming techniques and consent issues. This crossover brings a dose of mature humor to Abbott Elementary, a change from the more kid-focused episodes, as each obnoxious member of the gang underscores the optimism and ingenuity of the Abbott staff.

The story starts with Jacob observing that Charlie struggles to understand the words on the board, interpreting “World War I: The Industrial War” as “Innovative Wear.” Recognizing that Charlie may not be able to assist the older students, Jacob moves him to Melissa’s classroom and voices his worries about Charlie’s reading abilities. Melissa suggests that Charlie might have dyslexia like herself, but Charlie’s peculiar spelling, such as telling a student light is L-I-Y-T-L, makes Melissa question this assumption. They take Charlie to the library, where Barbara feels compelled to make him the subject of a project due to her past experience teaching adult literacy. At first, Charlie denies being illiterate and attempts to hide in the restroom to avoid acknowledging his struggle. However, with persistence from Melissa and Barbara, they eventually persuade him to admit to his reading difficulties. They then assist him in slowly sounding out words in a children’s book about birds.

In the garden, Frank employs his street-dwelling background to assist Gregory and Mr. Johnson in repelling raccoons. They consider scattering chili and garlic powder in the compost as a deterrent, but Frank suggests an unusual method – scattering old batteries across the garden, claiming they contain “rare earth elements.” He also proposes that intimidation is key in dealing with raccoons, suggesting they use pelts drenched in “alpha predator” urine to scare them off. However, when the raccoons continue to rummage through the compost despite the seasonings, Frank advocates for his method. Disgusted by this, Mr. Johnson proposes using a large cage to catch the creature. After an intense debate between the two, Gregory decides to step away from the issue, leaving Mr. Johnson and Frank to resolve it on their own. In the end, Mr. Johnson sets up both a cage and the urine-soaked pelts, and days later, he calls for Gregory, revealing they had captured something big. Upon opening the cage, they find Frank, who was actually the one eating the seasoned compost and getting stuck in the trap after returning for more.

Simultaneously, Dee and Janine quickly bonded as fellow Penn graduates. Dee, in character as Benjamin Franklin, entertained students, removed Christmas decorations too high for Janine to reach, and assisted with grading. However, things change when Gregory strides in, his muscles visible beneath his cardigan, searching for left-handed scissors. Dee becomes captivated by Greg and decides to pursue him romantically. Taken aback that Dee is making a move on her boyfriend, Janine hesitantly clarifies their relationship, hoping this will dissuade Dee. Instead, the idea of competition stirs Dee’s determination even more, prompting Janine to dash into Ava’s office to ask the group to depart.

Ava strongly objects as Mac, surprisingly, has proven to be an invaluable aid for her. Eager to complete his community service obligations swiftly, Mac strives to accomplish as much work as possible within a short timeframe, hoping that Ava will approve his release from duties for the rest of the week. However, Ava’s capacity for exploiting others is greatly underestimated here, so she assigns him progressively challenging tasks while elevating him to the position of vice-principal. He delivers her coffee adorned with latte art of her likeness, presses her clothes, polishes her car, and presents her fresh cinnamon rolls. Thus, when Janine rushes into her office panting (I enjoy it when she makes fun of Janine’s breathing), Ava denies her petition, warning that they might be framed for another crime, necessitating additional hours of service.

The following day, Dee arrives at Abbott’s office, dressed elegantly in a small black dress and heels, with intentions of winning Gregory over. Janine firmly asserts herself, guides Dee into the corridor, and prepares to defend her man, despite her physically shorter stature. Gregory, sensing the tension, attempts to prevent the Philly women from confronting him. Looking deeply into Janine’s eyes, he expresses his unwavering feelings for her, stating that no matter what Dee may have planned, she is the only one he desires and he holds no interest in any other woman, “particularly not that one.” A wave of relief washes over Janine, causing her to retreat to her classroom, reassured by his declaration. However, Gregory’s loyalty only fuels Dee’s illicit feelings, prompting her to suggest a clandestine encounter in the gymnasium.

To conclude, Charlie demonstrates his fresh abilities as he stumbles through a public reading in the library. Eager to impress, he attempts to read a challenging sentence about a protected bird species, the loggerhead shrike, found in Pennsylvania. This sparks an idea in Ava’s mind regarding a new scoreboard for the school. Initially, she had planned to obtain one through her ongoing agreement with the golf course lawyer. However, due to a phone conversation earlier in the episode, she learned that since the course now employs unionized workers, she no longer holds any sway. Ingeniously, Ava convinces the “egg guy” to place loggerhead shrike eggs on the site, thus giving her an excuse to delay construction by contacting the Bird and Game Commission.

Towards the finale of ‘It’s Always Sunny’, after learning to read like a kindergartener, Charlie experiences his own Move Up Day with ceremonial cap and gown. Frank admits to consuming compost in the garden and attempts to make amends by returning a stolen car battery from Mr. Johnson’s vehicle, an action that Gregory advises him to return promptly before Dee tries, unsuccessfully, to slide on Gregory one last time. Having completed a week of community service, Mac submits his paperwork to Ava, hoping for her signature. Ava is reluctant to lose Mac’s assistance, but when he mentions writing thank-you notes for all the teachers, she angrily signs the document, remarking that her employees thrive on insults and dismissing him harshly. The episode ends with individual interviews by the documentary crew, highlighting the volunteers’ humorous experiences at the school. Frank sums it up best: “I worked the land, I ate some fiber, Charlie learned to read. Community service is fantastic! Crime is definitely worth it.

Teacher’s Notes

• Here are my favorite lines from the episode:

Ava: “Find something useful to do; I already have a white man who comes in here to annoy me.”

Barbara, who excels at alliteration, kindly requests that these unsuitable individuals be asked to leave the property immediately.

Mr. Johnson, addressing Gregory, asked, “Shall we knock him unconscious, or would you prefer if I do it?

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2025-01-09 05:55