Abbott Elementary Recap: Welcome Home, Sweet Cheeks

As someone who grew up in a similar neighborhood, I can wholeheartedly relate to this week’s cold open. Just like Ja’Quan, there were times when I thought I could outsmart the adults, but they always seemed to know exactly what I was up to. It’s like they had eyes in the back of their heads!


As a film enthusiast, I’ve been eagerly anticipating new romantic entanglements in Abbott, and this week didn’t disappoint! An unexpected yet endearing pairing graced our screens, adding a dose of adorableness to the show. The episode moved at a leisurely pace, offering a delightful respite after the season kicked off with a bang, before we delve into the series’ upcoming guest stars and the highly anticipated crossover with “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” While it may not be jam-packed with laugh-out-loud jokes, as I’ve mentioned earlier, it perfectly aligns with Quinta Brunson’s vision of delivering a heartwarming network television experience that consistently delivers quality entertainment. This week, we witness a series of mischiefs as Melissa finds herself smitten with a portly guinea pig named Sweet Cheeks, while Ava attempts to swindle her way into keeping computers she doesn’t rightfully own, without the district catching on.

Following Janine’s request for additional funding to expand Abbott’s after-school programs, which was granted generously at $50, she used it to buy adorable animals from the pet store for the children. She filled the library with cages and aquariums, distributing the pets among the staff. Barbara received a beautiful beta fish, while Gregory excitedly chose a pet rock he named D’Wayne. Melissa hesitated, expressing her discomfort about having a pet in her classroom due to her lack of experience with them and the thought of caring for a potentially fragile creature that could pass away, leaving her to explain death to her students. However, Janine persisted, arguing it would be unfair if only Melissa’s kids didn’t have pets. Eventually, Melissa agreed to look after the guinea pig on the condition that Janine would take care of the animal instead.

In simpler terms, Janine and Sweet Cheeks don’t get along well from the start, as Sweet Cheeks nips at Janine when she places it in a cage in Melissa’s classroom. Melissa is intrigued by Sweet Cheeks’ dislike of Janine. Despite her initial reluctance, Melissa finds herself growing fond of Sweet Cheeks and even goes to the pet store for treats and food before making a small house for it using Popsicle sticks, all within a school day. When she returns to share this with Janine, she does so with an attitude of annoyance as if caring for the rodent is a chore she never wanted. However, the documentary crew captures moments of Melissa feeding and cuddling Sweet Cheeks secretly, suggesting that she spends more time on the rat than she lets on.

In a bid to maintain the facade that caring for Sweet Cheeks, the guinea pig, disrupts her routine, Melissa feigns distress when reminded she won’t need to look after him during the weekend as students take turns. Overwhelmed at the prospect of leaving Sweet Cheeks with an insensitive student who boasts about not feeling pain while playing five-finger fillet with a pencil, Melissa fabricates a story that Sweet Cheeks has passed away. However, instead of grief counseling, she prefers to unwind by eating ribs and watching The Real Housewives, also needing her carpets cleaned that night. Unknowingly, Jacob exposes Melissa’s secret when he tells Janine that his roommate is not just having her carpets cleaned but also going on a date. He adds that Melissa is quite smitten with this new guy, whom she affectionately calls Sweet Cheeks, which instantly clues Janine into the situation. Just as Janine steps outside the school, she catches sight of Melissa and Sweet Cheeks driving off for their romantic weekend getaway.

As Melissa and Sweet Cheeks become deeply enamored, Ava organizes the setup of modern computers in the school. These computers are a secret gift from the lawyer representing the company constructing a golf course nearby. Ava urges the teachers to keep the source of the computers hidden, since they’re not supposed to receive donated equipment or bribes.

It wasn’t expected that the technician, who turned out to be a charming fellow named O’Sean with glasses, an appealing visage, and a physique chiseled from marble, would leave the team spellbound. Jacob became flustered, attempting a feigned Irish brogue as he spoke to him, while Barbara exclaimed how he embodied the essence of “form” in “information technology.” Ava feigned indifference towards O’Sean’s good looks, flicking dust at him as he moved from room to room installing the software. However, as O’Sean marveled at the advanced technology on the school computers, he wondered how they ended up in a district with such limited resources for extracurricular activities. The most incriminating evidence was found on Ava’s PC, where the editing and special-effects software were powerful enough to produce a full-length movie (it just so happened that she was using it to create a series of deepfakes of Janine). She accidentally revealed that her computer had a 14th-generation processor, which O’Sean took as confirmation that the district couldn’t have supplied the technology given their lack of funds for a 14th generation of anything. He tried to confront Ava in the library, but upon seeing how delighted the children were with their new computers, he lost his suspicions.

The following day, Janine confronts Melissa in the office with probing questions to try and uncover the truth about Sweet Cheeks’ death being faked. She presses Melissa about possible motives such as selling him or using his wheel for free electricity. Melissa, overwhelmed, confesses that she has grown fond of Sweet Cheeks and couldn’t bear the thought of leaving him in second-graders’ care. Facing the possibility of revealing the truth to her students, Janine threatens Melissa. Despite knowing it’s the right thing, Melissa struggles with the intensity of her feelings for Sweet Cheeks and confides in Gregory about her surprise affection towards the guinea pig. He encourages her using her own advice, reminding her that opening herself up to more than she thought was required can lead to personal growth, even if it’s scary due to potential mistakes. Moved by his words, Melissa returns Sweet Cheeks to the classroom and, after providing clear instructions, makes caring for him a collaborative effort with her students.

In this movie review, I find myself drawn into the intense interaction between O’Sean and Ava. Relentlessly pressing her for information about the advanced technology she possesses, he threatens to report it as stolen if she doesn’t come clean. Yet, Ava refuses to back down, passionately asserting her determination to provide computers for her children.

Teacher’s Notes

I thoroughly enjoyed this week’s cold open. It was not only amusing to witness Ja’Quan swiftly swipe the computers while the staff momentarily looked away, but it also resonated with my childhood experiences living in a neighborhood that might have been rough, yet the community was tight-knit. Just as there are countless Barbaras around who remember you as the innocent kindergartner and aren’t hesitant to contact your mother if they see you trying to act tough on the streets!

Read More

2024-10-24 06:55