Abbott Elementary Review written by the Unicorn on October 4th, 2022. This post contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog.
Know Before You Watch
Show Name: Abbott Elementary Season 1
Rating: TV-PG
Age Suggestion: 11+
Episode Length: Currently there are 13 episodes that run about 20 minutes each
Release Date: December 7, 2021
Where to Stream: Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max
Warnings: Mild language
Quick Abbott Elementary Summary
A group of well-meaning teachers and an underqualified goofy principal find themselves in the middle of a Philadelphia public school. Even with the challenges that face them in the public school system, they are determined to make the best of it for their students and laugh a lot along the way.
Abbott Elementary Review
-Is Abbott Elementary Appropriate?-
This is a decently family friendly show. Outside of some mild bad language, it can be considered appropriate for kids aged 11 and up.
-Similar to: Abbott Elementary is a sitcom mockumentary, and it is very similar to shows like the Office, Parks and Recreation, and its comedic style is like Brooklyn Nine-Nine and the Good Place.
-Characters/ Acting-
The acting on this show is fantastic. Three of the supporting actors got nominated for best supporting characters, and Quinta Brunson was nominated for best lead actress, and all of the nominations were well deserved in my opinion. Quinta not only created the series, she also stars as the lead Janine. She does a great job portraying a loveable, yet flawed character.
The other teachers in the show are great as well. Lisa Ann Walter (who I know from the Parent Trap movie with Lindsey Lohan), Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tyler James Williams (star of Everyone Hates Chris), and Chris Perfetti all do a fantastic job, and they are super funny too. The absolute star of the show, however, is Janelle James as the Principal Ava Coleman. She is by far the funniest actress I have seen, and I am so excited to see more of her antics this fall. The characters are fun, but I am very excited to see these characters develop through a second season, as they can be a little predictable.
-Story/ Script-
The story of this show is a little on the weaker side. While it is incredibly funny, it’s hard to appreciate the story at times because there is very little pay off for each of the characters. That is mainly because there have only been 13 episodes, and they have been given 22 for their second season, so I am hopeful that they will continue to add depth to the show and the environment. I do enjoy the setups for each episode, and I like that it is a very character focused show.
–Quality–
This is quality entertainment. Quinta Brunson is a fantastic showrunner, and I hope that the stories and characters just continue to get better. The school is a cool place to set a sitcom like this, and I love the fact that it is set in a predominantly Black area, which allows a lot of young Black kids the chance to experience being on a TV set.
This show has been credited with revitalizing the idea of the network sitcom (think Modern Family, Everybody Loves Raymond, Steinfeld, etc.), and I think that expanding to a new demographic of lived experience was the key to this. I’d love to see more network shows that diversify their casts, topics, and settings, as I think that is the only way to fully bring the network show back to life.
Abbott Elementary Discussion Questions:
- Abbott Elementary is an underfunded school where they don’t have a lot of resources. How can you help underfunded schools in your area in a way that is meaningful?
- Most of the students at Abbott are from marginalized communities. What are some of the benefits of having a more diverse learning environment? Are there are cons?
- Janine tries very hard to be liked by her coworkers and students. Do you struggle with people pleasing with people you admire in hopes that you will be liked?
(For Kids)
- Who is your favorite character on the show?
- Does Abbott Elementary remind you of your school? In what ways?
- Do you wish any of the teachers were your teachers? Which ones?
Meet the Author- Kate
Kate is a young disabled writer based in Colorado. She’s obsessed with anything Marvel, Disney, or theatre. She can normally be found performing and singing dramatically in the car.
Instagram: @kit_kat_kate_cat TikTok: @kathrynthecat
Thanks for reading our Abbott Elementary Review. Here’s what to check out next:
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