Well-written, understandable conflict is hugely important in strengthening a romance. It’s realistic, and it’s necessary, so long as it’s all handled with care, which is thus far the case in Abbott Elementary’s “Trip.” Janine and Gregory not only have their first big fight, but they might’ve also broken up, and right now, that’s okay—it works. But how we move forward will be even more telling.
For the most part, since their meeting in the show’s pilot, Janine and Gregory have been on the same page about almost every relevant matter. It’s why they’re so perfectly suited to be together, which we know for a fact because we’ve seen them both in different relationships where things were far more rocky. But as their trip planning proves, they aren’t immune to clashing over how to spend money, which is ultimately at the crux of most arguments.
Credit where it’s due, this really is a great argument. It’s thoughtful, and it makes complete sense. It doesn’t feel like drama for the sake of drama, but we’re seeing a real disagreement that they have to settle on before they can make the next step in their relationship. In addition, both sides, in a lot of ways, make complete sense. Gregory is right that flying is more expensive, but he’s not exactly right that driving is more affordable. Sure, you might save some money, but you lose out on energy, which then impacts the mental state of the vacation. Road trips only work with multiple stops, designed specifically to wander. But if you want to get to a vacation spot and use your time wisely, driving isn’t the way to go.
Plus, even when there are delays in air travel, the responsibility of fixing matters isn’t on the people; it’s on the crew. If your car breaks down on the road, the cost of repairs is all on you. Both their concerns are entirely valid because neither is driven by fear, but there is a proper solution here, and it isn’t changing the destination spot, nor is it one person making the financial decision on their own. The two of them taking their individual paths isn’t the way to go, which is exactly why they end up saying things they don’t mean by the end of Abbott Elementary’s “Trip.”
It’s all a little silly, but miscommunication often is. Deeply human, but silly when we look at it closely. Janine and Gregory aren’t the kind of couple to let an argument like this fester into something bigger. They live together, for crying out loud, and the series went out of its way to show viewers that specific milestone in “Candygrams,” so taking it away from us simply wouldn’t make sense in a comedy. This bump in the road for them isn’t a curveball out of the blue, but it’s an expected, unavoidable pothole. The damages it leaves behind can be fixed. They should be. And thus far, they’ve proven that they can come out of disagreements on the other side.
Janine dealt with far worse when she was dating Tariq, and while she’s learned not to let a man take advantage of her, she also fully recognizes that Gregory is different. She’s confident in her own beliefs to stand firm. So is he. And true compromise is a place right in the middle where they can weigh the pros and cons without their emotions standing in the way of their decisions. I believe in them. I do.
Now streaming on Hulu or ABC: What are your thoughts on Janine and Gregory’s fight in Abbott Elementary‘s “Trip?” Let us know in the comments below.
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