No one wants to see their favorite couple break up on screen, but when it results in hilariously excellent episodes like Abbott Elementary’s “Night Out,” it’s okay. Sort of. At least we know we’re not the only ones frustrated by Gregory and Janine’s inability to communicate after last week’s “Trip.”
What also makes “Night Out” so rewarding is that the frustrations are still here. Despite the fact that they’re both clearly miserable and their friends are trying to do everything in their power to get them out of their funk, their stubbornness is going to extend the breakup longer than it needs, unless someone does intervene.
Ava Steps Up in Abbott Elementary’s “Night Out”
We knew Jacob would be wrecked by this breakup just based on how deeply he loves both Gregory and Janine, but Ava stepping up for Janine is more shocking. Ava, wanting to do something to see Janine in a better place, is proof of her growth and a substantially different side of her than what we’ve seen before. It’s interesting because it’s not purely selfless—she wouldn’t be Ava if it were—but there’s something really compelling about her taking Janine’s side despite everything.
It’s as though being in a relationship has legitimately changed things for the better and has helped her see how she can be better for those around her. More than anything, Abbott Elementary Season 5, Episode 20, “Night Out” leaves us with an episode that’s surprisingly a blast despite the misery, and it’s because of a character like Ava.
It’s because she’s standing up for Janine and wanting her to get out of her own head that showcases more layers in her character that feel extra rewarding after all this time. Plus, that final moment where she partners with Jacob because Janine was mean to her? How the tables turn in this moment is actually hilarious if you think about how long it took to get to a moment where Janine was mean to Ava.
No One Is Suffering More After Janine and Gregory’s Breakup Than Jacob
Chris Perfetti continues to be exceptional as he reminds us of just how much Jacob not only cares about Janine and Gregory individually but as a couple. He shows us the importance of their friendship through a wildly dramatic lens that not only underscores who he is as a character, but also how he operates under pressure and loss.
Janine and Gregory aren’t just two of his best friends, but they’re two people he knows well enough to understand that they belong together. They can get through this hurdle if they can just stop being stubborn. Simultaneously, he also understands the importance of time, which is a riveting theme that runs through the episode as it shows us why it’s so vital to sit with our emotions. In addition, Abbott Elementary exploring the different ways people deal with big changes in their lives is no small feat, but rather the show’s strength.
It’s unclear how long the show will keep Janine and Gregory broken up, but since it’s undoubtedly affecting everyone and taking people through a rut, I hope it isn’t too long. On any other comedy, it would’ve worked if it were to last beyond a season or two, but their workplace makes this one even tougher than if they were roommates like Nick and Jess in New Girl, for example. (Plus, really, no one wants to go through the New Girl/dating other people route again, where everything just felt…wrong.)
Still, even if it does last long, Abbott Elementary Season 5, Episode 20, “Night Out,” interestingly proves that the characters and the show can handle it. There’s still plenty of fun material to explore, and because the show’s built such a solid found family, this is one of the best episodes of the season so far in terms of how entertaining it is. While the school setting is a blast most of the time, episodes where the teachers are out on their own always hit differently, and that’s exactly what we get here.
Now streaming on Hulu or ABC: What are your thoughts on Abbott Elementary‘s “Night Out?” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: (Disney/Gilles Mingasson)