Review: Abbott Elementary, “Check-Ins” | Season 6, Episode 2

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One of the biggest things we discussed across Abbott Elementary’s fifth season was the show’s inconsistent desire to actually be about teaching. While there were some storylines that tackled the day-to-day realities of managing a classroom—including that very compelling mall arc—there were also just as many times when Abbott devolved into generic sitcom plotting about DMVs and dishwashers. Not every workplace sitcom has to be about the work of the workplace it’s set in, of course. (The Office certainly wasn’t first and foremost interested in paper sales.) But in Abbott’s case, the idea of shining a light on the experience of teachers in underfunded public schools began as a core part of the show’s mission, which is why it felt jarring to lose that focus at times in season five.

Thankfully, “Check-Ins” is a statement of purpose that this re-energized sixth season wants to put teaching front and center again. Not only is every single storyline in this episode about the realities of being a teacher, they’re also all genuinely original, intriguing problems for the teachers to grapple with—the kind that don’t just have easy, simple solutions. The closest we come to a personal storyline is Melissa and Jacob arguing like an old married couple over a spaghetti dinner, but even that stems from a genuinely interesting debate about whether gum is a help or a hindrance in the classroom. (As an avid gum chewer, I’m Team Melissa on this one. It helps me focus!)