Review: Abbott Elementary, Gregory's Garden Goofballs
What a strong episode of Abbott Elementary for such a terrible episode title. “Gregory Garden Goofballs” really is one of those episodes where every plot just hits and every character has their moment to shine. (One of the most impressive structural choices in this episode is the fact that Mr. Johnson doesn’t even show up until the halfway mark, only for every line from him moving forward to be sniper-level on the mark.) As the two-part season premiere set the stage for this season’s blending of the Abbott and school district storylines, it’s this episode that truly shows just how that combination can work quite seamlessly.
I believe I’ve written before about how Abbott Elementary doesn’t necessarily try to reinvent the wheel with its storytelling but does find a way to excel with its ability to make familiar storytelling feel fresh, which is another reason why “Gregory’s Garden Goofballs” works so well. The Janine plot, the Gregory plot (which does have quite the twist in it), and the Barbara plot could all be considered “predictable” in their own ways, but their execution is a reminder that predictability doesn’t have to be a negative—especially when it serves as a result of storytelling done well and logically.
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