Review: Abbott Elementary, “Fire” | Season 2, Episode 15
An accidental fire turns up the heat for Abbott’s teachers
With “Valentine’s Day,” Abbott Elementary really proved that it knows exactly what it’s doing with its will-they-won’t-they relationship. Specifically, that it knows exactly what it’s doing when it comes to bringing something new and fresh to the table for a trope that’s entire concept comes from a sort of familiarity. It was a standout episode in the sophomore season of a standout network sitcom. Now with “Fire,” Abbott Elementary also proves that, while it can do great things with the relationship aspect of it all, it can also do great things with that nowhere in sight. This isn’t just a show with one trick or one reason to tune it; it can turn up the heat in either direction of the character-based spectrum.
Where “Valentine’s Day” centered on the series’ ability to handle romantic relationship entanglements, “Fire” is more about what makes these characters tick on an individual level. Sometimes, that ticking is in the form of broad sitcom strokes, even when there is real e…