Review: Abbott Elementary, “Franklin Institute” | Season 2, Episode 22
Gregory and Janine did the thing
Considering how Abbott Elementary’s second season began—with Janine coming to terms with being a single woman, no longer being part of a “we” with Tariq—it makes a lot of sense that it would also end in a similar fashion: with Janine realizing she’s still trying to adjust to being out of a “multi-presidential-term relationship” relationship and discovering herself. After all, that’s not the kind of thing you can do in a few episodes; it’s apparently not really the kind of thing you can do in 22 episodes either. Last week, she finally went on her first solo vacation, while also creating a healthy boundary with her taker of a mother. And a few weeks ago, she finally hashed things out with her older sister, after a lifetime of resentment she refused to let out. A good portion of this season has essentially been Janine getting her shit together professionally, but most importantly, it’s really been her getting it all together personally. (For as frustrating as “Egg Drop” could be when it came to Janine, it was ultimately about a personal hurdle she needed to cross.) So naturally, that need to get it all together was key to the season finale, “Franklin Institute.”
With all of that in mind, it’s also natural that this season ends not with Janine and Gregory finally ending up together, but instead agreeing to just stay friends. With “Franklin Institute,” their will-they-won’t-they relationship hits another turning point to close out the series’ sophomore season, and in doing so, it serves as a reminder as why Janine/Gregory is a “will-they-won’t-they” relationship that just makes sense. (And Abbott Elementary has worked hard to make sure that its audience has no problem being along for the ride, because short of something terrible happening beyond the show’s control, they absolutely know that Janine/Gregory is “endgame”). As it stands now, the duo hasn’t reached a “just get together already” dynamic (or a “you’re the most insufferable pair I’ve ever seen” dynamic) yet, because of the way the series is playing it. In this episode, thanks to some coaxing from Jacob (a very good bro), Gregory and Janine finally lay all their cards down and verbalize how they feel about the other. There’s no dancing around things here, no taking back their declarations to call them a “whoops.” And most appropriately and appreciated, they talk about the romantic entanglements (which are, of course, also plot obstacles) that have seemingly kept them apart prior to this conversation.