Review: Abbott Elementary, "Read-A-Thon" | Season 2, Episode 11
The sophomore comedy makes a strong return in the New Year
Returning from the midseason hiatus (and an in-series holiday break) with “Read-A-Thon” is a declarative statement from Abbott Elementary. The series went into break strong with “Holiday Hookah,” only to come back even stronger with “Read-A-Thon.” And “Read-A-Thon’s” strength only makes it even more evident when Abbott Elementary can and does stumble at times as the very, very good series that it is.
It’s easy to see how an episode like “Read-A-Thon” could’ve stumbled or, at least, been less grounded based on previous episodes in this very season. In terms of story, the Jacob/Podcast Club plot is the weak point of the episode, with Jacob learning a lesson he should have learned (in addition to a lesson he already has). But that lesson—about making the newly-formed Podcast Club all about himself—could’ve easily also been the case for the Janine/Melisssa plot. In fact, that’s part of why an episode like “Egg Drop” faltered, as while Janine’s toxic positivity was important to ad…