Abbott Elementary Season 4’s Janine & Gregory Story Thankfully Avoids A Common Sitcom Mistake

Summary

• Janine & Gregory’s non-official relationship in Abbott Elementary season 4 is strategic to avoid classic sitcom pitfalls.
• The show is steering clear of the “will they, won’t they” trope to maintain viewer interest in the characters’ future.
• Avoiding common sitcom struggles post-couple formation, Abbott Elementary aims to end with Janine & Gregory together for good.

Abbott Elementary is dodging a common sitcom pitfall thanks to the way they’re approaching Janine and Gregory’s relationship storyline in season 4. Created by and starring Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary has been celebrated for its humor and heart. Since its release in 2021, the show has become a smash hit and has been likened to other popular sitcoms such as The Office. Throughout its time on television, the show has raked up numerous accolades including Golden Globe and Emmy nominations. With such a large following and such great success, it’s no surprise that Abbott Elementary was renewed for a fourth season.

Though not much is known about what the fourth season of Abbott Elementary has in store for audiences, season 3 ended on a bit of a cliffhanger when it came to Janine and Gregory’s relationship. The two have been a hot topic, both within the show and among audiences, as the characters have had palpable chemistry since the pilot episode. Abbott Elementary has put viewers through the classic “will they, won’t they” situation, with each season providing twists and turns in regards to their potential relationship. After comments from one of the actors on Abbott Elementary it seems like the show has a strong plan for how to approach these characters’ relationship moving forward.

Janine & Gregory Not Being An Official Couple In Abbott Elementary Season 4 Is A Good Thing

In an interview with TV Line, Tyler James Williams (who plays Gregory at Abbott Elementary) explained what is in store for Janine and Gregory after season 3. The season ended with a passionate kiss between the two of them and an inferred hook-up. While this season finale may have seemed like the beginning to Janine and Gregory’s highly-anticipated relationship, Williams explained that he can’t say that they are going to be in an official relationship. He also shared that there is not going to be any “stop-start anymore“.

Though viewers rooting for Janine and Gregory’s relationship may be initially disappointed by the fact that they are not an official couple in the upcoming season, it is actually a good thing in the long run. Williams’ comments indicate that Abbott Elementary is not going to take viewers on the emotional rollercoaster of Janine and Gregory breaking up and making up in order to keep the show interesting. Instead, viewers can anticipate that if Janine and Gregory do finally end up together, it will be for the long haul. So even though it will be sad to not get to see the characters being in a committed relationship for the next season, there is a sense of relief in knowing that it sets the couple up to be end-game.

Other Sitcoms Have Struggled After Their Main Couples Got Together

A lot of the time, sitcoms have to have the main couple break up and make up because of the need to keep storylines interesting. For example, New Girl had a great amount of tension surrounding the “will they, won’t they” of Nick and Jess. When the two ended up becoming a couple, the show lost some of its humor and appeal. Writers then broke the couple up, which felt like an out-of-character decision and came as a frustration to audiences.

How I Met Your Mother is another example of a sitcom that struggled after the main couple finally gets together. While the show revealed the mother’s identity early on, a large part of the show’s humor came from Ted Mosby’s quest for love. After he finally meets the mother of his children, the later seasons shifted focus to their relationship struggles and getting to know the mother, which became less engaging for viewers.

Abbott Elementary’s Final Episode Should End With Janine & Gregory As A Proper Couple

It’s clear that Abbott Elementary is aware of this sitcom trend and is making concerted efforts to avoid falling into it. Pushing off Janine and Gregory’s beginning as a proper couple avoids the need to stir up drama by having the characters break up. Instead, they can continue to leverage the anticipation viewers have for their relationship.

While it’s the right call to avoid them being together right now, Abbott Elementary should definitely have the two end up in the committed relationship they deserve. One great way to make this happen is by having the series finale be the moment the two are officially a couple. Given that Janine and Gregory have had undeniable chemistry from the very first episode of Abbott Elementary, this makes for a perfectly full circle moment and allows for the characters to be happily in love for the rest of time in viewers’ minds.

Source: TV Line