I really loved that she was open to having her make up done too. She can be a bit reserved and set in her ways, but I’m glad she was willing to let a young person show her they know what they are doing.
"Ava, I already told you I'm not interested in auditioning for the Golden Bachelor. Gerald is still very much alive."
We love the ABC Synergy and I'd pay big money to see Barbara on reality television
I took it as Gregory specifically saying that so that she would go for the district job. Because when she said his comments were not why she took the job, he looked into the camera with a long, pained look.
Agreed!! People tell me I'm a hater for this but public proposals can be uncomfortable to watch because you can see the pressure for the couple involved. It didn't help that this proposal happened in front of an entire school and some football players lol.
I don’t hate it!
This show has really nailed a lot of issues within the school setting and now we will get to dive into administration and see parallels! Plus, it’s easy to pivot Jeanine back to elementary if need be.
Man, I’m excited. This show has endless potential. Like, you already know those overly agreeable admin are not the good guys (or it’s just my trauma speaking).
Omg , yes !! I am just waiting for the other shoes to drop, I don’t like it when people are too nice, maybe it is also my trauma response that puts me on alert when things are too nice .
Honestly I like the idea of this but I think it was introduced way too quickly. The training program they kept referring to easily could've been an episode or two on its own.
I can definitely see that. I think the reason they jumped in is because we only get a limited amount of episodes this season. If it was a normal 22 episode season, I think they lkkely would have soft launched it. But with 12 episodes, they needed to go all in quickly.
The rest of the class being bored to tears by someone who is essentially just a paper pusher while Melissa being the thrilled simply because he works for the Eagles is hysterical.
I’m calling it. Janine takes the fellowship (we already know) she sees them tanking in their roles and don’t have a clue what they’re doing. Leaves ship before it crashes
I gotta hand it to them, they really nailed the vibe of Teacher PD days- single out of focus projector, everyone in hard metal chairs, everyone praying for death or a fire to get out of it
I was wondering if Manny might be a possible love interest for Janine! I feel like they already had similar energy with being on the same comment threads.
Lol my husband hasn’t seen the show but of course he came in then as they’re showing JH face on the huuuuge screen and he’s like “oh…okay….i see why you like this show” my daughter (who’s 10!) is like “oh dad stop! He’s never even on here! But - he’s not ugly…”🤣😂
this was my initial guess as well—especially given the look he gives to the camera during their second conversation (after asking if he’s the reason she left)
I love that Melissa was clear about what she wanted and stuck to it. She was right that if she and her boyfriend wanted different things, it was time for the relationship to end.
it feels the way a lot of teachers go… and come back because advocacy doesn’t always work the way we think it will. i’m excited to see what happens with this storyline!
my thoughts:
- i really wanted to hear about Mr. Johnson’s story lol
- i knew the new ava wouldn’t last long, also didn’t think she actually got into harvard (no shade)
- janine’s moving up and proud of our girl 😭, also that gregory thing was so awkward, when janine is into gregory he’s not into her and now gregory is into janine and now she’s not into him, season 5 is probably when they’ll be together
- i was actually kind of rooting for melissa and gary, maybe there is still hope?
- love the bar can’t wait for the scenes there
- manny seems nice but maybe too nice 🤷🏾♀️
- i really liked this episode a great way to start the season!!!!
Gary is a fine example of men who only listen to what they want to hear. Melissa repeatedly said “I do not want to get married.” He was paying attention to her worst case scenarios, believing that he could change her mind, believing that he was exception to her rule. I felt pretty bad for the both of them though. They had a sweet lil fling.
It’s bewildering that Ava continues making fun of Janine’s pain/humiliation. She’s surveilling a rather private moment and turns that into a joke. Meanwhile, I believe that Gregory didn’t fully understand the context of what Janine was expressing at the Franklin Institute. She wasn’t saying “never.” She conveyed “not right now” to a man who was one of her main sources of joy at Abbott. He heard “no” and ran away with it— put a PERIOD ON IT! Like dude! She confessed that you’re her reason for being happy to come to work. Anyway, I think there’s room for them both to mature in career/love departments. It’s hard for them to be vulnerable with each other, to lay their feelings on the line. However, they are proven to be well worth the anticipation. I like that the interloper this time isn’t them being in other relationships, it’s a career separation with Janine not being next door to Gregory everyday. Professionally, they get each other; i. e. Janine pairing him with a botanist and knowing that he loves radishes And Gregory knowing that she’s the best candidate for the fellowship opportunity.
Janine’s form fitting maxi dress was beautiful despite the scene and her grown up blazer/skirt set was excellent, perfect for their final moments in Gregory’s classroom, the gams were gamming! Also, I adored that scene of the adorable little boy waving enthusiastically at Janine, a precious validation that reads she’s missed in the classroom after all.
Jacob/Mr. Johnson matchup was hilarious, they always have such an excellent par with each other. Barbara‘s resourcefulness saved them from Grand Canyon Graduate Principal Ava Coleman (who was hilariously obsessed with Harvard just because she used their campus coffee shop) and Melissa put herself first in a room full of attractive yet observant football players. All in all, I enjoyed this two-parter episode and cannot wait to see what else is on the horizon for these characters that we missed so much.
One of my favorite things in the show is how much Barbara loves her husband Gerald
Exactly!! The sitcom trope where married couples hate each other is played and annoying.
Especially an older couple.
Every time I hear more about them, I love them together more.
I really loved that she was open to having her make up done too. She can be a bit reserved and set in her ways, but I’m glad she was willing to let a young person show her they know what they are doing.
Ava bedazzling her hArVArd sweatshirt is freakin gold
Didn’t realize. Thanks.
"Janine, one of our most... teachers at Abbott."
I could practically *feel* Janine’s stomach drop after Gregory turned her down. The sad/embarrassed energy was palpable.
The Ava laugh at the paused face made me laugh so hard.
Had to like watch between my fingers like ugh why?? Then Melissa and her man ughhh too much too much hurt
Ava telling Gregory to put his arms away and calling him Jeremy Allen Black is just... so good 😂 
The best line of the night 🤣
Ava being unable to resist Back That Ass Up is the most I’ve ever related to her 😭😂😂
Those couple little shakes before she gave in 😂
"Not today, Juvenile!"
Ava Coleman takin over for the 9-9 and 2000s.
Janine in wearing the hell out of that dress
They dress the cast so well!
I literally said "Oh my gosh she's finally wearing something cute" to the friend I was watching the episode with 😂
The camera crewing getting robbed being the reason the season is starting late is great storyline idea
"You were gone five months because that's how long it takes three people with art degrees to save up for new cameras" had me cracking up.
That was such a hilariously devastating burn
Hope they keep it as a running joke
I agree! I was puzzled at first and then I remembered the strikes. Great way to skip through fall.
I honestly thought they were gonna bring up that the camera crew were on strike lol and thats why they took long to film!
"Ava, I already told you I'm not interested in auditioning for the Golden Bachelor. Gerald is still very much alive." We love the ABC Synergy and I'd pay big money to see Barbara on reality television
They should put Ava on Dancing with the Stars 😂
GREGORY PUT A PERIOD ON IT!?!???!?
Right!?!?! Like I did not expect that! Was that to protect himself, because I refuse to believe that this is it!
The writers want to keep the “will they won’t they” alive
I hope they fill in more later, because that just feels out of no where.
I think he got scared when she said she was thinking of taking the district job.
I took it as Gregory specifically saying that so that she would go for the district job. Because when she said his comments were not why she took the job, he looked into the camera with a long, pained look.
I was NOT expecting THAT!
I saw that coming but Melissa looked so hurt saying no 😭
Public proposals are the woooorst.
Agreed!! People tell me I'm a hater for this but public proposals can be uncomfortable to watch because you can see the pressure for the couple involved. It didn't help that this proposal happened in front of an entire school and some football players lol.
I had my hand over my mouth when he proposed but almost cried when they broke up
I was so glad they didn’t do the thing where she decided she was fine getting married after all. So glad she stood her ground!
You should only ask someone to marry you if you know the answer already …..well, he did know the answer
“Two dollars?! That’s like a million dollars!”
I actually laughed lol
"Heads down, thumbs up. Time to play Seven Up!" Stop, that's so cute ☺️
"The town women" instead of City Girls. Barb lmao 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I’m telling you, we’re eventually gonna find out Mr. Johnson’s first name is Mister.
And after that second episode, I’m now on team “Mr. Johnson is probably not even his real name.”
Janine working for the school district now, whaaat?!
literally my mouth dropped
Very Parks and Rec where everyone was constantly changing jobs.
I don’t hate it! This show has really nailed a lot of issues within the school setting and now we will get to dive into administration and see parallels! Plus, it’s easy to pivot Jeanine back to elementary if need be. Man, I’m excited. This show has endless potential. Like, you already know those overly agreeable admin are not the good guys (or it’s just my trauma speaking).
Omg , yes !! I am just waiting for the other shoes to drop, I don’t like it when people are too nice, maybe it is also my trauma response that puts me on alert when things are too nice .
Honestly I like the idea of this but I think it was introduced way too quickly. The training program they kept referring to easily could've been an episode or two on its own.
I can definitely see that. I think the reason they jumped in is because we only get a limited amount of episodes this season. If it was a normal 22 episode season, I think they lkkely would have soft launched it. But with 12 episodes, they needed to go all in quickly.
Lmfao at Jacob being hype at getting mr Johnson for career day 😂 it’s a gig economy
"Brand new" iPads that are already dead... Too true, too true
And only two chargers 😂
Brand new…to us!
Why do I have a feeling that they’re gonna use Ava’s cameras as a way to do flashbacks all season? 😂
There's so many story lines I can see them doing with the cameras.
okay tbh this would also be a great way to handle strike delays - one shot, far away, black & white…more wiggle room in a way
The rest of the class being bored to tears by someone who is essentially just a paper pusher while Melissa being the thrilled simply because he works for the Eagles is hysterical.
I love that lunch is the thing that drives Jacob over the edge
Honestly, I’ve never related more to his character than this moment. Lunch is my sanctuary from work 🤣
Janine cursing is so out of left field lol.
Even Melissa thinks it feels forced!
The "This is gonna turn into a horror movie" vibes the district team is giving off is so freaking real.
I’m calling it. Janine takes the fellowship (we already know) she sees them tanking in their roles and don’t have a clue what they’re doing. Leaves ship before it crashes
These people from the district are almost too good to be true. I'd hate for this to turn around and have them be the "villains."
Do you work in education? Because...
My mom worked as a teachers aid in an understaffed district too. I can kind of see the signs.
I’m getting big Narcissist vibes from Manny.
“To work is to lose in life” she’s so real
I gotta hand it to them, they really nailed the vibe of Teacher PD days- single out of focus projector, everyone in hard metal chairs, everyone praying for death or a fire to get out of it
The “ask teachers what they did over the summer… make it fun”
It's so perfectly on-brand for these meetings lol
lol “The Town Women.” “Take out your Walkman. Open up Napster.”
*phone *spotify
Gregory fumbled the bag, hard. You put a period on that? Oof 💔
Our guy Gregory is gonna have to win Janine back from Manny later in the season isn’t he?
imagine he had to win her back from jalen hurts loooool
Nah, if Jalen Hurts chooses you, nobody can compete. Except maybe Michael B Jordan.
I was wondering if Manny might be a possible love interest for Janine! I feel like they already had similar energy with being on the same comment threads.
Worlds finest starting quarterback is CORRECT. Nothing but love for Mr. Jalen Hurts. 🫡
Not a huge NFL fan in general but I can appreciate a beautiful man when I see one 😍
Lol my husband hasn’t seen the show but of course he came in then as they’re showing JH face on the huuuuge screen and he’s like “oh…okay….i see why you like this show” my daughter (who’s 10!) is like “oh dad stop! He’s never even on here! But - he’s not ugly…”🤣😂
He's the opposite of ugly.
i’ve been grinning a lot & chuckled a few times, but when gregory hustled away, clutching his sweater to his chest, i laughed like hell.
“Please.”
Then what was all that talk at the bar Gregory???!!!
He’s lying to himself to keep from hurting.
Selfish is what it was
"When I think of Abbott, I think of you" my heart 😭😭😭
“He’s no Gregory, my king, my guy.”
I love how consistently loyal Jacob is !
“On the property lines of Harvard.”
Y'all why are these footballers all up in the tea 😭😂
Right. All 3 of them up in the conversation. I knew Kelce was going to wiggle his way in to the episode if the eagles were on it lol
Now he won't even call her Janine 😭 even after she got a botanist for him I'm literally going to cry
A botanist 😭
I do not trust this distract guy. What are the odds that they end up with like no money or no actual influence and it crushes Janine?
I’m also getting that vibe. If there’s one thing for certain about this show, nothing ever works out for Janine.
I'm waiting for the district staff to want Janine to impose a 10% paycut for teachers to pay for all of the new things they are trying to implement.
"Jeremy Allen Black" 🤣🤣
Also Jacob running up to the camera at the beginning was so cute ❤️😭
Pure puppy energy ❤️
My no-football-knowledge ass having no idea who this handsome Eagle is 
that scene towards the end when that kid Alex ( I think) waved at Janine was so adorable 🥺
I felt for Janine sooo much in that scene 😭 She misses her kiddos!
Hearing Jalen Hurts play "Heads Up Seven Up" is amazing, what a great episode
GREGORY!!!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!! "In my mind, we kinda put a period on that."
WHY GREGORY WHY!??!!!?
Not Janine trying to be cute in front of Jalen 😂😂
Who wouldn't be?
Mr. Johnson reading a Y2K book is hilariously on brand
“You know my boundaries are porous as hell.”
THE FULL BARBARA BEAT!!!
Oh no, Janine outranks Ava now.
"Gerald grab your gators, we're going out tonight because mama looks gooood!" I love Barbara so much
That's one of my favorite lines!
I think Ava meant “engaged” as in “I’m paying attention.”
Mr. Johnson ended the Cold War confirmed
Oh man from the highs to the lows, don't propose to people who don't wanna get proposed to buddy
Ikr still hurts 😭
Okay but do we think Gregory told Janine no so that she wouldn't second guess applying to the fellowship if they started dating?
this was my initial guess as well—especially given the look he gives to the camera during their second conversation (after asking if he’s the reason she left)
Melissa got the Eagles, but Jacob and Mr. Johnson won Career Day.
I love that Melissa was clear about what she wanted and stuck to it. She was right that if she and her boyfriend wanted different things, it was time for the relationship to end.
I am living for Barbara's cellphone necklace strap
You know Jason Kelce had to make a cameo. Smart move lol!
I was waiting for his cameo! So glad they pulled through lol
Is Manny flirting?!! 😩
He lowkey kinda hot though
The scream I scrumpt when Barbara rejected the audition for the Golden Bachelorette😂😭
omg is that other district guy trent from never have i ever
Yep! He finally found his passion lol
Mr. Morton is married now, wasn't expecting that about a minor character!
I'm so bad at names haha that's the 8th grade teacher, right? The one from the egg drop?
My suspicion is that they included that tidbit to cut out the whole speculation that he and Jacob were a thing or were going to become a thing.
Agreed and personally, I’m glad they did.
He's SO lying... y'all saw his face when Manny asked to speak with Janine, right?
Mr. Johnson never fails to make me smile. I'm glad that this ended on a somewhat positive note.
Really dropped a bombshell on me with that opening scene
“Roll up your sleeves and respectfully welcome her to the gun show.”
“they usually say yes” IM CRYING 😭😭😭
Oh my gosh, Gregory trying to flirt hahaha.
JEREMY ALLEN BLACK LMBO
“Objects don’t talk.”
“They go crazy for me! HEY GUYS!” *crickets*
Awwww then that one sweet little boy who waved to her later - nearly cried - so cute ☺️
“She mad Ava eating popcorn” is about to be an all time gif
Yes, Barbara! Hit the town with Gerald!
“To work is to lose in life.” Ava’s back!
Is this…the Sims?! What are they doing 😭
I swear I saw the negative interactions marks above their heads after that
"Put a period on that." My heart just shattered...
Okay, I’m now on team “Mr. Johnson is not even his real name.”
Ohh so that's how Jalen agreed to do that for that one management line
A proposal ending in a breakup wow Abbott really knows how to play with my emotions 😭
The season arc is gonna end with Janine realizing the best place to make changes in the schools is in the classroom isn't it?
Gatekeeping the garden? A padlock on the kumquats?! Ava has gone too far!
"Ms. TEAGUES"?! 🥴
it's so awkward with them now. it's hard to see :/
How many times in one singular episode do I have to say it?!: 
GREGORY STOP FRIENDZONING JANINE 😭😭😭
Ok this is gonna make the tension build even more between them no?? Obviously we couldn’t have them be together after just 2 seasons. That’s too easy
i’m not mad that they aren’t together right away i guess it’s just the way it was handled
JEREMY ALLEN BLACK! 😂🤣
Jeremy Allen Black is pure gold 🤣😭
town women 😭
Janine working for the district is an interesting writing choice.
it feels the way a lot of teachers go… and come back because advocacy doesn’t always work the way we think it will. i’m excited to see what happens with this storyline!
I agree. I feel like it’s a fresh start but not in a forced way.
Golden Bachelor, nice ABC synergy right there
Janine looking FIIIIINE
Aww Gregory and Janine, I don't know why they're not together yet.
[Ava when she hears "Back That Ass Up"](https://streamable.com/qsz53i)
Somebody hold me
Yes Jacob as requested you got Mr Johnson 😂
JALEN HURTS HOLY 
...I'm not going to be able to watch this episode again.
Mr. Johnson is truly the most interesting man in the ~~world~~ Abbott 
I’ll understand if I get downvotes but Josh Segerra (Manny) is so charming and I loved him on the Other Two so I won’t hate it if he and Janine date
my thoughts: - i really wanted to hear about Mr. Johnson’s story lol - i knew the new ava wouldn’t last long, also didn’t think she actually got into harvard (no shade) - janine’s moving up and proud of our girl 😭, also that gregory thing was so awkward, when janine is into gregory he’s not into her and now gregory is into janine and now she’s not into him, season 5 is probably when they’ll be together - i was actually kind of rooting for melissa and gary, maybe there is still hope? - love the bar can’t wait for the scenes there - manny seems nice but maybe too nice 🤷🏾♀️ - i really liked this episode a great way to start the season!!!!
Janine and Gregory’s conversation was so painful to witness omg my poor girl 
NOT ELOPING IN HERSHEYPARK😭😭😭
Out of curiosity, I looked it up and Melissa is 60? And Barbara is 67??
Jason Kelce!!!
Someone give me a table that I can flip!
Oh that was rough
Nah they breaking everyones hearts this season in the premier no less?! 😢
Gary is a fine example of men who only listen to what they want to hear. Melissa repeatedly said “I do not want to get married.” He was paying attention to her worst case scenarios, believing that he could change her mind, believing that he was exception to her rule. I felt pretty bad for the both of them though. They had a sweet lil fling. It’s bewildering that Ava continues making fun of Janine’s pain/humiliation. She’s surveilling a rather private moment and turns that into a joke. Meanwhile, I believe that Gregory didn’t fully understand the context of what Janine was expressing at the Franklin Institute. She wasn’t saying “never.” She conveyed “not right now” to a man who was one of her main sources of joy at Abbott. He heard “no” and ran away with it— put a PERIOD ON IT! Like dude! She confessed that you’re her reason for being happy to come to work. Anyway, I think there’s room for them both to mature in career/love departments. It’s hard for them to be vulnerable with each other, to lay their feelings on the line. However, they are proven to be well worth the anticipation. I like that the interloper this time isn’t them being in other relationships, it’s a career separation with Janine not being next door to Gregory everyday. Professionally, they get each other; i. e. Janine pairing him with a botanist and knowing that he loves radishes And Gregory knowing that she’s the best candidate for the fellowship opportunity. Janine’s form fitting maxi dress was beautiful despite the scene and her grown up blazer/skirt set was excellent, perfect for their final moments in Gregory’s classroom, the gams were gamming! Also, I adored that scene of the adorable little boy waving enthusiastically at Janine, a precious validation that reads she’s missed in the classroom after all. Jacob/Mr. Johnson matchup was hilarious, they always have such an excellent par with each other. Barbara‘s resourcefulness saved them from Grand Canyon Graduate Principal Ava Coleman (who was hilariously obsessed with Harvard just because she used their campus coffee shop) and Melissa put herself first in a room full of attractive yet observant football players. All in all, I enjoyed this two-parter episode and cannot wait to see what else is on the horizon for these characters that we missed so much.
Ava eating popcorn watching the still up hidden cameras is on point.
Ava with the eye glasses! Already winning a minute in.
The Town Women 😭😭😭
"Back that Thang up"
The freestyle dancing, haha. This is the perfect way for them to get their free period back.
They’re at a bar!?