Abbott Elementary “Wrong Delivery” Spoilers Ahead
Abbott Elementary is always a delightful laugh fest, but as a journalist with too much celebrity knowledge, “Wrong Delivery” had me straight up howling from its cold open to the credits. It’s quieter thematically, but it’s still strong in the execution of showcasing that every teacher at Abbott is one whose brand cannot be replaced by anyone else.
Just as the season premiere, “Development Day,” dove right into tackling personal matters outside of the school, Abbott Elementary’s “Wrong Delivery” continues to touch on what it means to have a proper work family. (In Melissa’s case, they might even be better than her real family.) Still, even if there are mishaps and misunderstandings, folks at Abbott continue to show how much they care about students and each other through small gestures. In this case, as they tried to figure out what to do with the grant money, circumstances revealed that things would be out of their hands. While the school won’t be at Addington level yet, it’ll undoubtedly get there someday.
Jacob Hill felt weirdly absent in the last episode despite being there, but his remarks this week made up for it because I almost spat out my coffee during break room discussions. No, we don’t need another Spider-Man film without Tom Holland, but he’s absolutely right when spouting that we don’t need to see Chris Pratt everywhere. And he’s especially right about referring to Pocahontas as the original Avatar.
It was also great to see him find humor in Taylor “petering” Gregory because it meant the two of them would have more in common now. Did anyone else know that this was a thing? I didn’t, which made the episode much more hilarious when addressing Gregory’s relationship. And as an active Gregory/Janine shipper, I, for one, can’t express any disappointment in seeing the end of Gregory and Taylor. To cement these friendships further and bring more familial elements to the surface, I’d love to see Jacob be the first to learn about Gregory’s feelings, really and truly, with words.
Because really, despite how clever and hilarious Abbott Elementary’s “Wrong Delivery” is, the moment at the end with Janine bringing Gregory a snow cone crushed me. The compassion that runs through her is one thing, but her unapologetic means of showing people that she cares for them is a whole other thing to excavate. It’s just a snow cone, but Janine’s kindness continues to show Gregory that there are people carefully paying attention to everyone and everything around them. She’s the reason Abbott began to feel like home, and how that’ll continue is something I can’t wait to see.
At the end of the day, Abbott Elementary is about the people who become a huge part of a child’s development as well as the adulthood that never truly reaches a peak state. They might not have the necessary grants, but they each offer something inimitable in a student’s life, making the series so refreshing to watch. And with the second season only at its starting point, the development is only just beginning.
In another sense, Abbott Elementary’s “Wrong Delivery” highlights the faults unveiled in comparison, subtly noting the idea that it’s the root of all heartache. Schools are tirelessly in competition with one another, jobs are, and all sorts of foundations, but at some point, the realization needs to be made that it’s not about being better than some other place; it’s about being the best version of you. And the episode addressing this without overtly doing so made it as brilliant as it was hilarious.
Further Thoughts
- Ava hitting on Gregory? BYE
- Janine carrying a box of text boots like it’s a cup of coffee? WORK IT, GIRL.
- No one can be Melissa and that includes her sister.
- I’m going to replay this cold open at least once a day for a serotonin boost. Sheryl Lee Ralph deserves another Emmy for it.
- Barbara Howard’s Celebrities Breakdown:
- Brian Austen Green = Brian Tyree Henry
- Carrie Underwood = Kerry Washington
- Millie Bobby Brown = Bobby Brown
- Tommy Lee Jones = James Earl Jones
- Michelle Williams = Michelle Williams
- Michael B Jordan = Micheal J. Fox
- Mr. Johnson’s “Agent 409” also made me howl.
- The school not having a librarian in their library is something Leslie Knope would be proud of.
- The fact that everyone was arguing about what to do with the grant but the immediate thought wasn’t a better AC unit unanimously voted by everyone floors me.
Now streaming on Hulu or ABC: What are your thoughts on Abbott Elementary’s “Wrong Delivery?” Let us know in the comments below.