Call me joyless, but there was a period of time when slow-burn sitcom romances — think Jim and Pam from The Office — exhausted me. Whenever a show would introduce a new couple to get invested in, my heart would soar at the promise of love. However, my shipping excitement often fizzled the longer the “will they, won’t they” dynamic dragged on, especially whenever a convoluted new twist prolonged the inevitable. These twists, like an ill-timed kiss between exes or some new partner getting in the way of the show’s It Couple, can make a show feel like it’s spinning its wheels instead of building momentum for one of its central relationships.
So when Abbott Elementary planted the seeds of a romance between teachers Janine (Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) in its very first episode, I felt a wave of “oh no, not again” washing over me.
And I have never been happier to have been wrong.
‘Abbott Elementary’ Season 2 review: Quinta Brunson’s comedy sensation is still as funny (and relevant) as ever
Now, a little over halfway into Season 2, there’s no doubt that the Janine and Gregory storyline is one of the best romances currently on TV, thanks to Brunson and Williams’s out-of-this-world chemistry and the show’s careful writing. So far, it’s getting every step of the slow burn right!
Abbott Elementary understands the importance of small bonding moments, like Janine bringing Gregory an Italian ice to help him deal with a breakup, or Gregory being the only one to compliment Janine on her new hairstyle. It highlights everything from the knocking code they use to communicate through their classroom walls to the yearning glances no one else can see… no one apart from the show’s documentary cameras, that is.
These smaller moments have laid the groundwork for the latest run of Abbott Elementary episodes, which have gone into Janine-Gregory hyperdrive. Ever since the two danced together in the hookah bar in Abbott Elementary’s delightful Christmas episode, the show has been building up to the moment when Janine and Gregory realize their feelings for each other and finally get together.
Credit: ABC / Gilles Mingasson
For example, Janine and Gregory may be dating other people — Maurice (Vince Staples) and Amber (Naté Jones) — but Abbott Elementary’s first-ever Valentine’s episode is all about them. The moment when Jacob (Chris Perfetti) accidentally reveals Gregory’s crush to Janine had me howling at the TV, while Janine helping Gregory pick out his Valentine’s day gift to Amber had me begging the two to realize they’re the perfect pair. Look at how much Janine loves those Lego flowers, Gregory! Tell me she’s not the one!
Of course, that’s all leading up the glory that is Season 2, episode 16, “Teacher Conference,” an episode that will live in every Janine-Gregory shipper’s heart as the first time these two kiss. The kiss itself is lovely, taking place in a “living classroom” covered in flowers. Given Gregory’s love of gardening and the way that Janine thinks of flowers’ growth as a perfect representation of students’ development, the location could not be any better. (And need I remind you of those Lego flowers? The perfect gift!)
The flower motif is just one of many ways Abbott Elementary has been so perfectly intentional in setting up the relationship between Janine and Gregory. “Teacher Conference” also sees Amber breaking up with Gregory because he over-scheduled what was supposed to be a relaxing getaway for the two of them. When Gregory shows up at the conference, Janine immediately hands him a notebook and runs down a possible schedule of events the two of them can go to. It’s a small gesture but a clear sign that these two are on the same wavelength in a way that Gregory and Amber simply weren’t.
Speaking of wavelengths, Abbott Elementary‘s latest episode, “Mural Arts,” sees Janine realizing she and Maurice aren’t on the same wavelength, either. Between that and feeling guilty about kissing Gregory, Janine breaks up with Maurice, officially leaving the two halves of Abbott’s power couple-to-be free to date each other. However, this being a sitcom slow burn, getting together is never as easy as that. Janine and Gregory insist the kiss meant nothing in an attempt to save face and maintain some professionalism, but we see right through their façade! Tragically, though, it seems we’ll have to wait a bit longer for the Janine-Gregory ship to fully set sail.
In the meantime, we can still enjoy their interactions, like their awkward banter in “Mural Arts.” These scenes aren’t strictly romantic, but that’s OK: Janine and Gregory’s storyline isn’t strictly limited to their romance. We also see how they work together to try to improve their students’ learning experiences, a pattern perfectly in keeping with how Abbott Elementary pays tribute to educators. Given how well Abbott Elementary has handled Janine and Gregory so far, and how great the show is across the board, I’m happy — excited, even — to let this slow burn smolder for however long the show needs it to.
New episodes of Abbott Elementary air Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and are available for streaming on Hulu the next day.
