Summary
One underrated constituent ofAbbott Elementary ’s achiever is the sitcom ’s revival of a figure that I thought was dead and go . Abbott Elementary ’s dramatis personae of characterswon over critics and viewers alike when the series began in 2021 . Since then , the workplace situation comedy has run from strength to strength , take in telling reviews while add up progressively gamey - profile celebrity guest headliner to its cast list . Abbott Elementaryseason 4is my most anticipate video restoration of 2024 thanks to the cast ’s stellar alchemy , the will they , wo n’t they love story between Janine and Gregory , and the show ’s astute satiric edge .
AlthoughAbbott Elementary ’s season 3 finalefocused on an eventful end - of - twelvemonth party between the eponymous location ’s faculty , most episodes of the series center on the minutiae of school day life . struggle with the school dominion , office political relation , and navigating the underfunded public Education Department organisation make up the bulk ofAbbott Elementary ’s storylines . While these themes could seem ironical or tedious , Abbott Elementaryuses an ingenious caper to breathe life into its workplace circumstance . I thought that the show ’s data formatting was long gone after a handful of flop in the last decade , butAbbott Elementarymanaged to bring back a situation comedy staple .
Abbott Elementary time of year 3 added some surprising young supporting character reference to its cast , but episode 13 finally explained why they were important .
Abbott Elementary’s Mockumentary Format Revived A Dead Sub-Genre
Mockumentary Sitcoms Were Once Commonplace
Unlike most present-day sitcoms , Abbott Elementaryrevived the mockumentary format that was everywhere in the previous 2000 ’s and former 2010’s . The Office , Parks and Recreation , andModern Familyare the most obvious examples of successful mockumentary situation comedy , butArrested Development ’s influential situation comedy stylealso borrowed from the format . Even elements of non - mockumentary situation comedy , like30 Rock ’s fourth - wall breaks orBrooklyn 99 ’s hand-held camerawork , owed a debt to the omnipresent way . I did n’t think that any serial could bestow back this data formatting after it died out in the mid-2010 ’s , butAbbott Elementarymanaged this impressive feat .
I was n’t heartbroken when the mockumentary sitcom era get along to an goal since the format provided looker with some classical show .
2013 ’s underratedZach gemstone Is Gon na Be Famousand 2015’sThe ComediansandThe Muppetswere a triplet of high-pitched - profile flops that proved the mockumentary format was n’t a bulletproof guarantee of situation comedy success . These nonstarter , along with the succeeder of sitcoms that moved by from the unpretentious mockumentary aesthetical , gradually made the data formatting less popular . I was n’t heartbroken when the mockumentary situation comedy epoch came to an closing since the format bring home the bacon viewing audience with some classic shows and had n’t outstayed its welcome . However , I did think it would be a while before the style was get a line on screen door again .
Abbott Elementary’s Mockumentary Format Shapes Its Tone
The Series Feels Lived-In And New At The Same Time
WhileAbbott Elementaryseason 3 ’s renown guest starsmight stretch credulity at time , one of the show ’s best qualities is its comparatively grounded place setting . Compared toThe Good PlaceorGhosts , Abbott Elementaryhas a fair straightforward premise . However , this is what ca-ca the mockumentary data formatting such an inspired pick . Abbott Elementaryusing a dated manner was on the QT geniussince the societal commentary of the serial is up - to - the - mo and fresh , but the show visually feel like a classical 2010s sitcom . spectator could be forgiven for thinking they had falter across a classic show from 2010 .
This subversive maneuver is the show ’s sassy esthetic alternative as it makesAbbott Elementary ’s political comment accessible .
This is central toAbbott Elementary ’s success since seem likeThe OfficeorParks and Recreationallows the show to revive the charm of those early show with a twisting . I ’ve been consistently surprised byAbbott Elementary ’s satirical domiciliation at public education financial support , institutional racism , the problem with charter school day , and other timely takings that earlier mockumentary sitcoms sidestepped . Abbott Elementary ’s social comment is razor - knifelike but feel more toothsome precisely because the show bet like an old situation comedy from a decade ago . To me , this subversive simulated military operation is the show ’s chic esthetic choice as it make political commentary accessible .
Abbott Elementary’s Meta Moments Are Refreshingly Rare
The Sitcom Doesn’t Lean Into Its Mockumentary Setup
AlthoughAbbott Elementaryseason 4 ’s storyline must addressa few unanswered question , the show has managed to stave off my biggest return with mockumentary sitcoms throughout its first three old age . Namely , Abbott Elementarydoesn’t eviscerate too much attention to its mockumentary formatand avoids feel corny as a termination . There will be no embarrassingly misguided storylines likeThe Office ’s infamous Brian the Camera Guy here . Abbott Elementaryseldom mentions the existence of the crowd , much likeModern Family .
When the camera crew is referenced , it is via put-on like them losing their equipment and absent month of school to cover for the real - lifespan writer ’s ten-strike . Principal Ava mentions the show ’s apparatus in pass during time of year 3 , noting that she has a photographic camera crew following her around when competing with her former sorority sister rival . The question of why the crew has been filming for so long and what they intend to produce from all this footage is unreciprocated since it does n’t weigh . The mockumentary formatting is a means to an end and , forAbbott Elementary , a everlasting fit .
