Abbott Elementary Season 4: Ava's Unexpected Romance and a Hilarious She's All That Parody!
Abbott Elementary Season 4, Episode 3: Ava's Surprising Love Interest and a Nod to a '90s Classic
Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 3 ("Class Pet") threw a major curveball: a totally unexpected romance for Principal Ava (Janelle James)! And it's even better because the writers hilariously parody a classic '90s rom-com in the process. The show already mines the existing romantic storylines for comedy and drama, but some key characters had unexplored love lives before this episode; that specific dynamic would ultimately shape what might happen next!
Janine and Gregory's romance has already been covered for multiple seasons, while Jacob's breakup with Zack added serious emotional depth, while the surprise engagement rejection from Melissa made for a pretty big plot point. Yet, those key supporting characters who had no obvious romantic entanglements– the mysterious Mr. Johnson, the happily married Barbara, and Ava’s hilarious and often inappropriate attempts at pursuing other individuals all become extremely noteworthy, especially considering what would follow in that 3rd episode of the current season!
Ava and O'Sean: A She's All That Parody That Totally Subverts Expectations!
Ava's romantic life always focused on awkward attempts (mostly directed at Gregory!). Yet, she's now suddenly hit with a seriously intense romance, showing just how unpredictable that could become! And in such a wonderfully amusing way. The introduction of O'Sean, that ridiculously handsome IT guy, arrives at Abbott to sort out those newfangled computers; provided not by the district (as anyone could expect) but in fact was an obvious bribe for the school board, to avoid having those extremely shady dealings outed. That situation brings everyone together at that precise moment; showcasing what happened in an exceedingly unexpected yet rather memorable episode!
What follows is pure genius: That entire subplot brilliantly parodies She's All That (1999)! Remember that film? It features this ultra-shallow guy (Freddie Prinze Jr.’s Zack) shocked to find this completely artistic girl (Rachel Leigh Cook's Laney Boggs) beautiful, and removing her glasses and making that revelation! This particular parody does it better. Ava initially is completely unimpressed; declaring he was completely uninteresting simply because he wore glasses, showcasing a completely unexpected humorous turn and showcasing that incredibly creative storytelling! She actually puts on glasses when she sees O'Sean's real charm. This completely mirrors those key events that happened in that classic teen movie.
Why This Romance Is Perfectly Timed (and Utterly Hilarious!)
O'Sean’s attraction towards Ava, someone unimpressed by him? That creates major comedy potential! This situation however goes even deeper; demonstrating what could otherwise be missing in this series; those really subtle moments between humorous encounters which makes that relationship between Ava and O'Sean an amazing story; highlighting even those other very subtle but effective moments: Jacob’s clear attraction toward O'Sean and Barbara’s subtle swooning also demonstrate just how well-crafted those seemingly minor elements could become; creating additional interest for fans.
O'Sean has to win her over– which requires much effort! This also conveniently gives him an obvious reason for repeat visits, making the budding romance absolutely amazing. And as Janine and Gregory are finally at peace (and after a period with multiple intense emotional encounters that made the show a hit!), Ava’s new flirtation conveniently gives the show back that key element it might otherwise miss and be missing throughout all of this season– those truly surprising encounters, a key plot element!
Conclusion: Ava’s Unexpected Romance Adds Some New Flavor to Abbott Elementary!
Ava's romance with O'Sean is unexpected. It brilliantly uses She's All That as a comedic jumping-off point; providing that satisfying unexpected encounter that was created with brilliant creative execution that elevates that particular story, providing those funny yet intense scenes which showcase Janelle James's comedic prowess! This surprisingly refreshing subplot adds more layers and some truly well-earned complexity, building a new narrative which creates surprising depth. It successfully injects some serious and satisfying conflict and intrigue in what's arguably the most refreshing and highly successful sitcoms that viewers eagerly anticipate! Every detail adds toward the brilliance which is this show.
