Since its now Primetime Emmy Award-winning Pilot, Quinta Brunson's Abbott Elementary continues to deliver one compelling episode after another. Like The Office and Parks and Recreation, the series is a mockumentary that follows a group of elementary school teachers in their daily endeavors to improve the lives of their students. The show's sharp, hilariously poignant writing and thoughtful narratives bring to our screens weekly inspiring spectacles with some of the best cold-opens workplace comedies have had in a while.
Abbott Elementary Season 1, Episode 6, "Gifted Program," is the kind of episode that shifts the series' trajectory while allowing us to see who the principal teachers are at their core and why the show is so remarkable. Written by Brunson, Jordan Temple, Brittani Nichols, and directed by Matt Sohn, "Gifted Program" is a significant episode not only for its character-driven narrative, but also because of how it divulges an inspiring message to the viewers. From the moment the episode opens up, it's clear as day that this will be one of the show's most promising exhibitions of examining the human mind and how it's imperative to pay attention to people's beliefs, even if they differ from what's widespread.
We Get to Know Gregory Eddie More
Until Abbott Elementary's "Gifted Program," Tyler James Williams' Gregory Eddie is the one character we don't know much about. Viewers are aware that he only plans on remaining a teacher for a short time because he was hoping for the school principal's position, but other than that, he's a mystery. We can decipher bits about Gregory's frustrations every time he breaks the fourth wall by looking directly into the camera, but that's about it. Much of that changes in this episode because here we learn that he wasn't part of a gifted program growing up, and the lack of honorary praise made him believe that he wasn't worthy.
"If you get snakes long enough, that's what you think you deserve," Gregory tells Janine as a metaphor for why giving some kids chickens and others snakes results in a flawed mentality. (This comes from Melissa's mistake in getting the wrong type of eggs for a class experiment.) "There's more than one way to be gifted," he adds, pointing to a few students in his classroom to highlight their most prominent strengths. Gregory's decision to open up to Janine is already a big deal because while he divulges something about his past, it also shows the audience that there's at least one teacher with whom feels comfortable enough to be transparent. Further, learning about this fact and inadvertent insecurity also clarifies why he's so reserved, among other things. It's enough to tell us that he strives to do better consistently, and everything we learn here bleeds into his character arcs later on.
It’s Inspiring
It's challenging to watch Abbott Elementary without remembering what those days were like while growing up. Some hijinks that ensue are hilarious reminders of what we thought were far bigger deals than they are, but an episode like "Gifted Program" is a healing reminder to those with undiagnosed test anxiety and various other conditions that they are seen and appreciated. Conversations about mental health, neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD, and general personality types are more prominent today than they were even a decade ago. Thus, for a TV series to subtly address the importance of acknowledging all students for the areas they excel at instead of solely highlighting the gifts of a select few is an inspiring message that can leave a mark.
Through Gregory's character, viewers could find themselves understood by someone (albeit fictional) if their childhood experiences were also as daunting. Because neurodivergent matters are highly explored today, and additional sectors of society outside of media are trying to break stigmas around them, it's allowing many people to shed the discomfiture they carried for years. While it's certainly not something that occurs immediately, it's a step in the right direction in showcasing that the show's doing everything in its power to understand where others are coming from. The episode also speaks to those for whom schools aren't the environment they learn best in — some do better entirely on their own without built curriculums.
It Brings the Heart of Abbott Elementary Centerfold
Viewers get an authentic display of the teachers at Abbott Elementary from the first episode, but something shifts during "Gifted Program," which proves who they are at their core. In doing so, it brings to the surface the type of school Abbott is because, despite its budgeting issues and general scarcities, it's a safe place for students, no matter their skills. Though Gregory only really reveals his truth as openly to Janine, the teachers collectively come to an understanding together about where the gifted program should go.
Instead of focusing on a particular program, they choose to expand it in such a way that all students get to participate in activities that could cater to their strengths. This decision tells viewers that though each of the teachers had a different upbringing, and they all have various ways of pedagogy, the main ones are on the same page when it comes to ensuring that students get the best treatment.