"Abbott Elementary" Season 4, Episode 3 Review

"Class Pet," the third episode of Abbott Elementary's fourth season, continues to blend humor and heartwarming moments that define the series.

Janine is delighted about the chance to bring class pets into the school, although Gregory humorously requests a pet rock for his class. Most of the teachers are excited to teach their students the responsibilities that come with taking care of a shared class pet.

Meanwhile, Melissa, played by Lisa Ann Walter is initially not a fan of the idea, since she didn't grow up with pets. However, as her class welcomes a guinea pig named Sweet Cheeks, Melissa shockingly becomes so attached that she steals the pet and takes it home.

Janine finds out and convinces Melissa to accept that the pet is for the students, encouraging her to bring Sweet Cheeks back to school despite her doubts about the student's ability to properly take care of the guinea pig.

As the school deals with the pet debacle, there is an arrival of brand new computers.

Courtesy of Ava blackmailing the golf club, which caused plenty of inconveniences at the start of the school year. The golf club donated the newest computers to the school, surprising many, as the Philadelphia public school system has limited resources and couldn't provide such good quality computers.

The arrival of handsome IT technician O'Shon, catches the eye of several teachers, including Barbara and Jacob, adding a hilarious twist. While he was setting up the new computers throughout the school, he realized that Ava obtained them in a non-traditional way. As a result, O’Shon grows a liking for Ava because of her extreme efforts to help her students. Despite how appealing O'Shon looks Ava seems to be oblivious to his attraction to her, which may be for the better.

Janine's romance with Gregory continues to blossom, with healthy and refreshing dynamics of Black love, the people really needed this. The change is nice compared to previous seasons, where they awkwardly denied their feelings and dated others who were clearly not right for them. Fans are enjoying the storyline and may want to see them take further steps in their relationship, such as moving in together, especially since Janine is facing financial problems after her ex, who used to split the rent, moved out.

The addition of new class pets and computers marks an improvement for the school, providing resources that the students previously lacked throughout the series. This season, "Abbott Elementary" seems to be receiving the recognition and enhancements that were long overdue.

This episode combines the teachers' personal developments with professional challenges, all while maintaining the wit and warmth that “Abbott Elementary” fans love.

Episode 4 airs on Oct. 30, 2024, with new episodes premiering every Wednesday.

Episode 3 Rating: 8/10

Gabrielle Marston is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email gmm6030@psu.edu.