As Abbott Elementary Season 5 continues airing, it has faced quite a bit of criticism.
This ABC series follows a group of teachers at a Philadelphia public elementary school.
And in light of recent episodes, Abbott Elementary fans have raised concerns about the show’s direction.
(Disney/Gilles Mingasson)
Some of the criticism is that the show feels too constrained or relies too much on the same kind of humor.
However, we should keep in mind that Abbott Elementary is still one of the few shows keeping the sitcom genre thriving today.
The State of Sitcoms
In recent years, the state of comedy shows hasn’t been the best — especially for sitcoms.
Nowadays, the expectation that television shows have short seasons and fewer seasons hasn’t been conducive to the genre.
(Disney/Gilles Mingasson)
Before Abbott Elementary premiered in 2021, the last sitcom to have a mainstream, memorable impact was Superstore, which had also ended in 2021.
Granted, the actual time gap between the two wasn’t too noticeable, but the prevalence of popular sitcoms has definitely decreased in recent years.
For example, when Superstore was airing in the mid-2010s, sitcoms like The Big Bang Theory, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Schitt’s Creek, and The Good Place were still on the air.
In comparison, during Abbott Elementary’s time on TV, few shows have matched its caliber or lasted as long.
The only one that really comes to mind is Ghosts, but even then, Abbott Elementary’s reach has easily been more extensive.
(Disney/Gilles Mingasson)
There are some promising up-and-coming sitcoms like St. Denis Medical that have the potential for longevity.
However, Abbott Elementary has revitalized a love for the genre and has had significant staying power.
Abbott Elementary’s Cultural Impact
Even those who haven’t watched this sitcom have probably seen a clip on social media.
Such success has helped the show thrive for five seasons and counting in a streaming-focused world where getting a renewal feels like a big achievement.
(Disney/Gilles Mingasson)
Even beyond these quantifiable achievements, Abbott Elementary remains socially relevant through its commentary on public education.
Sitcoms have always been a genre where social commentary thrives, and Abbott Elementary has certainly stayed true to that nature.
Additionally, some of the criticism about how the show feels “stagnant” and needs to shake things up is already being addressed.
The current mid-season arc finds the characters teaching in a mall, demonstrating how teachers are forced to adapt to new situations.
But even aside from this change, I think Abbott Elementary actually thrives without making too many changes.
(Disney/Gilles Mingasson)
It’s literally outlined in the name of sitcoms that such shows should maintain an unchanging nature.
Of course, innovation is always important to keep a show running.
However, Abbott Elementary, like many other sitcoms, is designed to provide comfort and reassurance.
Compared to hard-hitting dramas, sitcoms don’t necessarily have to challenge us in the same way.
Even then, Abbott Elementary Season 5 has given us some powerful emotional insights into the characters, such as exploring Janine’s relationship with her mom.
(Disney/Gilles Mingasson)
Ultimately, it’s important to view the show in its broader context, as it can be easy to feel frustrated and want immediate change in a world where binge-releases can give us that option.
After all, some of us prefer the slow-broadcast burn that made Abbott Elementary such a compelling watch in the first place.
What do you think of Abbott Elementary?
Have you enjoyed Season 5 so far? What do you think this show could do better?
Comment your thoughts below!
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Abbott Elementary Season 5 has received a lot of flack from fans, but we need to think about the bigger picture for the future of sitcoms.
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