While viewers wait for the arrival ofAbbott Elementaryseason 5, Hulu’sEnglish Teacheris an ideal replacement series for the popular sitcom.Abbott Elementary’s cast of charactersis reliably hilarious. As such, viewers are understandably eager to see Janine, Gregory, Ava, Melissa, Jacob, and Mr. Johnson return to screens soon.
However, as the wait forAbbott Elementaryseason 5continues, it would be pretty understandable if viewers turned to streaming for an alternative series. For audience members who want to get their school-set sitcom fix and can’t wait for season 5 to arrive, Hulu has a similar series that is just different enough to be a perfect watch.
One ofthe best quirky sitcomsin years,English Teacherstars TikTok star Brian Jordan Alvarez as Evan, a gay English teacher working in a public school in Austin, Texas. The series boasts a TV-MA rating and makes the most of it, ensuring it is less family-friendly thanAbbott Elementary, but it is still just as sweet a sitcom.
English Teacher Is An Ideal Abbott Elementary Replacement
Brian Jordan Alvarez’s Sitcom Is Available to Stream on Hulu
From the opening credits of the pilot, set to a thumping ‘80s synth-pop classic,English Teachersets itself up as more than just another sitcom. Evan’s story is told in single-camera style, soEnglish Teacher’s tone is more dramatic and grounded than most network sitcoms, owing as much toYou’re The WorstandVeepasAbbott Elementary.
However, likeAbbott Elementary, Alvarez’s show is first and foremost a love letter to the world of education and the people who populate it. Since the series is set in a high school, students play a bigger role inEnglish Teacherthan they do inAbbott Elementary, as they are old enough to voice their own opinions and challenge their teachers.
Evan clearly means well and tries his best, but is also prone to interpersonal drama and often also knows just what to say to make a situation worse.
In another hilarious contrast withAbbott Elementary, Alvarez’s Evan isn’t always the most inspiring educator when these teens challenge him. A comically flawed and self-centered antihero, Evan clearly means well and tries his best, but is also prone to interpersonal drama and often also knows just what to say to make a situation worse.
Where part ofAbbott Elementary’s charm comes from how sincere and sweet its heroine, Quinta Brunson’s Janine, is,English Teacherhas the opposite appeal. Alvarez’s Evan is grouchy, imperfect, and sardonic, but he still shows up every day to teach his class despite how often the faculty, parents, and students all appear to have it out for him.
What makesEnglish Teacher Abbott Elementary’s perfect streaming replacementis precisely these sorts of welcome contrasts.Abbott Elementary’s visual style is muted, bringing back the popular mockumentary sitcom style of the 2010s and using this to amplify the show’s deadpan sense of humor.English Teacherbursts with color and music, with a stacked soundtrack complementing high school’s high drama.
Abbott Elementary and English Teacher Share Similar Stories
Both Sitcoms Follow Young Teachers In Struggling Public Schools
Despite these differences,English TeacherandAbbott Elementaryhave a lot in common where it counts. Both shows highlight the ways that public school teachers struggle with systemic issues, be it pressure from close-minded parents or a lack of funding from an uncaring, bureaucratic school district.
Both shows refuse to shy away from the harsh realities of teaching, but also highlight the things that make the job uniquely worthwhile. WhileJanine’s school district storylineinAbbott Elementaryleads her to realize how much she loves interacting with kids, Evan’s experiences of supporting high school students proves to him that he isn’t as lost as he thinks.
English Teacherseason 1 is available to stream on Hulu.
For much ofEnglish Teacherseason 1, Evan struggles with the idea that he was destined for something better, or at least more glamorous, and he’s letting himself down by working in a high school. However, when he’s faced with the glitzy careers of his former friends from college, Evan realizes just how hollow and even outright toxic they are.
To his surprise,English Teacher’s antihero comes to realize that the profoundly frustrating and unglamorous reality of teaching high school English is exactly where he belongs, and the small changes he can make in the lives of his students provide the purpose he is seeking in life. It’s a sweet, life-affirming twist at the end of a raunchy, comically cynical season.
Abbott Elementary and English Teacher Have One Pivotal Difference
English Teacher’s Setting Makes The Show Stand Out
While the sheer sweariness and casual sex references ofEnglish Teacheralone ensure viewers can’t mistake it forAbbott Elementary, there is another, more meaningful difference between the two shows. Whilemany ofAbbott Elementary’s storylinescenter on the show’s urban setting,English Teacheris equally focused on its more rural milieu.
It almost feels disingenuous to refer to the setting ofEnglish Teacheras “rural” when the show is set on the suburban outskirts of Austin, a city with a population of almost a million. However, “suburban” is the pivotal word there. From an episode centered on gun clubs to one forced on a school drag performance,English Teacheris consistently concerned with contemporary suburban Americana.
WhereAbbott Elementaryseason 4’s main plotcentered on developers bribing the school to overlook their code violations, English Teachercenters an entire episode on an overpowered PTA making Evan’s life hell thanks to his open homosexuality. Set in a comparatively rural area,English Teachernaturallygives it the school and faculty an accordingly different feel.
While neither series sugarcoats the struggles of high school teaching,English Teacheris more about Evan’s personal journey, whereAbbott Elementaryis more concerned with the issues faced by schools dealing with impersonal districts and authorities. As such,English TeacherandAbbott Elementaryare both must-watch shows, but they each offer something unique for viewers despite their similar setups.
Abbott Elementary
Cast
Abbott Elementary is a mockumentary comedy series centered around a group of dedicated teachers at a struggling public school in Philadelphia. The show highlights their efforts to overcome bureaucratic challenges and underfunding, while showcasing their commitment to making a positive impact on their students' lives.
