WhileAbbott Elementaryseason 4 went a long way toward humanizing Ava, season 5 must bring back a pivotal part of her plot.Abbott Elementary’s cast of charactersis all reliably funny. However, not all the show’s cast members receive the same amount of story focus. In seasons 1 and 2, Janine’s attempts to treat Barbara Howard as a mentor were one of the sitcom’s most frequent recurring storylines, while the latter half of season 2 and season 3 focused more onJanine and Gregory’s romance.
This inevitably means that some supporting characters need to wait for the spotlight to shine on them, andAbbott Elementaryseason 5 should highlight Melissaconsidering her limited role in season 4. However, this wait is often worth it for both the characters and the show’s viewers. When Janelle James’ Ava was first introduced in season 1, she was a straightforward comedic villain who used blatant corruption to cover up her incompetence. She blackmailed her way into the principal job and bullied her staff, making her a hilarious but undeniably villainous figure.
Abbott Elementary Season 4 Reunited Ava With Her Absent Father Frank
Guest Star Keith David Played Her Flawed But Well-Meaning Dad
However, as early as season 1, episode 9, “Step Class,” Ava was already becoming a more complicated character. The revelation that she cared for her ailing grandmother humanized her, and in the following two seasons, she and Janine built a surprisingly stable working relationship. By season 4, Ava was an unlikely heroine and Janine was the first to defend her when the school board fired her for allegedly taking bribes from real estate developers.
Chris Perfetti
Jacob Hill
A big part ofAbbott Elementaryseason 4’s Ava story was the arrival of her estranged father, Keith David’s Frank.Ava’s relationship with her estranged father deserves more screen time inAbbott Elementaryseason 5after season 4 brought the pair back in contact for the first time in years. WhileJanine’s mother Vanetta has already proventhat the teachers of Abbott had some imperfect role models growing up, Ava never forgave Frank for abandoning her and her mother for his second family.
Abbott Elementary Season 4 Should Bring Back Ava’s Family Story
This Plot Justified Ava’s Historic Fear of Commitment
Ava explained this struggle in season 4, episode 9, “Winter Break,” and Janine showed some growth by not trying to solve Ava’s difficult relationship with her father. However, as season 4 continued, Frank repeatedly tried to make amends by quietly offering financial donations to the school’s science fair and loudly leading a group of local business owners who protested Ava’s firing by the school board. Frank’s attempts eventually impressed his genuine regret on Ava.
The presence of David’s character bodes well for the show’s future.
Ava decided to give him a second chance in season 4, episode 21, “Rally,” and thusFrank proved that Ava had changed and grown throughoutAbbott Elementary’s first four seasons. Thus, the presence of David’s character bodes well for the show’s future. WhileJanine and Gregory’sAbbott Elementaryrelationshipfinally stabilized in season 4, Ava’s personal and professional life fell into turmoil.
Another New Character Makes Ava and Frank’s Abbott Elementary Season 5 Story Vital
Ava’s Love Interest O’Shon Will Return In Season 5
Now that her life is relatively stable again, too, it would be easy for the show to stop prioritizing her character development. Fortunately, Frank’s continued presence means viewers can keep watching Ava grow and change as she learns to trust again, without this necessarily being the main storyline of season 5.
Abbott Elementaryseason 4 did a stellar job of balancing absurd comedy and character drama, and humanizing a character as outlandish as Ava was no mean feat for the show. Now, afterAbbott Elementaryseason 4’s bittersweet finale, Ava and Frank must remain in touch so she can maintain her happy relationship with her new love interest, O’Shon. To avoid falling back into old commitment-phobic routines,Abbott Elementaryseason 4’s heroine must stay in contact with her past as the show heads into its future.
