A Teacher’s Thoughts/Review of Abbott Elementary Season 2 Episode 3: The Story Samurai

The episode opens up with Janine looking for her shawl and it turns out that the custodian, Mr. Johnson, has taken it and is now wearing it. The small, authentic moments that show the day-to-day of working at a school are one thing that I really love about Abbott Elementary.

The next scene where all the teachers are in the lounge discussing their workload is super relatable to me as a teacher because the school year starts a lot of times we are full of enthusiasm and sometimes idealism. Still, once school gets into full gear, it can really feel like we as teachers are swamped.

I think most teachers can relate to Melissa’s character, who is teaching 2nd and 3rd grade, because, at some point in their teaching career, they are handed a ridiculously difficult assignment and are expected to be able to handle it and handle it well. This is how I felt when I was teaching in-person classes and virtual classes and had 200 kids on my roster. I also can relate to her character because I do act like I have everything sometimes, and it takes a lot for me to ask for help.

Then, we get the news that the Story Samarai are coming, a group that improvises stories for kids. Jacob is super excited, and he is literally the only teacher who is.

The camera pans around and catches the character’s facial expressions when Greg talks about himself being cool. That’s another thing that I really enjoy about the show. It captures realistic real-life expressions.

In this episode, Ava is still Ava. I love her character because she, overall, represents how dysfunctional leadership in education can be. However, in this episode, she is actually trying to help Melissa by suggesting that she request an aide.

Then, all of our characters gather for the Story Samarai assembly. The Story Samarai performance is super cringy. The Story Samarai are making a story with a Meek Mill meerkat…

Next, everyone finds out that Jacob is going to perform with the Story Samarai. Greg and Janine exchange a concerned look, but Mr. Johnson and Ava are hyping it up because they want to see Greg embarrass himself.

We get Melissa trying to control her group of 2nd and 3rd graders which is super chaotic, and I have been there before. I haven’t taught two different grades, but sometimes you get a class where the students are at such different levels it almost may as well be.

Greg knocks on Janine’s door to say hi, and I thought that was interesting because I know these two will have a slow-burn romance. However, I can’t really remember him seeking her out like that before.

While they’re talking, Janine tells Greg that she has convinced Greg not to perform, but she didn’t tell him the truth about why. She tells him it’s because he should let the new members shine, but in reality, they are going to laugh at him. I can relate to Janine in that I would have had a hard time telling him the truth also.

The conversation that Jacob has with the Story Samarai is interesting, they basically say they do as much as they can to help these schools, “spread joy” as they say, and then leave. I thought that was interesting because that can be taken as them having some sort of privilege, even though the character that says that is black, but at the same time, given the current state of education, I can understand this because teaching is hard.

Janine finally is honest with Jacob and tells him that he is corny. He seems in denial about it. She also compares him to being like other white teachers who have come into black spaces. He doesn’t see himself like them, but it is the truth. That is not necessarily a bad thing though, but he is culturally different and he should acknowledge it.

Jacob being himself is what makes the kids like him, corny and all. Kids like it when we are ourselves, as long as they know that we care about them, and by the end, that’s what he learns.

Melissa has a conversation with Barbara and realizes that it is okay to ask for help! I am curious about next week, I think Ashley is going to drive Melissa crazy! But, I feel like it will be a learning experience for both characters.