Abbott Elementary S02e01 Aiff Direct

After a historic first season that turned a mockumentary about underfunded Philadelphia public schools into a cultural phenomenon, Abbott Elementary faced a classic sophomore test: Could it maintain its momentum without losing its singular voice?

Where to watch: ABC / Hulu

The answer, as delivered in Season 2, Episode 1 (“Development Day”), is a resounding yes. The premiere, which aired September 21, 2022, proves that creator and star Quinta Brunson isn’t interested in a sophomore slump. Instead, she delivers a tight, hilarious, and unexpectedly poignant episode that functions less as a reset and more as a victory lap—with a few new hurdles thrown in. The episode takes place entirely during a teacher “development day”—the precious 48 hours before students swarm the hallways. There are no children to serve as comic foils, which forces the show to rely entirely on its adult ensemble. Fortunately, that ensemble is firing on all cylinders. abbott elementary s02e01 aiff

The final shot—the teachers exhausted, sitting on a dusty gym floor, eating cold pizza while the janitor gives a eulogy for a fish—sums up the series’ magic. It’s not about the resources. It’s about the ridiculous, heartbreaking, hilarious decision to care anyway. After a historic first season that turned a