Abbott Elementary’s Ringworm Plot Sets Up A Much-Needed Change For Jacob

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 2

Although the show got away with not giving him much focus in season 3, Abbott Elementary season 4 needed to give Jacob a clearer purpose, and episode 2 did just that. Abbott Elementary’s entire cast of characters is hilarious, but the show requires different things from each of them. Since Ava is a major supporting character, the show needed to humanize her absurd behavior as early as season 1, episode 9, “Step Class,” when her poignant family life was revealed. In contrast, Abbott Elementary’s Mr. Johnson only gets better as his increasingly cartoony subplots become more absurd and far-fetched.

Jacob plays an interesting role in this regard, as the irrepressibly corny teacher is sometimes treated like a walking joke and sometimes turned into a more empathetic figure. In season 2, episode 3, “Story Samurai,” the faculty’s mockery of the titular storytelling group is portrayed as a slight against Jacob, who can’t help his corniness. However, in season 3, episode 5, “Breakup,” Jacob’s breakup with Zach is much less sympathetic, and he comes across as a comically toxic partner who is incapable of confronting his feelings. Janine and Gregory’s Abbott Elementary romance didn’t help this inconsistent portrayal of him.

Jacob Needs A Purpose After Janine & Gregory Got Together In Abbott Elementary

Abbott Elementary Season 4 Shifts Jacob’s Role

Throughout much of season 3, Jacob essentially functioned as Janine and Gregory’s cheerleader while the pair struggled to come to terms with their shared feelings for each other. In outings like season 3, episode 6, “Willard R. Abbott,” Jacob’s role consisted mostly of getting Janine and Gregory to admit their mutual attraction as he tried to set them up. However, Jacob is a great teacher despite or maybe even because of all his corniness, and Abbott Elementary lost track of this as his role was reduced to a third wheel in setting up the workplace sitcom’s central romantic relationship.

Luckily, season 4, episode 2, “Ringworm,” resolves this issue. The episode centers on Jacob as a student of his reveals he has the eponymous fungus and Jacob must work out how to handle the potential outbreak. While Abbott Elementary season 4’s premiere highlighted Ava’s growth since the show’s first season, this outing proves that Jacob has changed too. Since he was teaching his students the meaning of the word “Draconian” before the outbreak began, Jacob soon finds himself feeling guilty and hypocritical for limiting their bathroom breaks. This results in calamity, but Jacob still saves the day.

Abbott Elementary’s Ringworm Breakout Gives Jacob The Perfect Personal Story

Abbott’s Corny Teacher Stood By His Students And Solved The Ringworm Outbreak

Jacob is more than a “Third wheel” in Gregory and Janine’s relationship now that they are together and he is single, and “Ringworm” proved that his subplots no longer need to center on them or his relationship, but rather on Jacob himself. Jacob eventually volunteers to supervise the children with ringworm, resulting in him somehow contracting the worst case of the fungus imaginable in the episode’s ending. Thus, Abbott Elementary season 4 proved the show has plans for Jacob beyond his relationship with Gregory and Janine, despite his undeniably unfortunate malady. Now, Abbott Elementary season 4 can maximize Jacob’s character potential.

Cast

Quinta Brunson , Tyler James Williams , Sheryl Lee Ralph , Lisa Ann Walter , Chris Perfetti , Janelle James , William Stanford Davis , Zack Fox , Courtney Taylor , Nikea Gamby-Turner , Josh Segarra , Mason Renfro , Jerry Minor , Larry Owens , Nate’ Jones , Lela Hoffmeister , Vince Staples , Kimia Behpoornia , Dillion Blake Allen , Reggie Conquest , Kate Peterman , Keyla Monterroso Mejia , Benjamin Norris , Aayden William , Ben Onyx Dowdy

Character(s)

Janine Teagues , Gregory Eddie , Barbara Howard , Melissa Schemmenti , Jacob Hill , Ava Coleman , Mr. Johnson , Tariq Temple , Erika , Shanae , Manny , Alex , Mr. Morton , Zach , Amber , Courtney Pierce , Maurice , Emily , Tiniest Kid , Devin , Ms. Schwartz , Ashley , Simon , Student , Warren

Release Date

December 7, 2021

Seasons

4

Creator(s)

Quinta Brunson

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