Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Abbott Elementary, season 4, episode 4, “Costume Contest”
Although Abbott Elementary Season 4’s Halloween episode seemed destined to repeat a frequent Barbara storyline, but the plot took another direction towards the end. Abbott ElementaryThe cast of characters is some of the funniest on television, but they all have hidden depths to accompany their comedic one-liners. Abbott ElementaryJacob is a great teacher, although he is also extremely cheesy and addicted to drama, while Melissa is fiercely loyal, although she is also undeniably argumentative. Janine’s mentor, veteran teacher Barbara Howard, may be the most interesting contradiction in the show’s grand lineup.
Barbara is both a laid-back kindergarten teacher who supports her coworkers while maintaining her boundaries and a thinly disguised control freak who can’t stand change. Right at the beginning, Abbott ElementaryJanine assumed that Barbara’s dislike of technology must be justified and her general distrust of change was based entirely on years of experience. While Barbara’s decades of work have contributed to her perspective, Janine has also been forced to take off her rose-tinted glasses from time to time and accept that her mentor has some major blind spots. One of these points was exposed in Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 4, “Costume Contest.”
Abbott Elementary Season 4’s Halloween Shows the Heartwarming Truth About Barbara’s Traditions
Barbara’s students really had no interest in picking apples
The “Costume Contest” began with a persistent parent informing Barbara that her planned apple drive would not go ahead as the Halloween party activity was unsanitary. Since Abbott ElementaryMelissa and Barbara thought this was ridiculous, at first it seemed like the overly involved PTA was being ridiculous by banning the apple movement. However, Barbara later discovered that the children in her class didn’t want to do the activity either and she was forced to face the reality that not all of her traditions would last forever. Jacob’s shady Halloween costume choice inadvertently made things worse for his coworker.
Barbara angrily demanded that the children show more respect for Jacob’s costume, threatening to cancel Halloween if they didn’t.
Jacob dressed as an ex Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak, admitting he only learned of the television star’s political leanings after paying for the costume. Bárbara was horrified because the children didn’t recognize Wheel of fortunehost and even more horrified when Jacob mentioned that Sajak doesn’t even host the show anymore. This led Barbara to angrily demand that the children show a little more respect for Jacob’s costume, threatening to cancel Halloween if they didn’t. The wild gesture managed to surprise Abbott ElementaryThe film’s director, Ava, though often makes equally absurd comments, and highlighted Barbara’s biggest recurring character flaw.
Abbott Elementary Season 4 forces Barbara to move on with the times
Barb has struggled with change before
This is far from the first time that Bárbara has struggled with necessary and worthwhile change Abbott Elementary. In Season 3 Episode 7, “Librarian,” she almost ruined Janine’s scholarship at the school district thanks to her dislike of the school’s new librarian and the regulations her presence added. In Season 1, Episode 4, “New Tech,” she refused any help operating complicated new technologies and ended up embarrassing herself when she tried to demonstrate the technology in front of the entire school. These events, like Abbott ElementarySeason 4’s Halloween episode proves that Barbara must adjust to the changing times in which she lives.