Abbott Elementary Season 4, episode issue shows the wild truth about Janine and Ava's relationship

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

Although this twist may have been previously unthinkable, Abbott Elementary Season 4, episode 2 highlighted a surprising similarity between two main characters. Abbott ElementaryThe entire cast of characters is hilarious, but it's their differences and conflicting personalities that make them shine. If Jacob wasn't so sensitive and serious, it wouldn't be so strange for him to live with the brusque, tough-talking Melissan. Similarly, Melissa's friendship with Barbara is unexpected precisely because of the differences between the street-smart teacher and her soft-spoken, church-going best friend. This makes one season 4 twist particularly surprising because it highlights an unexpected character similarity.

Since the series began, Abbott ElementaryJanine and Ava have always been at odds. Janine is a sincere, sweet, mild-mannered teacher who is defined by her cautious attitude and her wide-eyed idealism. Ava is an unemployed grifter who only got her main job by blackmailing the superintendent. The duo seems inherently opposed, though outings like season 1, episode 9, "Step Class," prove they both have unexpected hidden depths. However, season 4 took this further by proving that the pair are actually more alike than either of them ever realized, and this could make their relationship stronger over time.

The ringworm crisis of Abbott Elementary Season 4 shows that Ava & Janine are not so different

Janine and Ava of Abbott Elementary have a lot in common

In season 4, episode 2, "Ringworm," an outbreak of ringworm causes panic among Abbott's faculty. Both the show's teacher heroine and its amoral director immediately mobilize and take action, and it becomes clear that Janine and Ava's plans for dealing with the ringworm outbreak are identical except for the way they phrased them. While Abbott ElementaryMr. Johnson is hilariously awkward, as usual, Janine and Ava both require the school to set up a perimeter, isolate the infected children and keep an eye on them to ensure that no one comes into contact with the children who already have ringworm.

Both Ava and Janine are uncomfortable by their parallel thinking and, in a classic sitcom gag, the duo even end up speaking the same lines in unison for a moment. The gag emphasizes just how much Ava and Janine have grown and changed over the years, to the point that the two characters aren't necessarily all that different anymore. Ava remains a much more outrageous, morally questionable character than Janine and Janine is still high-strung and rule-abiding, but Ava has become more empathetic while Janine has gotten better at standing up for herself. So, the two now work well together.

How Janine & Ava's improving dynamic is helping the future of Abbott Elementary

Abbott Elementary Season 4 highlights Janine and Ava's relationship

Ava and Janine are finally together Abbott Elementary Season 4, as unexpected as it is after Janine began a romantic relationship with Gregory. Instead of Gregory and Janine Abbott Elementary Season 4 romance caused a rift between them, Ava showed surprising maturity by getting the couple to disclose their relationship to HR and immediately move on. This was the kind of responsible leadership that Janine showed during her time in the school district in season 3, and further proof that Abbott ElementaryThe leading ladies can be as funny when they get along as when they are at odds.