Abbott Elementary Season 4’s Halloween Proves Janine and Gregory Are Now Boring (But in a Good Way)

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Abbott Elementary, season 4, episode 4, “Costume Contest”

While Abbott Elementary Season 4’s Janine and Gregory’s relationship was highly anticipated, the show’s Halloween special proved that the couple can be a little predictable as a couple. Abbott ElementaryThe entire cast of characters is adored by viewers, and the workplace mockumentary has offered some of the funniest character comedy on network television in recent years. That being said, Abbott ElementaryGregory and Janine’s romance is still central to the show’s appeal. Like so many shows before it, the light-hearted comedy used the chemistry between the two to keep viewers emotionally invested throughout seasons 1, 2 and 3.

Although Abbott ElementaryThe season 4 premiere revealed that Gregory and Janine were in a happy relationship, things haven’t been going well for the couple. Season 4 Episode 2, “Ringworm,” included their first fight as Gregory comically overreacted to the titular threat. The couple managed to weather that storm and have been extremely happy ever since, which is why it came as no surprise when their costars gave them bad news in Season 4, Episode 4, “Costume Contest.” As much as they struggled to admit it, Gregory and Janine were in a bubble and that made them boring company.

Janine & Gregory’s Abbott Elementary Season 4 Halloween Dilemma Admits They’re Boring Now

Janine and Gregory’s Couple Fantasy Proved They Want Approval

Gregory and Janine hated the idea that they were in their own bubble as a new couplealthough it was clearly true. The shared couple’s costume, an obscure reference to Jurassic Parkit was a perfect encapsulation of this problem. Going like ‘Mr DNA‘ and the fly trapped in the amber of Steven Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster seemed like an obvious pick-me-up for the duo, so Janine and Gregory were shocked when almost no one caught their reference. Ava made the situation worse when she immediately recognized the costume, but later clarified that she didn’t think it looked good.

Although Abbott ElementaryAva and Janine think alike with surprising frequency; the director’s recognition of the reference wasn’t enough to stop the team from unanimously labeling the fantasy “Head.” The happy couple were summarily informed that their comfortable bubble of inside jokes was making it harder for them to connect with everyone else, and they were now just another “Stupid couple doing stupid things” According to Ava, Janine and Gregory may have fought hard to make their romance happen, but now that they were happy, they were just as susceptible to fear as any other ordinary couple.

Season 4’s “Bubble” Highlighted a Sitcom Problem

“Costume contest” allowed Abbott Elementary to point out an infamously dark secret of sitcom writing, namely that happy couples are paradoxically boring. Viewers may think they just want their favorite characters to be happy, but both comedy and drama need conflict to work. That’s why Abbott elementaryMelissa needed to turn down Gary the vending machine guy’s proposal in the Season 3 premiere, which is why many previous sitcom couples suffered a drop in popularity after they finally got together.

Of Brooklyn 99Jake and Amy go New girlIt’s Nick and Jess, for The Mindy ProjectIt’s Mindy and Danny, for The officeare Jim and Pam, countless sitcom duos struggled to maintain audience interest after they officially became an item. However, the boring status of Abbott ElementaryThe main couple of is technically a good thing in the universe, as it means that Janine and Greg are in a fundamentally healthy relationship. This difficult dynamic plagued the pair throughout the episode as they struggled to accept their fate. Where is Ava Abbott Elementary Season 4’s romance is exciting and new, Gregory and Janine are finally comfortable.

How Abbott Elementary Can Keep Janine and Gregory’s Romance Compelling Without Breaking Them Up

Abbott Elementary Stars May Prioritize Their Happiness Over Impressing Others

Fortunately, the couple found a way to deal with this new reality, i.e. Abbott Elementary season 4 can now do this too. Keeping his costume bizarrely specific and obscure, rather than opting for something bland and generic like “Peanut Butter and Jelly,” Gregory and Janine proved that they weren’t going to let the success of their relationship and subsequent bubble worry them. By committing to being themselves regardless of what their co-workers think, Gregory and Janine assured that their relationship would become deeper and more meaningful as season 4 continued.

Although their co-workers and even their students may roast them, the couple is strong enough to stick together and accept their newfound cheesiness. Very similar Abbott ElementaryIt’s hilarious, Mr. Johnson and his “Emo Jimmy Butler” Costume, Janine and Gregory were not worried about how they would be perceived by others since they were happy in their own skin. This ensures that as season 4 continues, viewers won’t have to worry about the duo’s relationship. That’s why, Abbott Elementary can foreground other relationships while viewers are assured that the show’s central couple remains rock solid.