Abbott Elementary (Season 3)

Available on Disney+

The third season of Quinta Brunson’s sweet-hearted hit is perhaps the first time it has shown signs of being fatigued, with some of its episodes feeling like a tad repetitive. Likewise, some of Abbott Elementary’s genial characters could be construed as being underdeveloped at this point in the show’s lifespan, with the quips of fan favourite Ava (Janelle James) not hitting as hard this time around.

Still, at its essence, this remains an easy show to love. Brunson undeniably possesses the gift that all great comedy writers have, that being the ability to make her audience laugh and cry in equal measure. Only viewers with a heart made of granite could deny the uncomplicated appeal of an episode such as ‘Mother’s Day’, where Gregory (Tyler James Williams) and Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) bond over their grief for their late mothers, or the charming silliness of the penultimate ‘Smith Playground’. 

That is because Brunson is fundamentally telling a story about ordinary, hard-working people that get a kick out of helping pave a better future for their students. In a world that often seems exhaustingly cynical, it’s an easy story to buy into. That’s without mentioning the series’ explosive finale, which finally delivers on something the show has been teasing from its very beginning.