As the new school year kicks into high gear, teachers find themselves intricately balancing the diverse demands of their students amidst a system that offers scant support. It's fortuitous timing indeed when the Story Samurais, an improv troupe, arrive at Abbott Elementary with the noble mission of imparting to the children the wisdom that "every individual harbors a unique tale." While the teachers readily embrace the notion of a respite during the troupe's assembly engagement, their collective sentiment leans towards regarding the Samurais as the epitome of cheese, a sentiment not shared by Jacob, a proud alumnus of their program (much to the unsurprised chagrin of his colleagues and the audience alike). His enthusiasm for the group is such that when invited to participate in one of their performances, he eagerly accepts, much to Janine's consternation.
After enduring the troupe's inaugural performance, Janine is struck by just how excruciatingly corny an improv ensemble themed around Samurais can be in execution. Somehow, the writers of 'Abbott Elementary' manage to elevate improv to new heights of obnoxiousness, albeit the students' participation spawns hilarious situations. A character suggestion for the play, proposed by Clarence, the same student who nominated rapper and Philly native Meek Mill, leads one of the Samurais to fantastically envision Meek Mill as a meerkat.As the troupe's objective is to educate on storytelling, they excitedly solicit a conflict-laden scenario from the audience. Clarence, ever the innovator, suggests that Meek Mill's ATV has broken down in the territory of his rivals, prompting the Samurais to chant, "Wrong hood, meerkat, wrong hood!" Other suggestions from the troupe include such gems as "The Malcolm X Games" and "Rosa Parks and Rec." Even Janine, who once belonged to a 'Degrassi' reenactment group, concedes that while the show is peak corniness, it suits Jacob perfectly.
Jacob, eager to share his excitement with his colleagues, emerges from the first performance thrilled by the invitation to join the Samurais for their next show. Ava, who found the troupe hilarious and documented the entire spectacle for barbershop bootlegs, encourages Jacob to participate, anticipating more content for her Instagram and TikTok. Mr. Johnson, Barbara, and Gregory are equally amused by the hokey performances, especially now that Jacob will be a part of them. Janine, however, desires to shield her friend from potential humiliation and tries to persuade him to leave his Samurai days behind. Using a tactics of flattery and concern, she argues that Jacob might be too talented to reprise his role and risks outshining the production. Her strategy proves successful, and Jacob is convinced to withdraw from the assembly.
Janine confides in Gregory about her plan to spare Jacob embarrassment during a heartwarming moment where Gregory visits her classroom just to say hello. He counters that instead of lying, Jacob should be told how corny the troupe is, if only to deter him from continuing his 'Living Single' rewatch parties featuring guest speakers. Their conversation is abruptly halted by a commotion emanating from Melissa's classroom. She is grappling with the herculean task of managing two grade levels in one room, struggling to keep the students segregated by grade and overwhelmed by the need to teach multiple lessons simultaneously. Characteristically resilient, Melissa rises to the challenge, declaring her unyielding toughness, jesting that brass knuckles wear out trying to fight her. Ava offers to bring in an aide, but Melissa brushes off the idea with disdain. Barbara, another seasoned veteran in the teaching world, initially applauds her attitude, affirming, "She's a veteran; veterans don't need that help." However, a visit to Melissa's classroom soon changes her mind. It's a scene of utter chaos. Students engage in musical chairs, attend to the wrong lessons, or wander off to the library without permission.
Melissa is so enveloped in stress that she unleashes her frustration upon an innocent cardboard likeness of the Samurais mascot, ruthlessly decapitating it with a punch. I've been in similar shoes, trust me. Recognizing this, Barbara, the ever-rational voice of wisdom, retracts her earlier statement and reassures Melissa that seeking assistance is perfectly fine, given her seemingly insurmountable circumstances. She imparts her timeless gem of advice, reminding everyone present that merely possessing the ability to do something doesn't necessitate doing it, particularly when help is generously extended. By episode's end, Ava orchestrates the integration of an aide, Ashley, into Melissa's classroom. To Melissa's dismay and Ava's amusement, Ashley arrives with an immediately obnoxious flair, bursting into Ava's office donned in a Celtics jersey—a cardinal sin to a Philly enthusiast like Melissa—and belting out her own rendition of a Jennifer Lopez tune. Portrayed by the hilariously talented Keyla Monterroso Mejia, whom you might recognize from the latest season of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," I have a hunch that Ashley will prove to be a delightful addition to the ensemble.
Picking up where she left off with Greg, whose conversation was disrupted by Melissa's unruly classroom, Janine stands firm in her rationale for discouraging Jacob from performing. She had to redouble her efforts to deter him after Ava foiled her initial plan by announcing Jacob's performance over the PA system, reigniting his enthusiasm. Witnessing him in the Samurai costume, Janine finally opens up to Jacob, cautioning him against public humiliation and revealing that Ava is merely setting him up for ridicule. She bluntly informs him that he's a cheeseball Caucasian, akin to Hilary Swank in "Freedom Writers," Michelle Pfeiffer in "Dangerous Minds," or Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side." Ouch, indeed. The issue with disclosing Jacob's true colors is that he's utterly oblivious to his corniness. Janine's words pierce Jacob's heart, as he never fathomed how others perceived his personality.
Even absent Janine's interference, Jacob begins to view himself through new lenses during his lunchtime hangouts with some of the Samurai. Their corniness and privilege are as unavoidable as a sore thumb. They behave like theater kids on overdrive, embodying a naivety and lack of self-awareness that makes them excruciatingly insufferable. They dismiss the pressing issue of food deserts with bewilderment, puzzled by their existence in a city renowned for its cheesesteaks. One views his time there as a mere prelude to joining his father's hedge fund, while another awaits an audition for "SNL" (or perhaps a YouTube fame dream). They sniff at the notion of working full-time at a school "like this." Their evident savior complex likens being a Story Samurai to being a "firefighter for joy"—entering schools to "sprinkle as much joy as possible" before bolting out.
When Janineconfides in Gregory that her honesty had genuinely resonated with Jacob, Gregory wonders aloud why she'd discourage Jacob from pursuing something that brought him joy. He raises a valid point—it's uncharacteristic of Janine to advise someone to conceal their authentic self. Besides, as Gregory remarks, isn't Jacob's endearing cheesiness part of his charm? Regardless of Janine's influence, Jacob will inevitably continue to embark on his quaint endeavors. And that's perfectly fine, for it's precisely this quirky aspect that endears him to everyone. Janine grasps this fully, having once shared with Jacob her own experiences of being corny, both in the beginning and ultimately.
As the time arrives for the next Story Samurai performance, Janine rises to her feet and extends an invitation to Jacob to join them on stage. The entire auditorium erupts in cheers, urging Jacob onward, and he leaps up, more thrilled than ever, ready to contribute his improvisational flair to a play that subtly employs Tony the Tiger as a metaphor for racial discrimination. The performance captivates the audience, earning Jacob a standing ovation. Meanwhile, Ava gains 2,000 new followers, among them Josh Gad, the most esteemed veteran Samurai of all.
