Instead of presenting a Thanksgiving-themed episode, Abbott chose a brief intermission, only to resurface with the ultimate gift that sitcoms could bestow: a double feature of holiday episodes, broadcast consecutively, delivering a full measure of wintertime jubilance. This year, in particular, tugged at my heartstrings as someone who hadn't celebrated Christmas during my upbringing, a revelation that often elicited responses akin to mourning the loss of a beloved pet. Recall Abbott's inaugural holiday episode, where Janine handed out a stark, unadorned cookie to her student who happened to be a Jehovah's Witness? Well, I was that student, albeit for cultural rather than religious reasons (let's just say I was well-versed in the phrase "American consumerism" from a tender age). Abbott carries on the nondenominational torch through the likes of Khadija, a Muslim pupil of Barbara's.
Barbara was thrilled about the impending Christmas concert, with her class stealing the spotlight with a rendition of "Deck the Halls." However, when Khadija gazed at her with her soulful brown eyes and expressed her inability to participate due to her family's non-observance of the Christian holiday, Barbara went the extra mile to ensure inclusivity. It was endearing coming from someone who cherished tradition and Christ, but above all, Barbara was a stalwart for her students, making it logical for her to take Khadija's plight to heart. Listening to her classmates tell Khadija, who sat isolated while her peers rehearsed, that "Santa doesn't like you" would tug at anyone's heartstrings. Moreover, it was heartening to witness Barbara taking charge in such a forward -thinking manner—accentuating nonreligious practices often portrayed as a hallmark of the new "woke" era—considering her character seemed trapped in a repetitive storyline about being stuck in the past.
Janine got entangled in Barbara's scheme to exclude Christmas from the show when she stepped in as the step team's captain, diligently crafting a routine to Run DMC's "Christmas in Hollis"—although none of the students knew the song because they were all born more than two decades after its release. Just as Janine finalized a routine that garnered approval from the entire team, Barbara announced the concert's rebranding as "Winter at Abbott" and declared that any mention of Christmas would be excised from the program, including Christmas tunes. She bestowed Janine with exceptionally precise instructions to choose songs that "must encapsulate spending time with loved ones and warm beverages, yet be retro enough to entertain adults while simultaneously being fresh to captivate our modern youth." It was verbatim what Janine typed into the Google search bar, only to discover that no such song had been composed… yet.
The notion of composing the perfect nondenominational winter tune reignited Barbara's passion for the dazzling stage lights (not that it required much to ignite that particular spark in someone who warmed up by singing her own name). She tried her utmost to persuade a classroom of five-year-olds to learn a brand-new melody, unaware that her students had embarked on writing an original song themselves. They shared it with Barbara, belting out with gap-toothed grins, "Santa's coming; hot cocoa makes me fart!" Barbara promptly halted their creative endeavors, and when things failed to improve with the kids struggling to grasp her tune, she made an executive decision: the winter concert meant to showcase her students would now be a solo performance featuring herself.
The brothers, Jacob and Caleb, have remained silent for three long years, until Caleb's unexpected arrival at Abbott days before he was even anticipated. Jacob stands poised, uncertain how to greet this sudden twist of fate. Caleb, the polar opposite of Jacob, stands tall and charismatic, a jock who moonlights as a personal trainer, capturing the hearts of all around him. Despite his affiliation with the Giants, a detail Jacob eagerly shares to try and sever any budding camaraderie between his brother and their roommate, Melissa, Caleb frames his allegiance more as a hate for the Cowboys. To Melissa, this sports philosophy translates to “an enemy of my enemy is my friend,” earning Caleb an invite to Melissa’s dinner, ahead of Jacob.
Caleb's charm captivates both students and teachers alike, swiftly gaining Ava's approval, reassuring Gregory that he won’t bore him with small talk, and securing a guest spot on the student podcast, “This Abbott Life”. Jacob’s frustration reaches its zenith. He bursts into the podcast recording, interrupting Caleb mid-anecdote about Jacob’s prom dateless escapade. Jacob confronts Caleb in the hallway, demanding the reason for his sudden visit, and rails against how Caleb always steals the spotlight as “the favorite.”
Caleb, visibly stunned by Jacob’s outburst, harbors a starkly different interpretation of their dynamics, reminiscent of Janine’s sister’s visit (whose absence is deeply felt, Ayo!). Caleb departs to stay with a friend, while Jacob vents to Gregory about feeling overshadowed by his brother, who reminds him of the reasons he fled home. To gain deeper insight into Caleb’s perspective, Gregory insists Jacob listen to the podcast’s full recording. Before Caleb recounts the tale of Jacob’s prom, he reveals how much he admired his older brother, acknowledging that he could never match Jacob’s intellect, so he invested his efforts in building his physique. He deems Jacob the bravest person he's ever met, and as Jacob absorbs these words, he realizes how misguided his perceptions of their relationship were.
They reconcile at the podcast's show (where Caleb was invited by the podcast kids), and Jacob articulates how Caleb makes him feel, while Caleb reassures his brother that he holds him in the highest esteem but is always available to lend an ear.
As the winter concert finally approaches, Ava cautions Barbara, amidst a packed auditorium, not to tarnish winter’s spirit as she already marred Christmas’s. Barbara, donned in a stunning white suit adorned with pearl-encrusted shoulder pads, opens her mouth to sing, but all that emerges is a squeaky half-note. Tariq, inexplicably stationed in the wings (he too is clueless about his presence there, merely following where his feet lead), takes charge of the situation in quintessential Tariq fashion: by playing a beat and observing the outcome. He encourages the kindergarteners to perform their self-composed song while the step team “goes wild.” Initially, it’s a cacophony of discordant notes and hesitant choreography, but gradually, it converges into a harmonious spectacle akin to childhood impromptu concerts with cousins in the living room. The parents beam with pride as their kids shine on stage, exuding immense satisfaction for their hard work and creativity.
Post-show, Khadija’s mother expresses heartfelt gratitude to Barbara for enabling her daughter’s participation, her joyful eyes speaking volumes. I intimately understand the solitude of sitting silently at my desk, unfamiliar with the lyrics of any Christmas carols, politely smiling as friends unveil their presents. The sadness I felt as a child wasn’t jealousy over the absence of a tree or gifts but a longing to be part of a communal experience that seemed joyous without betraying my family’s beliefs. Thanks to Barbara, Khadija experienced exactly that. The staff at Abbott Elementary truly deserve all the admiration!
