Grade: A-

If you weren't already rooting for Janine and Gregory, this episode will convert you. A fantastic season closer that leaves you eager to return to Abbott.

This is the Season 1 finale, airing after the show had already been renewed for a second season. Review: A Heartfelt & Chaotic Finale That Opens the Right Doors Season 1 of Abbott Elementary stuck the landing with "Open House." The episode brilliantly balances the show’s signature cringe-comedy with genuine emotional stakes, all while setting up a major character shift for Season 2.

The school hosts its annual Open House, forcing teachers to corral parents while displaying their classrooms. Janine is desperate to impress parents and her reluctant mentor, Gregory. Ava is running a shady side-hustle. Barbara struggles to connect with a new generation of detached parents. And Melissa? She’s dealing with a mafia-adjacent family feud that has literally spilled into her classroom.

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