In season 6, episode 2 of Abbott Elementary, Gregory juggles the demands of his two jobs, Jacob and Melissa struggle to compromise, Barbara manages a delicate situation with a student, and Janine checks in with Courtney.
The episode opens with Melissa watching General Hospital in the teacher's lounge. At first, everyone dismisses the soap as messy TV, but they can't look away when Nathan reveals that he's not really Nathan but his twin, Cassius.
Gasp!
Later, Gregory schedules a series of meetings with Abbott's teachers to check in. But they might be more than he bargained for. According to Ava, Gregory is going through stage 2 of a man being proven wrong: the double down.
Meanwhile, Melissa and Jacob argue over whether gum should be allowed in the classroom. Melissa uses gum to keep her students focused, but Jacob thinks it distracts his students. Eventually, the duo's issues spill over into their personal lives.
At the same time, Janine catches Courtney wandering Abbott's hall late at night. She tells Janine she's in the podcast club, but when Janine brings it up to Jacob, he tells her the opposite. Janine thinks something is wrong, and she confronts Courtney about her lie.
In happier news, Barbara has a new student in her class named Justin, who has alopecia. Justin's parents make it clear to Barbara that they don't want her to tell the other kids about his condition, but that's easier said than done. When the kids start asking questions, Barbara asks Mr. Johnson for advice on how to address the issue.
After Courtney cuts class, Janine goes to Ava with her concerns. It turns out that Courtney's parents are getting a divorce, which is why she avoids going home.
Ava brings Courtney in for a conversation but doesn't mention the divorce. She thinks Courtney already understands the gravity of her parents' situation and that they should remind her of what's at stake in her education.
Ava's conversation goes well, but after speaking with Barbara, Janine feels Courtney could still use some emotional support, so she pulls her aside and tells her that her door is always open. Towards the end of the episode, Courtney takes her up on her offer.
Back at their house, Melissa and Jacob's problems come to a head when they argue about spaghetti. Eventually, they realize they're being silly, and Melissa agrees to have her students get rid of their gum before attending Jacob's class.
Looks like our favorite roommates are going to be ok!
The next day at Abbott, Barbara comes up with a plan to help her kids adjust to Justin's condition. She puts up pictures of celebrities, both with hair and without, on her board and tells the kids that it doesn't matter what's ON your head, but what's IN it. Thankfully, the kids understand what she is trying to say, and Justin starts making friends.
However, her plan might have worked a little too well. The next morning, one of the other kids comes into class with a freshly shaved head. He wants to be "like Mike." Uh-oh!
Meanwhile, Gregory finally arrives at the self-destruction stage of being proven wrong and asks Ava for a substitute teacher for his class. He wants to devote all his energy to being a good assistant principal, and Ava is understanding...in her own way.
Peace returns to Abbott Elementary, and the teachers gather around to watch their "stories."
I mean, who doesn't love General Hospital?
Abbott Elementary airs every Wednesday on ABC, with new episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.
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