Abbott Elementary Season 4 Episode 19’s Barbara & Jacob Pairing Cleverly Rewrites A Familiar Story

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Abbott Elementary season 4 episode 19, “Music Class.”

While Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 19 was primarily concerned with Janine and Ava’s shared story, the titular subplot also found room to explore two supporting characters and their emerging dynamic. Abbott Elementary’s cast of characters is universally fun, and this can sometimes become a problem for the workplace mockumentary sitcom. The series simply doesn’t have enough screen time to give everyone a role in every episode, but the faculty gel so well that it is tough not to miss them when they are absent.

Fortunately, outings like Abbott Elementary season 4’s karaoke episode allow the entire staff of the eponymous school a chance to cut loose together. These plots give everyone something to do, which is ironically easier outside the confines of the sitcom’s school setting. Meanwhile, episodes like season 4, episode 19, “Music Class,” take a different approach, splitting the show’s focus between a main story and a subplot. In this outing, Barbara and Jacob’s shared B-story proved not only that they have grown and changed since season 1, but that Abbott Elementary’s heroine Janine has, too.

Jacob’s Abbott Elementary Season 4, Episode 19 Story Mirrors Janine and Barbara’s Old Dynamic

Jacob Overcomes His Infatuation With Barbara To Help Her Improve Her Teaching

In “Music Class,” Barbara attempted to get a group of older students enthusiastic about the eponymous extracurricular activity while Jacob sat in, hoping to gleam some teaching insights from the veteran educator. Initially, Jacob was too in awe to critique Barbara’s stuffy teaching style, but soon he found the courage to tell her that she was alienating the children with her sedate lessons. Jacob’s fear of criticizing Barbara mirrored Janine’s early experiences with her mentor, as the sitcom heroine felt she wasn’t allowed to speak ill of the older, dignified teacher.

As early as season 1, episode 4, “New Tech,” Janine realized that Barbara could be too proud to accept help.

While Janine and Gregory’s Abbott Elementary love story is home to the character’s biggest emotional growth, her ability to see Barbara as a flawed person and not an idealized educator was equally important. As early as season 1, episode 4, “New Tech,” Janine realized that Barbara could be too proud to accept help, and as recently as season 3, episode 7, she learned that Barbara was willing to allow her own dislike of change jeopardize Janine’s entire fellowship in the district.

Janine Learned Barbara Wasn’t Perfect In Earlier Abbott Elementary Seasons (Now, It's Jacob's Time)

Jacob Has Taken Over Janine’s Role In Abbott Elementary Season 4

These experiences allowed Janine to stop seeing her mentor through rose-colored glasses, something Jacob now shares. Now that the two teachers are finally on equal footing in season 4, it is Jacob’s turn to learn that Barbara is as imperfect and human as the rest of the staff. Season 4, episode 13, “The Science Fair,” and “Music Class" both paired up Barbara and Jacob for this purpose.

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Much like whenever Janine was paired with her mentor, Jacob had to learn to see Barbara’s flaws and help her to grow with the times in both instances. Janine’s Abbott Elementary character growth is reflected in her relationship with Barbara, which is now more equal than ever. In contrast, episodes like “Music Class” allow Abbott Elementary season 4 to prove that Jacob still needs to learn not to romanticize his mentor just because she is a great teacher and a glamorous, charismatic powerhouse.

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