Abbott Elementary Season 4 Episode 21’s Character Return Gives Ava A Bigger Personal Win Than A Professional One

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 21, “Rally.”

Although Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 21’s titular rally was a big professional win for Principal Ava, the event might have been an even bigger personal moment for her.Abbott Elementary’s entire cast of characters is funny, and the workplace mockumentary regularly finds time to highlight even its minor supporting stars. My favorite recurring Abbott Elementary guest star Manny played a priceless role in season 4, while Gregory’s time as principal showed a whole new side of the cautious teacher.

Although viewers knew that Ava would eventually, inevitably, be reinstated as the principal of the eponymous school, Abbott Elementary season 4’s Gregory plot proved that he could someday be a perfect replacement for the administrator. The obvious twist would have been for Gregory to crack under the pressure of the role after he spent years wanting to become a principal. However, it was much more compelling and original to see him succeed even though the sitcom planned to bring back Ava.

Ava's Father Joined Her Rally In Abbott Elementary Season 4, Episode 21

Ava’s Estranged Father Stood Up For Her During The District’s Emergency Meeting

Keith David's Frank points and grins in Abbott Elementary season 4 episode 13

In season 4, episode 21, “Rally,” Abbott Elementary offered viewers another twist that subverted expectations and deepened a major main character’s arc in the process. The titular rally was successful and Ava regained her job after the students, the PTA, local business owners, B.L.A.C.K.S (Building Love and Creating Kids Safety), the corrupt golf course developers, and even her former sorority sister and sworn enemy Crystal all banded together to stand up for her.

In a quiet, poignant scene amid a chaotic, triumphant episode, Ava thanked Frank for his efforts and he subtly asked for another chance to be a part of her life.

However, Ava’s biggest victory in “Rally” wasn’t a professional one. Keith David returned as Ava’s estranged absent father Frank, leading a group of local business owners protesting her unfair dismissal. In a quiet, poignant scene amid a chaotic, triumphant episode, Ava thanked Frank for his efforts and he subtly asked for another chance to be a part of her life. Ava was open to the idea but remained guarded and Frank respected her response, thankful to have the opportunity to prove himself as a father.

Sheryl Lee Ralph's Barbara smiles at her desk in Abbott Elementary

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Although Abbott Elementary season 4 episode 19 pairs off Jacob and Barbara, this plot still allows the sitcom to revisit a classic Janine storyline.

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A few episodes earlier, Ava’s Abbott Elementary romance with O’Shon saw her admit that her father’s absence was a big part of the reason she developed such a tough, resilient persona. As such, it was a major victory for her to accept his help in “Rally” and allow him, however cautiously, to play a role in her life. Season 4 brought back Ava’s father before, and the show’s two Frank/Ava pilots follow a familiar pattern. Frank first showed up for his daughter when he funded the school’s science fair in episode 13, “Science Fair.”

Fixing Her Relationship With Her Dad Has A Bigger Impact On Ava's Life

Ava Can Replace Her Job But Improving Her Relationship With Frank Is Priceless

Frank appeared again when Ava was seemingly doomed to dismissal, but it makes sense that even helping to undo Ava’s Abbott Elementary season 4 firing wasn’t enough to instantly earn her trust and forgiveness. Frank needs to keep proving that he will be there for her, since he wasn’t a reliable presence when Ava was young. This makes the ending of “Rally” even bigger for Ava than her professional win.

Repairing her relationship with her father gives Ava the chance to build more trust with O’Shon and let in others instead of always keeping friends and coworkers alike at a remove.

While it is great to see her back as Abbott’s principal, her successful run on the motivational speaking circuit proved Ava can find other, even more lucrative jobs. In contrast, repairing her relationship with her father gives Ava the chance to build more trust with O’Shon and let in others instead of always keeping friends and coworkers alike at a remove. Ava won’t be a principal forever, and Abbott Elementary season 4’s Gregory plot proves she has a fitting replacement whenever she does decide to move on.

Ava’s Reaction To Frank’s Appearance Fit Her Abbott Elementary Season 4 Arc

Ava Has Softened Up To Her Father Over Time

As such, Ava’s openness to her father’s return can have a much bigger existential impact on her life, improving her romantic, professional, and personal relationships alike. Frank’s earliest appearance arrived when Gregory accidentally got a haircut from him and realized he was Ava’s father, but this only led to a Christmas special where Ava insisted she had no interest in contacting her father. As far as she was concerned, the pair had no relationship, and she wanted to keep it that way.

Abbott Elementary Actor	Character Name
Quinta Brunson	Janine Teagues
Tyler James Williams	Gregory Eddie
Lisa Ann Walter	Melissa Schemmenti
Sheryl Lee Ralph	Barbara Howard
Janelle James	Principal Ava
William Stanford Davis	Mr. Johnson
Chris Perfetti	Jacob Hill

As such, Ava’s openness to Frank’s help in “Rally” signifies major growth for her, even if David’s character may fail to live up to her expectations. She has spent season 4 growing as a principal and a person alike, but Ava’s Abbott Elementary arc isn’t over yet. Abbott Elementary has set up her reconciliation with her father and subsequent growth throughout its episodes and, now that she has been reinstated as the school’s principal, there is no better time for Ava to finally fix this relationship for good.

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