Abbott Elementary’s grounded storytelling never shying away from complex conflicts. Aside from its narrative merit, Abbott Elementary is just plain fun to watch.

From the ridiculous cold opens to the satisfying conclusions, every episode of Abbott Elementary is a treat. Every season has its standout performances, storylines, and single scenes that pack a punch. With such a talented ensemble cast, Abbott Elementary is still finding new character pairings and exploring dynamics that enrich the already marvelous comedy. Whether it’s for an easy laugh or a heartwarming development, Abbott Elementary is full of episodes to rewatch that suit any mood.

10 Pilot

Season 1, Episode 1

To fully appreciate how far Abbott Elementary has come, it’s worthwhile to revisit where it all began. Quinta Brunson, lead actress and creator, sets the tone for the entire series with Janine Teague’s first talking head. Despite the pilot being the main characters’ first appearance, there are clear personality traits that have remained central to Abbott Elementary and its character arcs. The pilot introduces its characters one by one, with Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Barbara immediately highlighting Janine’s naivety and over-the-top optimism.

Abbott Elementary season 1, episode 1 deserves a rewatch.

Abbott Elementary’s funniest moments are oftentimes caught in the interactions between teachers and students or the staff hierarchy itself, and the pilot lays the perfect foundation for it. Although the episode originally existed in a bubble, there was a clear direction for each character that immediately proved Abbott Elementary’s potential. Whether to marvel at the original depictions of each character or just to feel a small dose of nostalgia, Abbott Elementary season 1, episode 1 deserves a rewatch.

9 Step Class

Season 1, Episode 9

Most of Abbott Elementary’s main cast has gone through significant changes over the years, but “Step Class” is the first time Principal Ava Coleman (Janelle James) is presented as more than a comedic antagonist. Ava commandeers Janine’s step club, introducing a more contemporary influence that the Abbott Elementary students immediately respond well to. After Ava appears to flake on the performance, Janine discovers the truth: outside of Abbott Elementary, she takes care of her elderly grandmother.

Ava’s character has arguably changed the most in Abbott Elementary, but “Step Class” was the first indication that there was an unseen, caring side to the laughably incompetent principal. Over the years, Ava has grown into her own and become one of Abbott Elementary’s best characters, but her hidden depth was only revealed piece by piece. To better understand Ava’s character journey, Abbott Elementary season 1, episode 9 is a perfect place to start.

8 Sick Day

Season 2, Episode 9

From the beginning of Abbott Elementary, Janine served a clear purpose. Aside from being the main protagonist, she was a lovable thorn in the older teachers’ sides due to her stubbornness and insistence on trying to fix things (usually making the situation worse in the process). Yet, Janine’s true impact on the school is explored when she misses work for the first time in “Sick Day.”

As the title suggests, Janine is forced to stay home after contracting food poisoning, though she’s terrified to entrust Ava with her class.

Though Barbara and Melissa Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter) initially rejoice at the reprieve from Janine’s optimism, Janine’s best friend Jacob Hill (Chris Perfetti) and the negativity of another teacher help them realize how much they miss her. Janine has her flaws in Abbott Elementary, but it’s undeniable that she has a great impact on the school. Abbott Elementary season 2, episode 9 offers a glimpse into the chaos that happens without Janine around.

7 Teacher Conference

Season 2, Episode 16

Janine and Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams) began their slow-burn romance the very moment they met in Abbott Elementary, but “Teacher Conference” is the catalyst for their actual relationship. After both Gregory and Janine try to move on from their feelings for other people, they share a drunken kiss at the titular teacher's conference which changes everything. While Abbott Elementary could have easily let them date the next episode, the mockumentary chose a more introspective approach and had Janine struggle with her selfishness.

The realistic conflict added some distance between the two, but Gregory and Janine’s love story in Abbott Elementary couldn’t be stopped. Regardless of the fallout, the build-up to their first kiss made “Teacher Conference” an instant classic. To revisit the true start of Janine and Gregory’s complicated feelings realization, Abbott Elementary season 2, episode 16 is a bittersweet development on par with Jim and Pam’s iconic first kiss in The Office.

6 Festival

Season 2, Episode 19

Many Abbott Elementary episodes touch on real issues that public schools face, including when Draemond Winding (Leslie Odom Jr.) targets Abbott Elementary to turn it into a charter school. The season-long conflict comes to a head when Ava throws a party to trick the parents into g a petition to save the school. Draemond crashes the festival to try and sway the parents to agree to turn Abbott Elementary into a charter school, but the community bands together in protest.

The very premise of Abbott Elementary is a comedy that hides in a serious setting.

The underfunded and underserved public school system that Abbott Elementary highlights shows that the teachers are oftentimes second (or even first) parents, taking on more than their job description lays out for the sake of the students. When the school was targeted by Draemond, the teachers were worried about the children more than their jobs. For a wholesome moment where the community saves the school, Abbott Elementary season 2, episode 19 is a must-watch.

5 Career Day, Part 1

Season 3, Episode 1

Aside from introducing one of Abbott Elementary’s best side characters, the “Career Day” saga broke Abbott Elementary’s tried-and-true formula by showing the aftermath of a big change and then going back in time to show the footage. While both episodes in the two-part season premiere were standouts, the tension in “Career Day, Part 1” leaned into drama to set up the conflicts that lingered for most of the season. A giant step up from “Sick Day,” Janine leaves Abbott Elementary entirely at season 3’s start to work for the district.

Though the rest of the Abbott Elementary staff encourage her to pursue her new role, Janine feels conflicted. Though she’s typically positive to a fault, Janine is, in many ways, the heart of Abbott Elementary. Unfortunately for her, she sees how the school can still manage when its heart is gone. To relive one of Abbott Elementary’s most bittersweet storylines, “Career Day, Part 1” is filled to the brim with conflicted emotions.

4 2 Ava 2 Fest

Season 3, Episode 10

While the first open house Ava organized inadvertently saved Abbott Elementary from going charter, the sequel served as a realization for Janine that tidily resolved her conflict with working at the district. Though Janine was poised to permanently move to the school district, giving up her Abbott Elementary class in the process, there were obviously reservations holding Janine back. When Gregory brought parting gifts from the rest of the Abbott Elementary teachers, Barbara’s card was Janine’s breaking point.

Janine’s return, while inevitable, is still one of the most exciting parts of the episode— aside from Questlove’s surprise cameo, of course.

After seeing the messages from her former students, Janine realizes she doesn’t want to give up her teaching career and, in one of Abbott Elementary's most heartwarming moments, makes a grand gesture to show it. Janine quits the district in Abbott Elementary season 3, episode 10, eventually coming back to her old school. Janine’s return, while inevitable, is still one of the most exciting parts of the episode— aside from Questlove’s surprise cameo, of course.

3 Party

Season 3, Episode 14

The finale of Abbott Elementary’s truncated season 3 finally brought closure to Gregory and Janine’s will-they/won’t-they romance. Abbott Elementary created the perfect moment where everything fell into place and it was impossible for the couple not to come together. Gregory decides to take his chance and return after the other party guests leave, so he fixes the flickering light outside Janine’s apartment and raps their secret code knock against the door. As soon as Janine opens the door, it’s obvious: the wait is over.

“Party” flawlessly executed the true start of Janine and Gregory’s relationship, but the episode also showed the bond between all the Abbott Elementary coworkers. Ironically, the erratic Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) gives Janine the sage advice she needs to accept that she still has feelings for Gregory and wants to pursue them. “Party” highlights Mr. Johnson’s underrated importance in Abbott Elementary, but it also gave the slow-burn romance a fairy tale ending (that was only the beginning).

2 Costume Contest

Season 4, Episode 4

While “Party” was the climactic end to Janine and Gregory’s mutual pining, “Costume Contest” showed their endearing lameness as a couple alongside the typical hijinks in Abbott Elementary’s annual Halloween episode. The titular costume contest showed all the Abbott Elementary teachers dressed in elaborate costumes, from Melissa in a full-body hamster suit to Ava as the eponymous vampire hunter from 1998’s Blade. After fighting allegations that they’re a “heada—” couple, Janine and Gregory eventually embrace their corniness.

Most sitcoms give their slow-burn couple unnecessary obstacles after they get together to keep the stakes high, but Abbott Elementary lets Janine and Gregory be boring (in the best way). Aside from the romance, the mix of bittersweet nostalgia from Barbara’s story to the pure comedy of Ava’s credits scene makes “Costume Contest” the best Abbott Elementary Halloween episode by far. Regardless of how far away Halloween is, Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 4 will always be a great rewatch option.

1 Volunteers

Season 4, Episode 9

Of course, the absolutely It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia offers endless rewatch potential. Every character has their own storyline, from Janine fighting Dee Reynolds (Kaitlin Olson) over Gregory to Mr. Johnson despising Frank Reynolds (Danny DeVito) to Barbara even teaching Charlie Kelly (Charlie Day) how to read. The two shows should not have worked together, but the outrageous interactions between the ensemble casts made “Volunteers” a truly unforgettable episode.

Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 9 can be viewed as a regular, standalone episode without any context from its crossover partner, but knowing It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia ensures that a new subtle reference comes to light with each rewatch. While many Abbott Elementary episodes are great viewing experiences for the emotional impact or meaningful development, some episodes possess the raw comedy to stand out from the crowd and demand another watch.

Enjoy ScreenRant's primetime coverage? Click below to sign up for our weekly Network TV newsletter (make sure to check "Network TV" in your preferences) and get the inside scoop from actors and showrunners on your favorite series.

SIGN UP NOW!