Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 1

Although Abbott Elementary’s cast of characters remains as reliably hilarious as ever, and their season 4 misadventures look promising.

Judging from Abbott Elementary season 4’s trailer, viewers can anticipate a lot of zany fun from the outing. However, one thing the hit sitcom won’t be focusing on is the drama surrounding Janine and Gregory’s Abbott Elementary season 4 relationship. Like so many sitcom couples before them, it took the likable pair of leads a long time to it their shared attraction to each other and start dating. However, season 4, episode 1, “Back to School,” saw the pair finally tell their coworkers they were an item in a twist that illustrated another ing character’s surprising growth.

Abbott Elementary Season 4 Showed Ava’s Sensible Side

Janine and Gregory’s Relationship Didn’t Faze Ava

It would not have been surprising if Principal Ava stood in the way of Janine and Gregory’s relationship for a range of reasons. Ava has always harbored an irrational dislike of Janine, although this mellowed somewhat in season 3, and she has made no secret of her attraction to Gregory. As such, when Abbott Elementary season 4 brought back Ben Onyx Dowdy’s HR rep Warren, it seemed like Ava might be using the school district’s authority to get in the way of the couple’s happiness. Abbott Elementary hinted at this back in season 3, episode 13, “Smith Playground,” and the finale.

Surprisingly, the principal didn’t care that Gregory and Janine were dating once they were upfront about it.

In both those episodes, Ava explicitly discourages Janine and Gregory from dating by pointing out the potential HR problems this could cause. However, “Back to School” proved that Ava bringing in HR wasn’t a petty move. Surprisingly, the principal didn’t care that Gregory and Janine were dating once they were upfront about it, and even then she only cared insofar as it affected her standing with HR. Ava was believably unimpressed with the possibility of Gregory and Janine causing professional problems for her, but she was sweetly ive of the couple’s decision to date outside this minor detail.

Abbott Elementary Has Made Ava A Better Principal

The Corrupt, Incompetent ing Star Has Shown Some Growth

Some of Abbott Elementary’s funniest moments came from Ava’s incompetence and corruption, so this character change could seem dispiriting for viewers. Luckily, “Back to School” reassured viewers that Ava was still her old self when she blithely told teachers who were taking bribes to cut her in on the action. She may have handled Gregory and Janine’s relationship unexpectedly well, but Ava evidently has not become a saint over the summer. Thus, the show has successfully balanced her character shift. While she is still comically corrupt, it is fair to say Ava has also grown in Abbott Elementary season 4.

Abbott Elementary airs Wednesdays at 9:30pm on ABC.