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

While Abbott Elementary’s Janine and Gregory comparisons to New Girl’s Nick and Jess, The Office’s Jim and Pam, and The Mindy Project’s Danny and Mindy.

Fortunately, Abbott Elementary’s season 3 finale saw the duo get together after years of waiting, and season 4, episode 1, “Back to School” confirmed that they were now an item. Since some of Abbott Elementary’s funniest moments come from the show’s ing stars, it is exciting to see that season 4 can now afford them more attention and screen time as Gregory and Janine are in a stable, happy place. “Back to School” subtly set up the storyline that is likely to define their interactions in season 4, although Abbott Elementary hid this important plot among more dramatic moments.

Abbott Elementary Season 4's Golf Course Story Explained (& Why It's Important)

Abbott Elementary’s Best Season Arcs Have Focused On Real-Life Issues

In the cold open of “Back to School,” the teachers at Abbott are shocked to find out that an affluent white family has enrolled their young child in the eponymous school. The parents explain that a golf course under construction nearby is what brought them to the community, and the faculty suddenly understood. The golf course is a nightmare for the stars of Abbott Elementary season 4, with its construction resulting in power outages, interruptions to the gas supply, outrageous traffic problems, and myriad other issues. However, wealthy developers have used loopholes to avoid any penalties for these problems.

From the school’s chronic underfunding in season 1 and charter schools in season 2 to district bureaucracy in season 3, every season of Abbott Elementary features an overarching plot that focuses on a real-life issue. The contentious course’s construction is the latest addition to this lineup, drawing attention to the ways that gentrification can impact under-resourced communities by highlighting the ways that the golf course’s construction makes the staff’s lives a nightmare. The return of Abbott Elementary season 4’s HR rep might be the episode’s juicier plot, but the golf course is the story that will come to define the season in time.

How Abbott Elementary Season 4's Golf Course Arc Is More Important Than Janine & Gregory's Romance

Abbott Elementary’s Golf Course Story Is Likely To Define Season 4

This Abbott Elementary season 4 plot already included a great twist when Jacob, Melissa, and Barbara confronted the lawyer representing the developers, only to then take a bribe from him when the smug villain offered them free computers and a gift card. Not only did this scene prove the teachers are not perfect, but it also sets up the rest of the season’s conflict. As Abbott Elementary season 4 continues and the golf course keeps providing new headaches, Jacob, Barbara, and Melissa will be more complicit than Gregory and Janine thanks to their decision to go along with the plan.

It is easy to see this plot pitting Gregory and Janine against the rest of the teachers as the golf course’s progress continues to cause problems.

Abbott Elementary season 4 has already complicated things for its heroes, and it is easy to see this plot pitting Gregory and Janine against the rest of the teachers as the golf course’s progress continues to cause problems. Like Abbott Elementary’s replacement show English Teacher, the ABC sitcom isn’t afraid to tackle real-life issues while maintaining its sense of humor. Much like the heroes debated the merits of anti-drug rallies and gifted child programs in earlier seasons, they can now discuss gentrification thanks to this sudden development causing problems for the heroes.

Why Sidelining Janine & Gregory's Romance Is Better For Their Future

Abbott Elementary Season 4 Centering Janine and Gregory Would Have Been Bad News

The fact that Abbott Elementary’s season 4 premiere ended with Janine and Gregory revealing their relationship to little fanfare is great for the future of the series. Since the couple are now happy and official, they can remain that way while the show doesn’t focus too heavily on them. Intense romances tend to crash and burn, whereas Janine and Gregory have the potential to remain together and grow like many great sitcom couples before them.

However, this means season 4 needs to focus on its golf course storyline instead. Abbott Elementary season 4 already shut down one tired plot when Janine and Gregory’s romantic reveal wasn’t a big deal, with Warren the HR rep even telling them that he didn’t need their life story when noting their relationship status. Now, the show can double down on this by making the golf course storyline the main plot of Abbott Elementary season 4 and giving Gregory and Janine a chance to breathe.

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