'Abbott Elementary' Season 5 Finale Ending, Explained

Abbott Elementary (2021) concludes yet another riveting season with plenty of laughs and heartfelt moments that make workplace mockumentaries easily comforting. The show has been incredible from the start, and it continues to get better and better with every episode, allowing its distinct humor to make going back to school actually enjoyable. Still, for a moment, Season 5 was a bit on the drearier side when a leak forced them out of the school and into an abandoned mall, but shortly after, it found its bearings again. 

Season 5 also supplied us with a doozy as it temporarily broke up our favorite couple, caused quite the stir with shakeups here and there, and yet, altogether, delivered character moments in spades. Interestingly, while some fans expected the Abbott Elementary Season 5 finale to be more on the sadder side, it surprises us at the last second, making it one of the strongest finales thus far. While we wait for Season 6, you can catch all five seasons streaming on Disney+ or Hulu. 

Eagles Wide Receiver DeVonta Smith Saves Ava Fest in the 'Abbott Elementary' Season 5 Finale

In more ways than one, Abbott Elementary continues to be a love letter to Philadelphia, and on top of the specific state-based jokes, it often showcases this through guest stars. As fans of the Philadelphia Eagles, the teachers have had their fair share of fangirl moments with players like Jalen Hurts and Jason Kelce making an appearance. In the Season 5 finale, wide receiver DeVonta Smith trades the game to save the day as the entertainer at Ava Fest. 

Is it as big a deal as Ava imagined it'd be when she initially wanted the Bacon Brothers (Philly natives, actor Kevin Bacon and his brother, Michael Bacon)? Not in the context of the show perhaps, but it's still a fun little twist and even more gripping that Luke Tennie's character gets to introduce them all. The show's means of continuing to find ways to honor Philadelphia is no small feat, and it remains part of its inimitable charm, which makes this finale guest star a winning decision on all fronts.

Gregory And Janine Get Back Together In Abbott Elementary's Season 5 Finale

Gregory Eddie and Janine Teagues breaking up in Season 5, Episode 19, "Trip," shook things up in the third act, but the series doesn't wait too long to bring them back together. While we know that they're endgame and will last through the show's arc, it also wouldn't have been shocking if the series had pushed their fight until mid-way through Season 6.

However, with Barbara's interference, the two of them are instead moved toward an eye-opening conversation as they properly lay everything bare to get through the reason they fought in the first place. A large part of the issues in most relationships is miscommunication—or lack thereof—so really, the fact that the show even plays with it makes Gregory and Janine's relationship even more enticing because it allows it to feel realistic. The two of them arguing over how to deal with finances during a vacation is the exact kind of issue that countless couples could run into, so it also ensures that we have great writing on the show because the problem doesn't come out of left field. 

In addition, as Gregory also explains, he was holding on to the belief that when his father told him never to stop a woman from walking away, that meant he shouldn't fight for her either, when it's the polar opposite of what someone should do with their partner. At the same time, Janine was harboring beliefs from how her mother handled relationships in the past, making her decision also brash. They not only find a way to properly meet in the middle and compromise in their argument, but this conversation also allows them both to understand that going forward, they need to talk to each other. They need to fight for their love and each other. 

So ultimately, fans can rejoice because while most shows might've left them broken up for a little while longer, the Abbott Elementary Season 5 finale surprises us with Gregory also expressing to Matthew Law's O'Shon that he wants to start planning a proposal. And at that moment, thousands of fangirls—myself included—squealed with joy. 

Abbott Elementary Isn't Closing Its Doors Anytime Soon

The wildest beat in the Abbott Elementary Season 5 finale is that for a split second, the cliffhanger was about to rock us all. At a teacher's conference in Miami, all the schools were told that twenty of them would close because of budget cuts, with Abbott being one of them. However, at the last second, the new superintendent realizes that because they've just finished hefty repairs at Abbott, they'll keep it around, but will need budget cuts to get through everything else.

This then leads to the decision that Gregory will be working as an assistant principal to help out, which is exciting considering it's something he's always wanted. But the thought of Ava and Gregory going head-to-head is also going to ensure excellent antics in Season 6. Abbott Elementary has already snagged the renewal, so while we knew they'd be back at the school somehow, it's even more engrossing to know we can look forward to these specific changes next season. There's so much left to explore still, and with how excellent this finale was, we can be confident that Abbott Elementary will continue to deliver every wild beat thoughtfully and hilariously.