Keeping Janine & Gregory’s Relationship Interesting In Season 5

The charm of Abbott Elementary comes from its cozy, dependable patterns—just like all the best sitcoms. As a true ensemble show, all the characters in Abbott Elementary get a chance to shine week to week, even with the addition of the new guidance counselor, Ms. Elimar.

Janine and Gregory’s relationship has always been the beating heart of Abbott Elementary. ABC strung out the will they/won’t they for three seasons, but now they have been contentedly together — even saying “I love you” — for over a season.

Yet, as we saw with Jacob and his relationship with Zach, just because things seem solid doesn’t mean that all is truly well. Ava grew in season 4, but her social skills and appetite for drama are as strong as ever. Ava’s joke in Abbott Elementary season 5, episode 2 reaffirmed my biggest fear about Janine and Gregory: they’re boring.

Ava Highlights The Risk Of Being Bored In A Relationship In Abbott Elementary Season 5

Ava might have grown in Abbott Elementary season 4, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t still trying to stir up drama in season 5. Ava is now in a monogamous relationship of her own with O’Shon, who has gotten shout-outs in both episodes but has not actually appeared on-screen in season 5 yet.

There has been a slight restructuring, with Melissa now teaching 6th grade and Janine becoming the sole 2nd grade teacher. As a consequence, Janine’s ex, Tariq, is now the pseudo-stepfather to one of Janine’s students. Ava claims she placed the kid there specifically to lay the groundwork for a love triangle.

Ava’s efforts to rock the boat come from a self-aware (and very meta) place — she’s “bored as hell” now that she’s in a happy relationship with O’Shon. Ava keeps popping up trying to stir the pot, but hysterically, no one — not even Tariq — bites.

In an episode where Jacob and Barbara feud over something as banal as the dishwasher, Gregory is so unbothered by his relationship he actually just keeps exiting the conversation. Ava’s restlessness comes less from dissatisfaction with O’Shon than from a personality wired to seek novelty.

Her high-maintenance, glamorous lifestyle makes the routine of a stable relationship feel confining sooner than it would for someone like Janine. Still, even a secure, easygoing relationship like Janine and Gregory’s carries the risk of slipping into monotony.

Even if the characters don’t feel it, the audience might. In other words, the same qualities that make Gregory and Janine compatible could eventually test the limits of their old-soul, low-drama dynamic.

Boredom Is Normal In A Relationship, But Gregory & Janine Are More Prone To It

Sitcom relationships exist on a narrow continuum between too much drama and too much stability. Too much chaos, and the relationship becomes exhausting and implausible; too little, and it drifts into monotony. Any stable relationship can feel boring — and Janine and Gregory are more prone to this than most.

They are technically young, but they possess old souls and interests, like gardening. After finally getting together in season 4, there has been almost no drama between them. While no one wants manufactured conflict just for the sake of it, having so little tension doesn’t get viewers invested in the same way.

Gregory and Janine’s relationship didn’t start with fireworks, and from there, the momentum usually slows. I’m glad Abbott Elementary didn’t take Ava’s bait and go with a juicy love triangle with Tariq, but Ava does have a point: Janine and Gregory aren’t the most entertaining at the moment.

They both work at the eponymous school, and Abbott Elementary has teased Gregory and Janine will move in together eventually. That would give their lives even less contrast and novelty from each other’s.

Other shows have mined comedy without endangering the romance, like Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but their relationship is rooted in competition, whereas Janine and Gregory’s is in genial compatibility. Abbott Elementary will have to thread a different needle to keep finding the humor as Janine and Gregory become more serious, but it can certainly be achieved.

How Janine & Gregory Can Maintain Excitement In Their Relationship

Janine and Gregory Halloween couples costume Abbott Elementary

Janine and Gregory’s relationship on Abbott Elementary has the potential to stay engaging without resorting to manufactured drama, like the love triangle Ava was trying to provoke. The trick lies in exploring growth and shared experiences rather than creating artificial conflict.

Sitcoms like Parks & Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine demonstrate that couples who work together can maintain both humor and intimacy through realistic, evolving dynamics. The comedy often comes not from jealousy or sabotage, but from how the couple navigates life’s natural challenges and ambitions together.

For Janine and Gregory, this could mean “leveling up” their relationship—moving in together, discussing marriage, or even considering children. Each new milestone introduces fresh, relatable stakes that can fuel humor organically, as they encounter everyday disagreements or learn to adjust to each other’s rhythms.

Similarly, supporting each other’s professional goals can create comedic and heartfelt moments. Gregory has been upfront about wanting to become a principal, which could introduce intriguing dynamics: if he no longer works alongside Janine, the couple may need to navigate long-distance tension, shifting routines, or differences in workplace influence.

Conversely, if he becomes her boss, they would face the awkwardness and boundaries that come with reporting lines—an environment ripe for both comedy and insight into their mutual respect. Abbott Elementary can keep their relationship dynamic and relatable, proving that depth, humor, and warmth can coexist without contrived drama.

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