Fans Have A Lot Of Thoughts After Abbott Elementary's Season 2 Finale

Janine and Gregory standing next to each other in Abbott Elementary
(Image credit: ABC)

Warning! Major spoilers for Season 2, Episode 22 – “Franklin Institute” – of Abbott Elementary ahead. To watch both Seasons 1 and 2 of the ABC hit all you need is a Hulu subscription

My fellow Abbott Elementary fans, I mourn with you as we all grieve over the fact that we’ll have to wait a whole summer to find out what happens next with Gregory and Janine’s relationship. The pair finally admitted they had feelings for each other as Season 2 came to a close on the 2023 TV schedule, however, they decided to just stay friends. So, while the revelation itself was adorable, and people loved it, fans were big time bummed that the two didn’t take their relationship to the next level, and they did not hold back when it came to sharing their thoughts. 

For the majority of Season 2, Abbott Elementary has been subtly addressing the “messy” will they/won’t they dynamic between Janine and Gregory. Then the two finally kissed at the teacher’s conference, and fans were ecstatic. However, they called it a “whoops,” and just awkwardly ignored their feelings for the remainder of the season, until they took a field trip to The Franklin Institute. While it was so exciting to see the two teachers admit they liked each other during the all school sleepover, knowing we officially have a slow burn relationship on our hands has flustered fans like @blkwatcher, who tweeted: 

Girl, I feel you. Knowing we’ll have to wait even longer to see these two, who are clearly meant for each other, get together is testing all our patience. While, we can’t deny the genius of Quinta Brunson and how she’s brilliantly handled Janine’s personal growth, I want her and Gregory to be together now. @autumnvelvets had a similar opinion, as they tweeted a very fitting clip from Only Murders in the Building:

Another fan posted a clip from the episode, where Janine and Gregory have their heartfelt moment next to a literal beating heart, pointing out that they had hoped the two would have gotten together after this. @bIisstina posted:

I think @sincerelyAD_ had the perfect reaction to the news that Gregory and Janine were going to just be friends for now as they tweeted a hilarious image of Millie Bobby Brown on Hot Ones

Many fans were left distraught after this episode, especially since it’s clear as day the two characters are meant for each other. @1ux1isbon was in this camp as they tweeted about Gregory loving Janine’s movie recommendations, and how they’re basically a couple, even though they aren’t. 

We’ll end this roundup with the reaction I related to on a spiritual level. I totally understand that the slow burn will be worth it, and someday Gregory and Janine will end up together, but for now we have to wait. @ForeverDorianne captured my feelings about having to wait perfectly, by tweeting: 

In the end, we all love Gregory and Janine, and we just need to accept that it’ll be a while before they get together, and that’s OK (I write with a semi-distraught tone). Much like iconic TV couples like Jim and Pam or Leslie and Ben, Janine and Gregory will eventually be in a place where they can be together, and it will be worth the wait. However, sometimes, waiting is really hard. 

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Riley Utley
Weekend Editor

Riley Utley is the Weekend Editor at CinemaBlend. She has written for national publications as well as daily and alt-weekly newspapers in Spokane, Washington, Syracuse, New York and Charleston, South Carolina. She graduated with her master’s degree in arts journalism and communications from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Since joining the CB team she has covered numerous TV shows and movies -- including her personal favorite shows Ted Lasso and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She also has followed and consistently written about everything from Taylor Swift to Fire Country, and she's enjoyed every second of it.