Abbott Elementary Season 4's Valentine's Day Episode Proves Janine & Gregory’s Love Story Isn’t Over Yet

Warning: this article contains SPOILERS for Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 14.Abbott Elementary’s slow-burn romance may have been resolved, but season 4’s Valentine’s Day episode proves its main couple doesn’t need to stay benched. Quinta Brunson leads the Abbott Elementary cast as Janine Teagues, a young and idealistic teacher who quickly catches the eye of Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams), a substitute teacher who eventually accepts a permanent position in Abbott Elementary season 1. Though the two characters quickly developed feelings for each other, other relationships and situational roadblocks prevented them from getting together until the end of Abbott Elementary season 3.

Despite the long wait for Janine and Gregory to become a couple, their love story includes some of Abbott Elementary’s most heartwarming moments. Yet, after they started their relationship, it was unclear what the future held for them, considering that it ended their multi-season arc. Similar couples from popular sitcoms usually struggle with a few recurring issues where the couple plateaus, the show forces a breakup arc, or the couple loses all their charm without any tension. The mockumentary avoids the latter, since Janine and Gregory are both developed characters who can have independent storylines in Abbott Elementary, but their relationship still deserves screen time.

Abbott Elementary Season 4, Episode 14 Marks Another Milestone In Janine & Gregory's Relationship

Gregory (Tyler James Williams) and Janine (Quinta Brunson) in Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 14.

After Janine sends Gregory on a smoothie run in Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 14, she receives a voice note from him shortly after to warn her that the shop has changed the drink names. At the end of the message, as the smoothie shop white noise bleeds in, Gregory’s muffled voice seems to say “I love you.”Janine asks Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) for her opinion, but her mentor warns her not to get her hopes up. Miscommunication strikes when Gregory reveals Barbara’s smoothie’s name had “I love you” in its title, leading Janine to assume she misunderstood.

At the end of Abbott Elementary season 4’s Valentine’s Day episode, Gregory realizes he did accidentally say “I love you” while recording the voice note, explaining how it mindlessly slipped out because that’s how he feels. Janine records a voice note to say she loves him too, and the pair share a kiss. For the bulk of Abbott Elementary season 4, the main relationship has been in the background, with Janine and Gregory even becoming Abbott Elementary’s boring couple. However, Abbott Elementary’s short and sweet Janine and Gregory plot illustrates how easily their relationship can remain interesting in the mockumentary.

How Abbott Elementary Can Keep Janine & Gregory's Story Relevant Moving Forward Without Breaking Up

There Are Realistic Couple Conflicts They Can Dip Into

Thankfully, Abbott Elementary has largely avoided cliché now that its main couple is in an established relationship. Janine and Gregory’s first fight in Abbott Elementaryperfectly encapsulates how the characters can still have realistic conflict without it feeling unearned or melodramatic. Janine and Gregory love each other, but Abbott Elementary can still utilize common issues that couples experience to add tension. Janine and Gregory might decide to move in together but disagree over who should give up their place. Alternatively, they might realize they have different ideas for the future, and Abbott Elementary could explore how Janine and Gregory compromise.

Actor	Abbott Elementary Character
Quinta Brunson	Janine Teagues
Tyler James Williams	Gregory Eddie
Janelle James	Ava Coleman
Sheryl Lee Ralph	Barbara Howard
Lisa Ann Walter	Melissa Schemmenti
Chris Perfetti	Jacob Hill
William Stanford Davis	Mr. Johnson

Janine and Gregory don’t have to be stale in Abbott Elementary, but they also don’t need to have unnecessary drama. By changing what kinds of conflict Janine and Gregory weather, Abbott Elementary circumvents plots that other shows use to overcompensate after a couple gets together: infidelity, insecurity, or a full-blown breakup. Plus, to fulfill the will they/won’t they element,Abbott Elementary has teased a couple to be Janine and Gregory’s replacement. Instead of needlessly having Janine and Gregory separate just to inevitably come back together, Abbott Elementary must continue respecting the couple without ignoring them narratively.

Enjoy ScreenRant's primetime coverage? Click below to sign up for our weekly Network TV newsletter (make sure to check "Network TV" in your preferences) and get the inside scoop from actors and showrunners on your favorite series.

Abbott Elementary continues February 26 on ABC.