Ava’s Selfless Act In Abbott Elementary Season 4, Episode 14 Ironically Sets Up The School’s Next Big Conflict

Warning: this article contains SPOILERS for Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 14.Abbott Elementaryseason 4, episode 14 continues Ava’s (Janelle James) character development, but her act of kindness at the district budget meeting could have big repercussions for the school. Although Ava started asAbbott Elementary’s Michael Scott character, she has been steadily growing as a person over the past four seasons. With the addition of Ava’s father in Abbott Elementary season 4, the mockumentary has continually shown new depth to the character. Ava has always been a funny character, but now she’s a champion for Abbott Elementary, just like the rest of the teachers.

Ava initially had an antagonistic relationship with most of Abbott Elementary’s cast of characters, but her character development mended many fences and left very few rivals in Ava’s life. Nonetheless, Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 14 marked the return of Ava’s final frenemy and former sorority sister, Crystal (Tatyana Ali), the person Ava always competes with. What could have been a straightforward contest was turned on its head when Ava instead chose to help Crystal’s school, but it wasn’t a harmless gift. Abbott Elementary has made Ava a hero, but it could be to the detriment of her own school.

Ava's Selfless Act In Abbott Elementary Season 4, Episode 14 Explained

There's A Twist At The District Budget Meeting

Janelle James as Ava in Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 14.

While most of Abbott Elementary’s heartwarming moments are directly related to the teachers or the titular school, Ava’s wholesome grand gesture impacts other schools in their district in Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 14. Before the meeting, Manny (Josh Segarra) tells Ava that Abbott Elementary doesn’t have to worry about their funding request being denied, thanks to Ava giving an “Ed Talk” as a favor to the district. The guaranteed funding inspires conflicting feelings after Crystal’s request is shot down and Ava overhears her emotional grievance over how their students have to share textbooks and take turns doing homework.

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

When it’s Abbott Elementary’s turn to give a presentation, Jacob (Chris Perfetti) commandeers the podium to plead for a counselor, forgoing all the other teachers’ lists. After the school board approves his request, Ava takes his place on the stage and asks for computers, textbooks, and other key resources for an elementary school. Though clearly agitated, the school board agrees. Ava then pulls the rug out from under them by adding the caveat that the resources they just granted must be divided between other schools. Having been backed into a corner due to the public forum, the board agrees.

Ava's Move Sets Up A Backlash Against Abbott Elementary

From The School Board To Her Sorority Sister, Ava Has Adversaries

The school board members didn’t take kindly to Ava’s ploy, as Manny warns Abbott Elementary to be on their best behavior. Board member Delisha Sloss (Shirley Jordan) already has a fraught relationship with Abbott Elementary since Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph) blackmailed her in Abbott Elementary season 1. Now that Ava has officially crossed her as well, there’s no telling how Sloss and the rest of the board will target Abbott Elementary. Additionally, despite Ava securing the resources Liberty Ring needs, Crystal is suspicious over how Jacob briefly mentioned Abbott Elementary not needing material things in his speech.

Abbott Elementary season 4’s golf course storyline may have seemed over, but Ava attracting new antagonists could bring their shady dealings to light. The only reason Abbott Elementary doesn’t need computers and books as desperately as the rest of the district is because the golf course bribed the school with new resources during its construction. If anyone were to uncover what happened, Abbott Elementary would be in serious trouble. Plus, Ava and O’Shon (Matthew Law) could both lose their jobs, as the district IT representative has been keeping Abbott Elementary’s secret all season.

How Abbott Elementary's Brewing New Problem Can Be Eventually Resolved

The School Always Manages To Prevail

Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams) & Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson) Caught In An Awkward Moment In Abbott Elementary Season 4, Episode 1, "Back To School"

Over the course of the series, Abbott Elementary has included real issues faced by schools in many episodes. At its heart, Abbott Elementary has always been about underserved schools, but Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 14 illustrated how that conflict extends past the school that’s being documented. At the same time, Abbott Elementary is fictional and requires a certain amount of suspended disbelief. Just as the problems may be a bit dramatic, the solutions can be a little unrealistic, as long as they make for a satisfying conclusion to a storyline.

Abbott Elementary could still surprise everyone and have the school be exposed for their extortion, setting up a long-term issue where Ava gets fired.

There are many ways for Abbott Elementary to beat its newest conflict, but there’s also something to be said about them potentially losing for once. If Abbott Elementary wants to continue its perfect success rate, they could band together with other schools in the district to combat the board’s ire. Ava could defuse Crystal with a candid heart-to-heart, opening the door to a reconciliation. Yet, Abbott Elementary could still surprise everyone and have the school be exposed for their extortion, setting up a long-term issue where Ava gets fired. Either way, Abbott Elementary surely has an exciting arc planned.

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Abbott Elementary continues February 26 on ABC.