Abbott Elementary – We Still In The Mall | Season 5 Episode 11 Recap
- Jazz
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Abbott starts this episode exactly where you’d expect: in absolute chaos. The mall is massive, the kids are bored out of their minds, and with no gym teacher in sight, the rest of the staff has been tag-teaming P.E. duties. Jacob, forever optimistic, tries to pass off walking laps around the mall as “exercise,” but the kids want dodgeball. Naturally, dodgeball wins.
Meanwhile, Mr. Johnson is overwhelmed by the sheer size of the mall and desperately wants help cleaning it. He’s got a list—an unhinged one—featuring fictional characters like John Wick, which honestly tracks. Ava then drops the bomb: the district called, and they have news.
Enter Miss Carol
Khandi Alexander guest stars as Miss Carol, the additional janitor, and the banter is immediate. She insults Mr. Johnson by implying the district sent a real janitor because he couldn’t handle the job. Mr. Johnson fires back with one of his signature left-field takes, declaring that women shouldn’t be cleaning—they should be running the NFL. Absurd? Yes. On brand?
Absolutely.
Good Press… or a Setup?
The district’s big announcement sounds promising at first. The Philadelphia Inquirer wants to interview Abbott, Scholastic is donating supplies, and there’s even a mobile library involved. The teachers are painted in a positive light, but the reactions are classic Abbott:
Ava is stressed about how she looks in the photos.
Gregory is fixated on the headline, which ominously reads: “Do Schools Even Need Schools?”
Ms. Alamar is the lone voice of skepticism, warning them that the article is a distraction. The district quietly pulled Abbott’s construction crew and reassigned them to another school. No one believes her… until Janine suggests they go see for themselves.
The Truth Comes Out
Back at Abbott, things initially look fine. Too fine. Then reality hits: there’s only one person working on Abbott while a full crew has been sent elsewhere. Janine pieces it together—the district is punishing Abbott for being too competent. They think Abbott can handle anything, so they’re prioritizing other schools.
The teachers head to the district office to demand answers, only to be told they’ll have to wait. Abbott’s issues triggered a broader review, and other schools’ issues are being addressed first before they become completely unusable. It’s logical… and still infuriating.
Goodbyes and Unsettling Returns
The students are told they’ll be back at Abbott in two weeks. Mr. Johnson and Miss Carol, after bickering their way into mutual attraction, hit it off. They are both former models who pursued their dream of cleaning. It is quirky but the romance worked, however brief it was because they ultimately part ways, because Abbott is reopening.
When the crew finally returns to Abbott, it’s not exactly a victory lap. There’s a suspicious mold smell, flickering lights, and an unmistakable sense that something is still very wrong. Ava’s assistant returns as well, and their sniping resumes immediately. She even grudgingly, or at least pretending to be, gives Ava a souvenir. Ava admits to the camera that she missed her, and yes, it’s oddly sweet.
Final Thoughts
Another strong episode that balances comedy with the very real frustrations of public education. The mall setting stays chaotic but purposeful, the district politics feel painfully believable, and the Mr. Johnson/Miss Carol dynamic is an unexpected delight. Abbott continues to do what it does best: make you laugh, then quietly remind you why this stuff matters.
Another great episode of Abbott Elementary. No notes.
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