‘Abbott Elementary’ Goes Grim With a Bitter “Breakup” Episode and I Hate It

ABC‘s Abbott Elementary skyrocketed to popularity in the last three years thanks to its unique blend of sharp comedy, warmhearted characters, and wholesome vibes. It is, like Parks and Recreation and Ted Lasso before it, a “feel good” show. Which is why I was absolutely horrified when I tuned in to this week’s all-new Abbott Elementary episode, grimly titled “Breakup.” Instead of being a half hour of endless happiness, with a couple of emotional beats thrown in, Abbott Elementary Season 3 Episode 5 “Breakup” tore apart one of the best sitcom couplings we’ve gotten in ages: Jacob (Chris Perfetti) and Zach (Larry Owens). The couple’s demise was so sudden, I had whiplash. The actual breakup scene was the height of uncomfy. This week’s Abbott Elementary gave me flashbacks to Ted Lasso Season 3’s lows and that scares me for the rest of the critically-acclaimed ABC show’s third season! Abbott Elementary writers, what are you doing?!? I’m so upset!!!

Abbott Elementary follows a group of public school teachers working in the Philadelphia school district. While the show is ostensibly a workplace comedy, Abbott has never shied from delving into its characters’ personal lives. We’ve watched with baited breath as Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory’s (Tyler James Williams) will-they/won’t-they flirtation has played out, met both Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter) and Janine’s sisters, and discovered that principal Ava (Janelle James) is actually talking about  Andre Iguodala whenever she’s brought up boyfriend “Iggy.”

However, arguably the smartest (and funniest) personal life reveal came in Abbott Elementary Season 1 when we met Jacob’s boyfriend Zach. When students cause mayhem with the “Desking” TikTok trend, Zach arrives to help catch the guilty culprits. Right after Melissa and Ava share skepticism that the relationship is going well, Zach arrives and embraces Jacob. “Black?” Ava sputters. “It’s actually pronounced Zach,” he says.

Zach’s introduction was not only hilarious, but it added a fascinating layer to how we — and the Abbott elementary crew — saw Jacob. Zach, in turn, became a beloved recurring character, returning for a field trip to the Franklin Zoo in Abbott’s Season 1 finale and for both of Abbott Elementary Season 2’s holiday-themed episodes, “Holiday Hookah” and “Valentine’s Day.”

The ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes of 2023 delayed Abbott Elementary Season 3’s premiere by about six months and the show’s writers addressed the time lapse head on, filling us in on what we “missed” in the months the show’s fictional camera crew stopped filming. Janine had joined the district for a fellowship, while Ava had briefly toyed with responsibility (to the crew’s chagrin). However, according to Abbott Elementary Season 3 Episode 5 “Breakup,” the most devastating upheaval had long been happening off screen: Jacob and Zach’s sweet romance was growing stale.

Gregory first susses out that something is awry when he notices that Jacob is desperate to prolong their afterwork hangout. Jacob eventually explains that he’s miserable with Zach and has been for months. Gregory encourages his friend to rip the bandaid off and breakup with Zach. But since Jacob doesn’t want to hurt Zach, he instead hastens to employ a number of rather cruel passive aggressive moves to hopefully push Zach to dump him.

Eventually, Zach confronts Jacob (with Gregory present). As Zach says he thinks they need couples counseling, Jacob blurts out he agrees they should break up. It precipitates a raw, bitter argument about their relationship crescendoing with a heartbroken Zach firing insults at Jacob.

And that’s…it. That’s the bulk of the episode. The other plots feature Ava attempting to understand why Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) puts up with her mean girl church choir friends — which culminates in Ava manufacturing a special recital for Barb to shine, but Barb’s still in a toxic hell — and Janine stepping in it again with a new sub. It was more emotional labor than fun fest. All told, not a stellar episode of Abbott Elementary.

What I don’t understand is why Abbott Elementary‘s writers thought it was necessary to separate Jacob and Zach like this. I understand pumping the breaks on Janine and Gregory’s romance to stretch it out over the show’s run. I completely clocked that Melissa needed to rid herself of the sweet vending machine man to set the stage so Mike O’Malley’s firefighter can be her next love interest. Also I could never remember Melissa’s boyfriend’s name, which tells you how invested the fandom was with that romance. However we all remember Zach. We love Zach. Larry Owens’s recurring character added to Abbott Elementary‘s overarching plot and comic potential. So why cut him?

My cynical theory is Abbott Elementary‘s writers is looking at the kudos rival dramedy The Bear is getting and pushing themselves to go “darker,” be more “emotional,” feel more “realistic.” The messy heartache of Zach and Jacob’s breakup definitely checks all those boxes. However, it makes me worry that Abbott — like Ted Lasso before it — might be forgetting what made their show click to begin with. Structurally, it’s a situation comedy, light and tight and funny. Ted Lasso began to lose the plot when it veered off this tried and true path. Here’s hoping Abbott Elementary doesn’t follow suit.

And here’s super duper hoping that Zach comes back.