LydiaMoon1

I don't think you're taking real life into account with this criticism. To me, it seems to have been practical to have based S3 around the adults. After all, there was a writer's strike followed by an actor's strike that made them lose at least 5 months of production. I imagine that there's quite a bit of rehearsal and preparation, and rules and regulations that have to be completed in order to employ little kids on the set. I don't see how they would have had time to coordinate the logistics of all of that while also meeting the deadline ABC set to air the first episode of the season. I read that the finale wasn't completed until 3 weeks before it aired. That means that the writers and the production crew have been furiously pumping out new episodes all season. Given that, I am amazed at the quality and thoughtfulness of the episodes we were given, considering that they had to have been working at a frantic pace.

We were first introduced to Sea Barbara in the season 2 opener, Development Day.

I'm still trying to figure out why Spock's mother is younger than him.

I think the show has done an admirable job of providing an exceedingly plausible explanation of why Uhura was so tethered to the Enterprise. At 22, she's lost her mother, her father and her brother to a tragic accident and she's lost Hemmer, the person she was closest to on the ship. She felt alone and unattached. It wasn't until she realized that being a part of the crew of the Enterprise gave her a new home. She belongs. Why would she leave that?

My reaction to that scene was the complete opposite of yours. I respect how the Dowager Princess handled that situation. I love the way she gave Lady D a quick life lesson on how to survive as a woman during a time when women had no rights and had to depend almost entirely on the whims of men. She was absolutely right to tell Agatha that she had to take her fate in her own hands and craft the life for herself that she wanted. Simpering and crying was going to get her nowhere. The Princess poured her out some pear brandy and told her to get herself together. I don't mind one bit that the Princess told Agatha that she didn't like her. She made it clear that she respected her. She wanted Agatha to bring back the Bad Bish with whom she had been sparring. She knew that THAT Agatha had what it took to survive and thrive. I thought it was an empowering moment of female solidarity. The show all but spells it out that Charlotte neglected her children to take care of George. "Sorrows! Prayers" is a running joke, but George Jnr actually confronts her with the fact that her only reaction to the death of his child is that it jeopardises King George's legacy. To me, it looked pretty much like what had happened in real life. George IV was Regent, his daughter was his heir and she was pregnant. The Crown was secured for the next 3 generations. And then suddenly it wasn't and everyone panicked. Totally agree about Charlotte taking care of George. In addition, Charlotte managed to hold onto power as George deteriorated, holding on long enough for Georgie to become regent and, I'm sure, making decisions for the regent until he became old enough to run things on his own. I am quite sure managing George, his illness, and his empire took up most of her days. The British Empire was vast during that time. It's a darn shame that she didn't have time to really get to know her 13 surviving children, but there are only 24 hours in a every day. Making pop-up appearances in their lives was probably all she could manage.

Gregory wore a white sweater to the club.

Eh. He does whatever he does. If Gregory and Janine are meant to be together, things will work out. Meanwhile, Janine is absolutely right to wait. She was a middle schooler when she got with Tariq and she only dated one other person besides him. She's not ready to jump into another serious relationship and both she and Gregory agreed that any relationship between them would be "serious". Janine didn't even make any friends of her own while she was with Tariq, and she had no life or identity outside of being a teacher. I'm all for Janine taking the time to find out who she is and what she really wants. She needs to experience being young and single while she still has the chance. Lord knows, between her family and Tariq, it doesn't seem like she ever got the chance to just be free. If Gregory finds someone else in the meantime, he was going to find them anyway.

Have you seen her Tiny Desk (Home) Concert yet on Youtube? It's magnificent.

The thing that really struck me about Draymond's grandstanding at AVA Fest was the fact that the only improvement he promised for Abbott Elementary was his promise to make the school look better. That's it. There was no promise of a better curriculum, of making student's lives better, of making the neighborhood better, nothing. The only changes he offered were shallow and superficial. I'm glad the parents shut him down. Also, I don't think this episode was the end of the charter school storyline either. Draymond's not finished yet.

Everyone is talking about how Tariq looks so cute (and I agree that the weight loss looks good on him), but I can't help but think that he's wasting away now that he doesn't have Janine to carry him.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS “Let’s not go down this path. It’s ugly…..kinda like that hat”. Well-done, Jacob! Even Janine roasted Gregory about wearing that cast-off Pharrell hat. Ava even approved. It did look (marginally) better on Mr. Johnson. “That’s hatitude”. I bet Mrs. Howard is the best smelling teacher at Abbott. Just two tickets? Why Ava set them up like that? Loved seeing all the other teachers in this episode. So, here’s awkward Janine with her equally awkward sister, Ayesha. Whereas Janine usually dresses like an old lady, Ayesha dresses like she got stranded in junior high. Janine is an over-scheduler like Gregory. Another thing they have in common. Ayesha’s not staying? Dayum, that’s awkward. That science teacher, Mr. Morton, is a schemer and a conniver and he hates everybody. I hope they make him a regular. “Somebody swing!”! Wow, they really turned on each other. Hey, Erica! Janine and Ayesha both need therapy. WHO IS THEIR MOTHER??!! Jacob, baby, read the room. Janine, honey. You chose to stay in Philly with your toxic mother. That’s on you. Nice twist if we find out in the end that Mr. Johnson really is rich. Of course, the science teacher refused to apologize. Of course, he did. Awww, somebody give Barbara a gift card to BWW. JUST A LITTLE EXTRA COMMENTARY ON JANINE AND AYESHA I’m not mad at Ayesa for leaving. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t believe in “making it work” with people who are damaging to me. I feel no obligation and have no compunction about leaving them right where they stand. With me, there's only so much bad behavior that I'm going to tolerate before I'm out the door. I don’t care who you are.

Episode Highlights: Barb's email got hacked and was sending out porno! Heh, heh, heh. The AUDACITY! How many accents did Barb use in that one phone call? I think the Silly sock show was created by the show, just like desking. I'm not sure, but I think so. "What has gone so wrong in my life that I have to send my kids to Abbott? Daaang! Why is Janine like this???? OMG. That whole Bonetown sequence, starting with Maurice and ending with Janine and Gregory, was comedy gold! Mural Arts Guy: "Again, we do not do private residences. We're a non-profit. Ava: Who said I was gone pay you? Ava: Well, if it ain't the white man making decisions for everybody. What other people just think, Ava don't mind saying. Look at Melissa giving Jacob the guidance he needs to satisfy both him and his students. A team-up of Barbara, Melissa, AND Ava? Legendary Schools is in trouble. See, Erica told her what to do, but Janine NEVER takes sound advice. She always does the exact opposite. Janine is a dork, but SHE IS very messy. Rug vermin? Once again, Barbara was thiiis close. I really, really enjoyed Jacob and his 6th grade class. I hope we see more of them. LOVED the mural. In the end, it was the perfect compromise. Another great episode. Looking forward to next week.

Upon rewatch, I noticed that Janine carries a little notebook of her planned activities just like Gregory. Gregory noticed it too. They are just so freaking compatible!

Great episode tonight. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS "Jokes on you, I've been crossing the street by myself since I was 3". WHO IS JANINE'S MAMA??!!! Jacob and Janine are so excited, God love 'em. They are a lot. Put the notebook away, Gregory. Dayum. Kristine Marie: You leaving already, just like your ex-husband? Melissa: Late? Just like your period after senior prom? The Schemmenti Sisters are lethal. Janine was so happy to get that conference swag bag (unlike her reaction to the "Teflon" bag she got for V-Day). Why is Ava trashing Janine at the conference? Welp! Gregory is 0-2. Dayum! Don't mess with the Schemmenti Sisters. They can talk about each other, but NOBODY else better try. Whew, the alcohol is really flowing. Janine is so cute with her mini dress and her little boots. Tina Schwartz is a mess everywhere she goes. KISS!!! Just when I thought that Jacob had found his tribe.......he did not. Janine says ILY to Customer Service???? I forgot to put my shoes on. Where are my shoes, my shoes?! Is that Sea Barbara I see? Ava, why did you check in as Janine? You know that girl can barely pay her bills! Uh-oh! The Villain is about to return. Duh dun dun! Stay tuned....

I didn't think Interim Principal Eddie had chemistry with anybody during this episode because he was too puffed up on his own self-importance. He was kind of insufferable.