Abbott Elementary: 10 Most Important Janine & Gregory Episodes (#1 Changed Everything)

Abbott Elementary is built around the will-they/won’t-they of Janine and Gregory’s relationship. The entire cast of Abbott Elementary has amazing chemistry, but the ABC sitcom made Janine and Gregory a slow burn, keeping timing a perpetual issue for two seasons while really turning up the yearning.

Now that Gregory and Janine’s relationship is established in Abbott Elementary, it’s worth revisiting all the steps that brought these two to this point. Their initial friendship – particularly Janine helping Gregory find his passion for teaching – laid a foundation that makes their relationship feel deeply earned.

Wishlist

Season 1, Episode 3

In this early episode of the premiere season, Janine encourages Gregory to decorate his bare, sterile classroom—a space that mirrors his hesitation to fully committing to teaching at Abbott. Her advice to make the room reflect who he is pushes Gregory, the secret protagonist of Abbott Elementary, to think deeper about what kind of teacher he wants to be.

His first attempt with generic posters falls flat, but her support sparks something genuine in him. By the end, he’s hanging up his students’ artwork, a subtle but meaningful sign that he’s starting to claim his place at Abbott Elementary.

Gregory’s quiet crush also surfaces when he downplays the number of students’ drawings he has to make Janine feel better. Their friendship is only beginning, but she’s already helping him uncover what makes him happy.

Holiday Hookah

Season 2, Episode 10

In the Abbott Elementary season 2 midseason finale, Janine is newly single and re-entering the dating world when her friend Erica, one of the best side characters in Abbott Elementary, drags her to a hookah bar—only for them to run into Gregory. Despite their best efforts to keep things platonic, their undeniable chemistry keeps pulling them back together.

When they step outside to cool off, the tension peaks with a near-kiss interrupted only by a text from Gregory’s girlfriend. It’s a perfect rom-com moment—Janine sighs, “It’s so beautiful,” referring to the snow, and Gregory agrees it’s beautiful, clearly talking about her.

This episode crystallizes their connection: sweet, messy, and impossible to ignore. Their timing isn’t right yet, but they have an unstoppable gravitational pull towards each other.

Valentine’s Day

Season 2, Episode 14

In Abbott Elementary’s season 2 Valentine’s Day episode, Jacob accidentally reveals to Janine that Gregory has a crush on her. Everyone else at Abbott seems to know—they say it’s “blatantly obvious”—but Janine can’t bring herself to confront how she really feels, especially since they’re both dating other people.

When Gregory gives his girlfriend Lego flowers because she’s allergic to real ones but assumes they’re for her kid, and Janine gets an expensive purse she mistakes for a gift bag, it’s a perfect visual metaphor. Both women end up with the wrong gift for them, showing how their current relationships aren’t built to last.

Janine assumes Gregory’s thoughtful gift means Jacob was wrong, but her disappointed reaction betrays that she wishes it were true. This episode is Abbott Elementary at its most yearning.

Teacher Conference

Season 2, Episode 16

Gregory joins the teacher conference at the last minute after his girlfriend breaks up with him, leading to one of Abbott Elementary’s best episodes. Gregory realizes Janine is the only one who truly sees him—she not only knows but appreciates his quirky way of relaxing through a perfectly scheduled itinerary.

The two bond over drinks about how hard dating can be, and their tipsy adventure into a stunning indoor botanical garden becomes a turning point when Janine and Gregory finally kiss. It’s tender, electric, and rivals New Girl’s iconic first kiss.

Both later deny it meant anything to the camera crew—though their disappointment in learning the other said so betrays the truth. Their timing is still complicated by the fact that Janine is dating Gregory’s friend.

Franklin Institute

Season 2, Episode 22

Janine glows when she learns Gregory watched Night at the Museum on her recommendation—a small moment that shows how deeply he listens and how much that means to her. But her confidence falters after her ex, Maurice, calls her selfish, forcing her to reconsider how her actions affect others.

Encouraged by Jacob, Gregory finally decides to take a leap and express his feelings, only for Janine to reveal that while her feelings for him haven’t changed, her understanding of herself has. She wants their connection to be real, not rushed.

The result is a quietly emotional episode that resists easy closure. Even with the external barriers gone, their relationship plateaus at friendship heading into Abbott Elementary season 3—an honest, bittersweet pause in their slow-burn story.

Double Date

Season 3, Episode 11

Gregory’s emotional walls start to crack in one of the funniest and most revealing moments in Abbott Elementary season 3, episode 11. Jacob invites him on a double date, but Gregory can’t focus once he spots Janine across the restaurant with Manny from the school district—and can’t tell if it’s a date.

Usually calm and guarded, Gregory’s composure completely unravels as jealousy takes over, culminating in him blurting out when he thinks Manny is putting his arm around Janine. It’s a rare loss of control for a character who prides himself on restraint, and it was an important episode after the romance took a back seat for much of the season.

Party

Season 3, Episode 14

In the Abbott Elementary season 3 finale, Janine throws an end-of-year party. Ever the planner, she’s even accounted for the mess to keep Melissa busy, but when things go wrong, Gregory is the one who reassures her.

Gregory holds back from making a move—using the excuse that he thinks she’s dating Manny—but the heart of the episode isn’t about missed timing. It’s about readiness. For the first time, both Janine and Gregory are emotionally aligned, capable of choosing each other with clarity instead of confusion.

Unlike their impulsive, drunken kiss at the teacher conference, this moment feels intentional. They’re finally clear and aligned, setting the stage for a real relationship to begin in season 4.

Costume Contest

Season 4, Episode 4

Now that Janine and Gregory are finally in a committed relationship by season 4, the show finally gets to explore them as a couple. For the Abbott Elementary season 4 Halloween episode, the pair go all in on a niche couples costume: the animated DNA strand and the frozen mosquito from Jurassic Park.

It’s specific, highbrow, and completely them—earnest, nerdy, and a little out of sync with everyone else. When no one gets the reference, they start to doubt themselves, but ultimately embrace it, deciding to stay true to who they are.

The moment captures what makes their relationship work: they share a unique wavelength that wouldn’t work with anyone else. It’s a sweet, funny episode that reaffirms their compatibility, showing how three years of friendship have built a true partnership.

District Budget Meeting

Season 4, Episode 14

Janine is confused but excited when she thinks Gregory has said “I love you” for the first time in a voice note. When she thinks it’s a misunderstanding, she’s crushed, reverting to an old habit of seeking advice from Barbara instead of talking to Gregory directly.

Abbott Elementary proves there is still humor in Janine and Gregory’s love story, even if they are beyond the will-they/won’t-they phase. When Gregory finally clarifies that he does love her, the payoff feels earned and tender. The show demonstrates it can sustain romantic tension and comedy without relying on contrived obstacles—just real, human emotion.

Game Night

Season 5, Episode 4

Janine and Gregory’s relationship is stronger than ever in Abbott Elementary season 5. The show uses a chaotic game night to explore how Janine and Gregory are stronger as a team.

Gregory offers to host, but his sterile, overly structured setup—complete with exercise-equipment seating and homemade kombucha—clashes with a traditional idea of cozy fun. Janine enlists everyone to play along with the awkwardness until tensions boil over.

Gregory’s frustration isn’t about the failed party, but about feeling infantilized by Janine. His maturity shines through when he explains he wants to host a party people genuinely enjoy, not be managed. He allows Janine to make some suggestions, adding pillows, pizza, and drinks, successfully turning the night around.

The party is a microcosm of their relationship: she brings warmth, he brings structure, and together, they make something better than either could alone. Abbott Elementary promises more of their future, with them agreeing to host together next time.