'Abbott Elementary' Puts Janine and Gregory's Romance on Pause in Season 2 Finale: Fans React
Spoiler alert! This article contains spoilers for Abbott Elementary's season 2 finale.
Abbott Elementary's second season has been building up to what felt like the inevitable: the romantic reveal when Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams) finally admit their feelings for one another. But when the moment comes in the season 2 finale titled "Franklin Institute," it's not at all how one would imagine.
On Wednesday's episode, the teachers of Abbott Elementary are preparing for a field trip to the Franklin Institute where they and their students will spend the night. Gregory, who is deciding between spending the summer with his father or staying in town, is eager to spend time with Janine as their students are paired together for sleeping arrangements.
Janine is initially also looking forward to the night until she runs into Maurice, her ex-boyfriend and Gregory's close friend. Although the couple dated briefly, Maurice argues that the circumstances in which Janine broke up with him were undeniably "selfish." He forces her to reevaluate the nature of their breakup: she broke up with him at his favorite restaurant in front of Gregory and revealed that she had also kissed the other man.
The conversation sends Janine into a guilty spiral, which makes her begin to avoid Gregory. While Ava (Janelle James) offers some not-so-unexpectedly wise words to encourage the growth Janine has been showing this season -- telling her there's nothing wrong with being selfish sometimes as long as you aren't hurting people -- it doesn't quell the teacher's remorse that she already has hurt someone.
Meanwhile, Gregory has been receiving his own pep talks from Jacob (Chris Perfetti), who encourages Gregory to tell Janine how he feels about her after their previous romantic run-ins. Taking his advice, Gregory pulls Janine into a private corner during the sleepover and finally confesses his feelings -- which she eventually admits to returning. While the two admit to having feelings for one another since they met, they also acknowledge that they have been "all over the place."
But Janine admits that she doesn't feel quite ready for "something real" as she's in her selfish era and doesn't want to hurt Gregory. "Look, talking to Mo, it did change things. But it didn't change how I feel about you; it changed how I feel about me," she tells Gregory. "I come to school every day happy because I get to see you and have a friend like you, and I cannot lose that friend. But maybe I am selfish and if I need to be right now then I don't want to wind up hurting you. It's you, and if we did this, then it would be [something real]."
Despite obviously hurting, both share that they feel "OK" after the sleepover. "It's time to plant something new," Gregory tells the camera before he, Janine and Jacob head out for lunch as the "afterschool crew."
While their romance has been put on pause again, there's still hope for the couple down the line as the series has already been renewed for a third season. Still, fans had a lot to say online about the bittersweet confessions and what it could mean going into the next season for Janine and Gregory...
Janine avoiding Gregory because she feels bad about hurting Maurice 💔 we’re going DOWN #AbbottElementary
pic.twitter.com/x1lw95QIsz— dez LIV DAY 🎊 (@98WKND) April 20, 2023
“I take all your recommendations seriously” Gregory is such a good boyfriend to Janine and they aren’t even together yet #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/NWG2mxMsBb
— Principal Ava Coleman stan (@1ux1isbon) April 20, 2023
Gregory: I like you. I have feelings for you Janine. And...
Bad kid: ALIEEEEEN!
Me:
#AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/wzDv19YN6B— its ashLYN. (@ashlynlaughs) April 20, 2023
Me looking at Gregory in this durag #abbottelementarypic.twitter.com/JwhKZ4q9eb
— some girl. (@ForeverDorianne) April 20, 2023
my reaction to gregory confessings his feelings for janine like i didn't know that 😭 #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/Y3JZFHUT5J
— waystar co-ceo ❀ (@blkwatcher) April 20, 2023
Gregory is sitting there telling Janine that … in that durag.
I would have folded by the electricity exhibit #abbottelementarypic.twitter.com/ui6yLGbFJD— Tionah Lee or Tati (@holaitstati) April 20, 2023
gregory in that outfit with the durag…. #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/7LyQ85r1Da
— jaye seeing yoongi and txt🫡 (@LONELYHCURS) April 20, 2023
At this point .. we won’t get Janine and Gregory until season 27 #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/GYOLtdHUEl
— raveen marie 🫶🏾 (@xoraveen) April 20, 2023
“Gregory told me i should’ve left you alone…. And i should’ve listened.”
All of us: #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/FDpPjwbjUT— raveen marie 🫶🏾 (@xoraveen) April 20, 2023
Gregory and Janine in these cut away scenes. #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/zeURZlrvMx
— Queer Latifah 🥂 (@TheAfrocentricI) April 20, 2023
GREGORY FINALLY ADMITTING HIS FEELINGS FOR JANINE WE’RE GETTING SOMEWHERE YALL #abbottelementarypic.twitter.com/msvQbUJnah
— m (@goldenftm) April 20, 2023
nooooo Janine’s being distant from Gregory now #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/V8FVa6drHe
— positiviTEA (@ksthoughtss) April 20, 2023
Gregory in that shirt and durag #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/lXqQHLaiVZ
— rocky ✨🌙 (@whispersofstew) April 20, 2023
gregory tried to cheer janine up in the cutest way. if she don't kiss him again I WILL #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/OdWBZ8KjZm
— waystar co-ceo ❀ (@blkwatcher) April 20, 2023
it’s abbott it’s season
elementary day finale day pic.twitter.com/wH3B5j7W9u— out of context abbott elementary (@abbottnocontext) April 19, 2023
theyve come a long way since the pilot episode #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/yl1l42URJb
— َ (@sxarlights) April 20, 2023
They’re talking….by the beating heart…..#AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/GVnEIcyB2Q
— Steve? (@DwayneJay) April 20, 2023
janine and gregory gonna drag it for another season i'm not strong enough #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/CKuKuDXD3l
— waystar co-ceo ❀ (@blkwatcher) April 20, 2023
Janinegregory love at first sight confirmed YES GOD #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/ogS63Qg5gq
— ♤ (@haworthes) April 20, 2023
janine crushing my hopes and dreams dear god no 😭😭😭 #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/lcNwu3SMTX
— •Briana• (@a_briana) April 20, 2023
I just wanna talk Janine.... #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/jxNvJte6Dk
— Candy Coated Cooter (@SomeLikeItN3rdy) April 20, 2023
NOO!!!! I WANNA PUT HANDS ON JANINE RIGHT NOW!! #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/sZLJ7mK2b8
— sad as hell☁️ (@laceyheatt) April 20, 2023
janine and gregory FUCK BEING FRIENDS pic.twitter.com/Rafc75LqLm
— izzy (@spidermannwh) April 20, 2023
Janine Teagues about to piss me tf off…#AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/NeR3wQWify
— ethan 🫧 (@thebeachb0y) April 20, 2023
Janine pulled a Joan Clayton #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/nz8LDnasuO
— JWalk (@TVTalkWithJWalk) April 20, 2023
Janine and Gregory finally admitted that they both like each other, but then decided to be just friends 😞 #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/VeLT12jJ81
— B R E A N N 🩷 (@breannwaIker) April 20, 2023
JANINE WHAT THE HELL #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/vNJrUPwACB
— Christi Trottie (@ChristiTrottie) April 20, 2023
They really about to play the long game with Janine and Gregory. #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/cWjIrNwoX0
— Brittanie (@ItsBriittaniiee) April 20, 2023
Dang Janine is kind of in her selfish era… Maurice is perceptive. #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/kq28Rvdzwn
— A. R. Bingham (@AuthorARBingham) April 20, 2023
JANINE AND MAURICE WHEN I CATCH YA’LL #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/RCVf2ex1zh
— bre jordan-mcclain ✨ (@breonna_kiara) April 20, 2023
Alright Janine. Gregory going to hook up with someone else and you gonna be mad! #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/ZHjedQccuB
— Angela Bassett Did The Thing (@_QuitaBee) April 20, 2023
QUINTA U ARE A NASTY WOMAN FOR PUTTING ALL THIS LOVEY DOVEY JANINE & GREGORY STUFF JUST FOR JANINE TO REJECT HIM #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/XX7BFgOvs0
— kristin 🥯 (@kristinmeb) April 20, 2023
the slow burn is slow burning but at what cost. i’m impatient i need janine and greg to date NOW. pic.twitter.com/ahcdAcyXF1
— shadon (@pvrekhs) April 20, 2023
Janine: I'm okay.
Gregory: I'm okay.
Me: #abbottelementarypic.twitter.com/nI4FlLMZ5i— some girl. (@ForeverDorianne) April 20, 2023
Janine and Gregory deciding to stay as friends so they don’t hurt each other #abbottelementarypic.twitter.com/Mtg1VDc1qN
— wine mom yor forger🍷 (@autumnvelvets) April 20, 2023
Janine why would you do this to me #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/rZNeAzKb0H
— ♉️ alien superstar 👽😈 (@RobynDMarley_) April 20, 2023
Janine ain’t piss me off like this in a good minute #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/hkD4FNyBPL
— QQ (@quran_malik) April 20, 2023
JANINE OMG JUST LIVE ON THE EDGE FOR ONCE UGH #AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/VZtaq5CRDP
— positiviTEA (@ksthoughtss) April 20, 2023
“Janine and Gregory are finally getting tog—“ #AbbottElementaryhttps://t.co/MhI7jbJiFh
— Joshua Chenault (@joshuachenault1) April 20, 2023
Quinta & the writers just dangling Gregory & Janine in our faces. 😫#AbbottElementarypic.twitter.com/JE0ybFs5Op
— B.G. 💕✨ (@britlauren) April 20, 2023
Check out the links below for more of our coverage on Abbott Elementary.
RELATED CONTENT:
'Abbott Elementary' Fans React to Taraji P. Henson's Bittersweet Cameo
'Abbott Elementary' Sneak Peek: Janine Is Going on a Solo Girl's Trip
'Abbott Elementary': Watch Taraji P. Henson Make Her Fabulous Debut