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Merry Christmas, Abbott. You absolute mess. A-
It’s not a kiss. It’s not a confession. It’s better. It’s a promise. Jacob thinks he is a world traveler because he studied abroad in Prague for one semester. He insists he knows how to “properly” smoke a hookah. He ends up coughing for four minutes straight, knocks over a coal tray (no one is hurt, don’t worry), and has to be fanned down by the actual owner of the lounge who speaks only Arabic and keeps calling Jacob “habibi” ironically.
It’s a perfect Jacob moment: humiliating, well-intentioned, and educational. “Holiday Hookah” is not just a funny episode. It’s a thesis statement for Abbott Elementary . The show argues that found family doesn’t have to be a turkey dinner by a fireplace. Sometimes, found family is watching your Sunday school teacher get giggly on apple-flavored smoke while your principal tries to DJ using a cracked iPhone. abbott elementary s02e10 tvrip
Gregory, who has never smiled this wide in two seasons, says: “I’ll keep it alive.”
If there is one thing Abbott Elementary does better than any other sitcom on TV right now, it is the holiday episode. We’ve had the Zoom Christmas disaster. We’ve had the Valentine’s Day juice disaster. But Season 2, Episode 10, “Holiday Hookah,” is the crown jewel of the series’ ability to blend cringe-worthy comedy with genuine, tear-jerking heart. Merry Christmas, Abbott
Janine spends the first half of the party trying to look cool (she orders a juice box). Gregory spends the first half trying to leave. But when Janine admits she only came because she wanted to spend the holiday with him—not with Ava—Gregory’s stone face finally cracks.
Abbott Elementary S02E10 “Holiday Hookah” – The One Where Barbara Became a Glorious Hot Mess It’s not a confession
The final shot is perfect: The teachers are kicked out of the lounge at 2 AM. They’re standing in a snowy, empty parking lot. Barbara is leaning on Melissa. Jacob is holding a bag of frozen peas to his forehead. Janine is holding the succulent. Gregory is holding Janine’s elbow. And Ava yells, “Who wants Waffle House?” They all shuffle toward the car, laughing.