"Sick Day" is the ninth episode of Abbott Elementary's second season.
When Janine gets sick due to tuna melt, Ava has no options but to spend a day in her shoes as the substitute teacher of her class.
Meanwhile, Barbara and Melissa enjoy a day with none of Janine's shenanigans with Tasha, a teacher that typically avoids her.
Tropes
- Be Careful What You Wish For: In the beginning, Ava proclaims that all the teachers have it easy managing one class while she "deals" with a whole school. The next day, she learns how difficult it is having to take care of Janine's class.
- Blatant Lies: Ava blurts out "I don't have your number!" before hanging up on Janine.
- Brick Joke: Jacob briefly tests Ava's beauty product only to show up in the end with burn marks on his face.
- Call-Back: Ava brings up the time Mr. Johnson subbed for a class and taught the kids conspiracy theories.
- Cassandra Truth: Jacob tries to warn Janine not to eat her unrefrigerated tuna melt but his warning is dismissed. It's the catalyst for her taking a sick day.
- Chekhov's Gag: When reading the reviews of her products, Ava briefly sees one that has given the user a burn. This is subsequently a plot point as she has to dissolve her company and hide from the authorities.
- Cold Open: The episode starts with the Abbott staff hounding on Ava for making their jobs harder with her vanity projects which leads to her going on a tirade of how tough her job is. As she does, Janine eats her tuna melt despite it being left out in the sun.
- The Conscience: Gregory takes on this role by encouraging Ava not to quit and do everything in Janine's binder for the sake of her children.
- Crazy-Prepared: Janine has prepared an emergency sub binder that has a step-by-step procedure on how to manage her class. It even comes with a DVD of herself to play for the kids to explain her absence.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: Ava becomes surprisingly nice and sweet to the students when she has to interact with them. And the following week, she orders a large shipment of printing paper for the staff and called the city to reprogram the fire alarms.
- "Eureka!" Moment: Barbara and Melissa take a moment to realize how quiet and peaceful the teacher's lounge is. Jacob barges in to reveal that Janine is sick which causes them to realize the reason for the peace.
- Fan of the Underdog: While Barbara and Melissa enjoy their Janine-free holiday, Jacob is the only one stands up for her and paints his friend in a positive light.
- Freeze-Frame Bonus: A close-up to Janine's phone shows that Gregory texted her asking if she needs anything.
- From Bad to Worse: Discussed and Played for Laughs. While discussing how Janine would try to fix the leaking coffee machine, Barbara states that she'd find five more problems and make them worse.
- Has a Type: The principal's ideal partner should resemble the following:Ava: Preferably male, 6'2"-6'3" in boots. A Gregory Eddie type!
- Hypocritical Humor: Ava defends herself saying that she has a tough job as a principal and openly asks if she ever complains like her coworkers. Gregory points out that she does all the time.
- Irony: Ava brings up how she doesn't see anyone at Abbott trying to be the principal. It cuts to Greg looking in disbelief.
- Kick the Dog: Ava doesn't have Janine's number saved in the event that she meets a better Janine.
- Laser-Guided Karma: Ms. Coleman hogging all the printer paper for her ads comes back to bite her when she needs to print new spelling test papers for the kids.
- No, You: After Venus points out that Ava should have made a back-plan for the sub shortage, Ava says she should have a back-up plan because she decides to fire her on the spot. It won't last according to Venus.
- Oblivious to Her Own Description: When presented with Amelia Bedelia, Ava asks out loud who wants to read about an annoying woman who can't follow instructions.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here:
- Realizing how tough it is to manage a class mixed with the kids preferring Miss Teagues over her, Principal Coleman tries to throw in the towel.
- Tasha nopes out of the room rather then helping her "friends" take care of their ant problem. She does it again when Janine greets her on Monday.
- Shout-Out: Ava mistakes a child's drawing of her mother for The Babadook.
- Sick Episode: While her boss takes care of her class, Janine goes through the motions of managing her food poisoning while high on medications.
- The Stinger: While Ava is shredding the flyers of her latest scam, an irritated Jacob walks in revealing his face is now covered in burn marks because of her product. She manages to talk her way out of giving him a refund.
- We Want Our Jerk Back!: Not jerk, but Janine is definitely a source of annoyance to some of the other teachers. As the day goes, Barbara and Melissa start to miss her can-do attitude when faced when the annoyances of every day like a broken coffee maker and ants in the teachers’ room.
- Worth It: Janine believes that getting food poisoning is worth it after hearing the older teachers admit that they "missed her".
- Younger Than They Look: A desperate Ava mistakes a tall student for a potential adult that can sub for her.
