"Double Date" is the eleventh episode of Season Three of Abbott Elementary.
Ava organizes her first book club meeting per suggestion of Ms. Inez which is attended by various Abbott faculty members. Though the first meeting turns into a chaotic non-stop debate that the librarian tries to take control of. And Jacob, who's upset about not being invited, asks Gregory to accompany him on a blind double date with his new boyfriend Avi. Gregory agrees to go along but ends up acting like a clown when he spots Janine with a certain someone.
Tropes in this episode include:
- Bait-and-Switch Comment: On Janine's first day back at Abbott, Eva announces on the P.A. system that an old favorite has returned... cinnamon buns on the cafeteria.
- Bread Milk Eggs Squick: Each club nerd provides their thoughts on the book they read: Barbara loved the protagonist for her religious values, Melissa loved the setting where chaos and lawlessness reign supreme, and Mr. Morton admits that the feminist overtones were too unbearable for his liking.
- Brick Joke: Greg fears that Manny was able to swooce Janine because of his rugged beard. The ending scene has him trying, and failing, to grow his own beard.
- Cold Open: Janine makes her way through the halls of Abbott hoping that someone would take jubilation in her return.
- Commonality Connection:
- Barbara admires the protagonist of Parable of the Sower because she put her faith first when going through her tribulations.
- Played With when Ava organizes the members into small discussion factions based on their similar interests.
Ava: Melissa and Mr. Johnson, your shared nihilism seems compatible. And Roz, you're ability to see the best in everyone means that you'll thrive under my leadership. And Barb, you think that religion is the answer which makes you the only person will take Morton. - Continuity Nod:
- Ms. Inez, who's now an official team member, is helping organize the book club.
- Mr. Morton is now going through a trial separation period from his lover.
- Jacob confirms that Tariq is still dating Nick's mom.
- Avi, the policeman from the CPR class, is now dating Jacob. Avi also brings up how Janine manhandled a CPR dummy.
- Crazy Jealous Guy: Gregory isn't very comfortable when he sees Janine hanging out with Manny in the same bar. It gets to the point that he ditches his date Olivia to confront Janine and Manny.
- Death Before Dishonor: Melissa proudly states that she would rather die before compromising her own beliefs.
- I Did What I Had to Do: Discussed. Melissa mentions that she and her family have a history of "doing what needs to be done" in order to survive.
- Double Date: Jacob invites Gregory to accompany him on a double date where he'll be courting Avi while Gregory makes the acquaintance of AMT Olivia.
- Dramatically Missing the Point: As Shanae explains to the book club nerds, the protagonist of "Parable of the Sower" wasn't interested in being a leader or asserting her dominance over the others. She instead wanted to remind her followers that embracing diversity would promote a stronger chance of survival.
- Get Out!: Shanae tells the remnants of A.A.R.B. to get out of the auditorium so she can get to work.
- Know When to Fold 'Em: Defied. Melissa and Barbara initially planned to leave for the night when they realize how foolish they've been for defeating the purpose of book club. But after Ava brags that she "won" by being the last member involved, the two queens return to their seats ready to hold out for the rest of the night.
- The Leader: As one of the founders of A.A.R.B., Ms. Inez helps manage the group discussions and questions related to the novel.
- Logical Latecomer: Ms. Inez is rather taken aback by the chaotic and over-the-top personalities of the Abbott team that we've come to new and love.
- The Medic: Olivia is an AMT who has tons of stories of the people she saved throughout her career.
- Mistaken for Pregnant: Mr. Morton assumed that Janine was away from Abbott on maternity leave and not because of her district job.
- Mistaken for Romance: Greg incorrectly assumed that Janine and Manny were on a date when in truth they were just catching up. He also assumed that Erika and Tariq were on a date with them.
- Noodle Incident: Mr. Morton mentions that he and his partner used to partake in hentai.
- Obviously Not Fine: Greggo assures his friends that he's perfectly fine despite the fact that he's spent the whole date spying on Janine and Manny dating while also neglecting his assigned partner Olivia.
- Parental Neglect: Mr. Morton has kids of his own but forgot to pick them up an hour ago in favor of playing pretend.
- The Reveal: Ava confirms that she was training herself on doomsday prepping since she was ten.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here:
- Inez is the first to leave the book club, fed up with how it devolved into a petty wargame.
- Olivia ultimately leaves for the night after being rudely ignored by Gregory all night.
- Shout-Out: The first book that A.A.R.B. will be discussing is Parable of the Sower.
- Shouting Free-for-All: The book nerds engage in a non-stop debate over who has a better chance of surviving an apocalyptic world.
- The Stinger: Gregory is shown trying to grow his own beard only to be heckled by his coworkers for his lackluster beard. It doesn't help when Jacob walks in with a forest for a beard.
- Stunned Silence: The book club is stunned silent after Mr. Morton makes an anti-feminist remark about the book.
- Suddenly Shouting: Gregory screams out "WO-WO-WOAH!" when Manny tries to steal a kiss from Janine.
- Throw the Dog a Bone: While her coworkers are indifferent to Janine coming back to Abbott, her old student Alex expresses relief in having her back.
- Tranquil Fury: Before leaving Greg, Olivia does consider the possibility of seeing him again... when he's in an accident.
- Unfortunate Names: To Barbara's dismay, Ava has christened the school's book club as A.A.R.B. as in "Ava and her Reading Bitches".
- Verbal Backpedaling: While pointing out how prepared she is as an apocalypse survivalist, Ava almost gives away that she has a secret storage of water hidden somewhere in the school.
