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Abbott Elementary Season 1 Episode 13 Season Finale Recap “Zoo Balloon”

Don’t miss Celebrity Myxer’s recap of Abbott Elementary Season 1 Episode 13 season finale “Zoo Balloon.” While on Abbott’s annual zoo field trip, Tariq reveals that he has been offered a job in New York. Janine struggles with a big choice. Barbara starts questioning her future after finding out her favorite tuatara has been retired because of old age. Here’s what you missed!

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Watch Abbott Elementary Season 1 Episode 13 Season Finale “Zoo Balloon”

Previously on Abbott Elementary Season 1 Episode 12, with the school board threatening to pull their funds, Janine and Gregory decide to help Ava out with her presentation in front of the Superintendent. However, their plan is derailed when a curveball is thrown at Ava. Meanwhile, Barbara offends Melissa when she doesn’t agree with her blackmail idea.

Warning… Spoilers below!

On Abbott Elementary Season 1 Episode 13 season finale,

 

To the Zoo 

Abbott is getting ready for their annual field trip to the local Zoo. As the kids line up with their permission slips, Ava warns the students not to forge their parent’s signatures. She chooses the students who have to stay behind and leaves them in Mr. Johnson’s care.

 

Outside, the other students cheer while Ava explains that she hired free chaperones to save money, Barbara introduces her daughter Taylor as one of them, and when she explains that Taylor is from New York City, all the students (and Melissa) boo at her.

 

Zach, Jacobs’s boyfriend is already bonding with the kids over sneakers, while Janine tells her boyfriend Tariq not to trade sandwiches with the kids. Ava warns her to keep him in check since she didn’t exactly fill out the paperwork for this field trip, but they’re going anyway. 

 

Gregory’s student Kenny is nervous about going to the second grade and doesn’t want to get on the bus, so Janine offers to watch over him for the day so he can get used to her before next year. Naturally, when Janine asks Kenny if he wants to be in her group, he says no. 

 

On Janine’s bus, Tariq gets an email from Fade, his music sponsor. They want him to tour elementary schools in New York and write a whole anti-drug kids album. Janine congratulates him, and Barbara asks him if he’ll be working full-time in New York. 

 

Tariq says he will be for at least the next year and mentions offhand to Janine that they’re moving to New York. She’s shocked he assumes that she would leave Abbott to go with him. 

 

Big Decision

 

At the zoo, Janine dumps her confusion about her relationship on Melissa, while Tariq looks at Girrafes. Meanwhile, Barbara takes the students to see her favorite lizard Duster, and is upset when she finds out the Tuatara has been retired. 

 

At a zoo exhibition, the students listen to an explanation of different birds, while Janine tries to bond with Gregory’s student Kenny. She explains that everything will be the same for him in second grade, but gets off topic thinking about how different things would be for her in New York. 

 

Talking to Gregory, Janine finds out that he signed on full-time at Abbott. He thanks her for helping him realize that Abbott is a special place, and Janine starts to tear up. Suddenly, Taylor brings Gregory a clam chowder, which he hates, and it’s clear they’ve been seeing each other.

 

Janine walks the zoo with Jacob and his students, but he tears up and walks away after telling her he can’t imagine being at Abbott without her. Next, Janine sits down with Barbara, who doesn’t know if she has the energy to teach anymore. Before they can get deeper into their conversation, Tariq arrives. 

 

Hard Choices

Janine tells Tariq that they need to have a conversation about everything, and she begins to explain that she loves her job and Philadelphia too much to leave. She almost gets her entire thought out, but suddenly Tariq notices that Kenny, Gregory’s student, is missing from the group. 

 

Janine gathers the chaperones, teachers, and Ava and tells them that she can’t find Kenny. Barbara is calm in a crisis and organizes everyone into groups to search the zoo, watch the exits, and entertain the other kids.

 

Gregory and Janine search the zoo together, and Janine finds Kenny in a hot air balloon on the zoo grounds. Before Janine and Kenny can get off the balloon, the operator takes off and they’re stuck inside. Janine is afraid of heights, and she sits on the bottom of the balloon with Kenny. 

 

Down on the ground, Melissa tells Barbara that she’s only gotten better with age and that seeing her going into Super Barbara mode reminded her of when they first started working at Abbott.

Barbara admits that while she might retire someday, it won’t be today. 

 

Growing Even if it Scares Us

In the balloon, Janine tells Kenny that it’s okay to scared, but that the change to second grade will be amazing. She and Kenny stand up on the balloon before it returns to the ground. Safely back in the zoo, Janine realizes that change is what she needs as well. 

 

As Taylor and Gregory walk away holding hands, Janine decides to come clean to Tariq. She suggests that their lives are going down different paths and admits that she doesn’t want to move to New York or do long distance with him. 

 

Janine wants to take a break, and figure out who they are without each other while he’s in New York. Tariq is stunned but still asks her if he can sleep with other people while they’re apart. They hug, and do their handshake one more time before the buses get ready to leave. 

 

As the buses load, Gregory uses his fun voice for the first time and Melissa is impressed. In a breakaway, he mentions that he’s excited for next year. He knows that Abbott is a special place 

with a lot of special people, and makes eye contact with Janine before he sits next to Taylor.

 

Lessons

 

On the bus ride home, Babara tells Janine Abbott is where she belongs and that she’s glad Janine will be staying at the school. When the kids start acting up on the bus, Janine calms them down with one strong word before Barbara even has to say anything. 

 

At a finale breakaway at her desk, Janine assures the film crew that she’ll be okay, with tears in her eyes. She’s optimistic about next year, and finally feels like she belongs at Abbott. 

 

At the end of the day, the students who had to stay behind with Mr. Johnson leave him a note. The note mentions that the student’s real heroes are their teachers since they make it work with no help and no powers. Mr. Johnson raises his fist in the air and throws the note in the trash.

 

What did you think of Abbott Elementary Season 1 Episode 13? Let’s talk about Abbott Elementary in the comments below! Missed any of the episodes? Catch up with our recaps!

Air Date: April 12, 2022

Will There Be A Season 2 Of Abbott Elementary?

Yes! Abbott Elementary has been confirmed for season 2! Here’s when to expect the release date

Abbott Elementary Cast

  • Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues
  • Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie
  • Janelle James as Ava Coleman
  • Chris Perfetti as Jacob Hill
  • Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa Schemmenti
  • Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard

Guest Cast

  • Zack Fox
  • Larry Owens
  • Iyana Halley
  • Camden Brooks
  • Stephanie Burke as Sheila
  • William Stanford Davis
  • Leon Cassimere as Kenny
  • Etta Hughes as Shania
  • Paris Turner as Shahrzad
  • Marvin L. Winans III as Chad
  • Scott Manuel Johnson as Bird Trainer

Catch a new episode each week on ABC, check out listings dates below. Stay right here, stay mixed in because Abbott Elementary has been renewed for a second season! Drop your email to get insights into your inbox…

Abbott Elementary Season 1 Episode Guide

Season Episode Title Air Date
1 13 Zoo Balloon” Season Finale April 12, 2022
1 12 Ava vs. Superintendent April 5, 2022
1 11 Desking March 29, 2022
1 10 Open House March 22, 2022
1 9 Step Class February 22, 2022
1 8 Work Family February 15, 2022
1 7 Art Teacher February 8, 2022
1 6 Gifted Program February 1, 2022
1 5 “Student Transfer” January 25, 2022
1 4 “New Tech” January 18, 2022
1 3 “Wishlist” January 11, 2022
1 2 “Light Bulb” January 4, 2022
1 1 “Pilot” Abbott Elementary Season 1 Premiere December 7, 2021

Photo credit: ABC

About the Author
Halla Warner is a Content Writer for Celebrity Myxer.

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