While Janine and Gregory’s romance.

This inevitably means that some ing characters need to wait for the spotlight to shine on them, and Abbott Elementary season 5 should highlight Melissa considering her limited role in season 4. However, this wait is often worth it for both the characters and the show’s viewers. When Janelle James’ Ava was first introduced in season 1, she was a straightforward comedic villain who used blatant corruption to cover up her incompetence. She blackmailed her way into the principal job and bullied her staff, making her a hilarious but undeniably villainous figure.

Abbott Elementary Season 4 Reunited Ava With Her Absent Father Frank

Guest Star Keith David Played Her Flawed But Well-Meaning Dad

However, as early as season 1, episode 9, “Step Class,” Ava was already becoming a more complicated character. The revelation that she cared for her ailing grandmother humanized her, and in the following two seasons, she and Janine built a surprisingly stable working relationship. By season 4, Ava was an unlikely heroine and Janine was the first to defend her when the school board fired her for allegedly taking bribes from real estate developers.

A big part of Abbott Elementary season 4’s Ava story was the arrival of her estranged father, Keith David’s Frank. Ava’s relationship with her estranged father deserves more screen time in Abbott Elementary season 5 after season 4 brought the pair back in for the first time in years. While Janine’s mother Vanetta has already proven that the teachers of Abbott had some imperfect role models growing up, Ava never forgave Frank for abandoning her and her mother for his second family.

Abbott Elementary Season 4 Should Bring Back Ava’s Family Story

This Plot Justified Ava’s Historic Fear of Commitment

Ava explained this struggle in season 4, episode 9, “Winter Break,” and Janine showed some growth by not trying to solve Ava's difficult relationship with her father. However, as season 4 continued, Frank repeatedly tried to make amends by quietly offering financial donations to the school’s science fair and loudly leading a group of local business owners who protested Ava’s firing by the school board. Frank’s attempts eventually impressed his genuine regret on Ava.

The presence of David’s character bodes well for the show’s future.

Ava decided to give him a second chance in season 4, episode 21, “Rally,” and thus Frank proved that Ava had changed and grown throughout Abbott Elementary’s first four seasons. Thus, the presence of David’s character bodes well for the show’s future. While Janine and Gregory’s Abbott Elementary relationship finally stabilized in season 4, Ava’s personal and professional life fell into turmoil.

Another New Character Makes Ava and Frank’s Abbott Elementary Season 5 Story Vital

Ava’s Love Interest O’Shon Will Return In Season 5

Now that her life is relatively stable again, too, it would be easy for the show to stop prioritizing her character development. Fortunately, Frank’s continued presence means viewers can keep watching Ava grow and change as she learns to trust again, without this necessarily being the main storyline of season 5.

Abbott Elementary season 4 did a stellar job of balancing absurd comedy and character drama, and humanizing a character as outlandish as Ava was no mean feat for the show. Now, after Abbott Elementary season 4’s bittersweet finale, Ava and Frank must remain in touch so she can maintain her happy relationship with her new love interest, O’Shon. To avoid falling back into old commitment-phobic routines, Abbott Elementary season 4’s heroine must stay in with her past as the show heads into its future.

Enjoy ScreenRant's primetime coverage? Click below to sign up for our weekly Network TV newsletter (make sure to check "Network TV" in your preferences) and get the inside scoop from actors and showrunners on your favorite series.

SIGN UP NOW!