Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from St. Denis Medical season 1, episode 6, "Ho-Ho-Hollo."

Abbott Elementary revived the mockumentary sitcom genre in 2021, resulting in co-created by Justin Spitzer of Superstore fame and Eric Ledgin, follows the doctors and nurses at St. Denis Medical Center in Oregon. Similar to other mockumentary sitcoms, the St. Denis Medical characters are eccentric, unique, and hilarious, forming a group with great chemistry. The series takes advantage of its cast's dynamics, just like Abbott Elementary does.

New episodes of St. Denis Medical air on Tuesdays at 8 pm ET on NBC — season 1 returns with episode 7, "50 CC's of Kindness," on January 14, 2025.

Janine and Gregory's romance in Abbott Elementary. However, the potential couple is still original to St. Denis Medical.

St. Denis Medical's Holiday Episode Finally Teases More Of Matt's Crush On Serena

Matt's Feelings For Serena Form During The Sitcom's Premiere

During the pilot of St. Denis Medical, Matt becomes the hospital's newest employee. His character arc essentially follows the fish-out-of-water trope as he comes from a strict religious background, and almost everything at the hospital is new to him. However, while Matt's story mostly revolves around him learning and growing, it also touches on his crush on Serena — an experienced nurse with a youthful nature, blunt personality, and a lot of confidence. St. Denis Medical certainly hasn't pushed the "Matt has a crush on Serena" storyline all that much. However, it's there, especially in season 1's holiday episode.

St. Denis Medical has dropped subtle hints alluding to Matt's crush on Serena, but the show hasn't explored it all that much. He'll make a comment or two, or stare at her longingly, and that's about it. In St. Denis Medical season 1, episode 7, though, Matt and Serena share a scene that makes his feelings for her much more concrete and serious.

The two discuss their respective days, bantering (flirting just a smudge) with one another. Matt tells a joke that makes Serena laugh, and the camera stays on him longer than usual as he smiles at her. The moment between Matt and Serena isn't much, but it's the most that NBC's new medical mockumentary sitcom has given the audience.

Matt & Serena Could Be The Janine & Gregory Of St. Denis Medical

Janine & Gregory's Slow Burn Romance In Abbott Elementary Also Started At The Sitcom's Beginning

Abbott Elementary, on the that they are both mockumentary sitcoms airing in 2024. However, the two shows have more than a couple of things in common. For example, Matt's crush on Serena formed the moment he met her during St. Denis Medical's first episode, just like Janine and Gregory's feelings for one another arose in Abbott Elementary's pilot. So, it stands to reason that Matt and Serena could be the new Janine and Gregory.

Matt's feelings for Serena continue to grow, while Serena's feelings towards Matt seemingly stay the same (for now).

Of course, Abbott Elementary isn't the only mockumentary sitcom featuring a slow-burn romance in existence. Jim and Pam in The Office are arguably the blueprint. Abbott Elementary revived the mockumentary sitcom genre, though, setting the stage for St. Denis Medical. As a result, Matt and Serena's dynamic could be comparable to Janine and Gregory's. At the very least, the new NBC series is taking a page out of the older ABC show's book concerning its slow-burn romance. However, St. Denis Medical is erasing all details while keeping Abbott Elementary's basic layout.

Janine & Gregory's Feelings Were Always Mutual In Abbott Elementary, While Matt & Serena's Aren't

Matt's Crush Is One-Sided

From the beginning of Abbott Elementary, it was clear that Janine and Gregory both had crushes on each other, whether they would like to it it or not. As for Matt and Serena in St. Denis Medical, though, Matt's crush is very much one-sided. Following the NBC sitcom's midseason finale, this hasn't changed. But, Matt's feelings for Serena continue to grow, while Serena's feelings towards Matt seemingly stay the same (for now).

It's obvious that Matt and Serena's possible slow burn hasn't been one of St. Denis Medical's main priorities (unlike Janine and Gregory's in Abbott Elementary). Co-creator and Screen Rant. Ledgin explained:

"I didn't really want to lead with a will they/won't they at the center of the show unless it organically seemed like that [was the way to go]. You develop the characters, and you figure out what their background is going to be, and their dynamics with each other. And if something emerges, then great, run in that direction.

It did seem interesting to have a will I/won't I, which is what I call Matt's crush, because currently, at least in the beginning of the season, Serena's completely unaware of it. And that seemed like a fun thing to play and be able to work into a slow burn. Especially as you meet them, it doesn't seem like these two are a great match. And so I kind of liked the setup of that. It allows us to choose to go whichever way the story wants to naturally go and have it be surprising along the way, I hope."

Unlike Abbott Elementary, St. Denis Medical's romance isn't one of the sitcom's focal points. Matt and Serena's dynamic is subtle as ever, even after the holiday episode, meaning the series will likely drag their potential romance out for way longer than Abbott Elementary did with Janine and Gregory. Hopefully, NBC renews St. Denis Medical, and viewers can see Matt and Serena's story play out in its entirety.