Janine and Gregory almost kiss in the “Holiday Hookah” episode of Abbott Elementary, but Gregory runs off to Amber before they can.
Fans have wanted to see Janine and Gregory get together since the very first episode of the show aired.
When the “Holiday Hookah” episode aired in the second season of the series, many fans thought that they would finally get their chance to see Janine and Gregory kiss. But Gregory ran off before that could happen.
Why fans are obsessed with Janine and Gregory’s relationship
There are few things that hold an audience interested in a show for longer than a slow burn.
In the case of Janine Teagues and Gregory Eddie, two young teachers at Abbott Elementary, the creator of the show, Quinta Brunson certainly delivered on her promise to make their relationship an extra slow slow burn.
In fact, fans of the show have been shouting for these two to get together from the very first moment that Gregory showed up as the new substitute teacher in the first episode of Abbott Elementary in 2021.
Abbott Elementary: Do Janine and Gregory kiss?
At some point, these slow burn romances can feel like the shows’ creators are just toying with the emotions of their viewers. This is exactly what happened on the 7 December 2022 episode of Abbott Elementary.
During this episode, titled “Holiday Hookah” Janine follows her friend Erika to a local hookah bar to kick off the holiday break and in the hopes that she might find a date during their night out on the town.
However, Janine’s plans quickly fall apart when she realises that Gregory and Ava are at the same bar for the night.
At first, the scene was filled with awkwardness, both because of Janine’s unwillingness to unwind in front of her colleagues and because of all the romantic tension between Janine and Gregory.
After a while, Janine managed to let loose after a brief conversation with Gregory and the two of them even end up dancing together.
As can be expected, Ava soon interrupted this brief romantic moment between the two of them, but to the shock and awe of fans, this is not where the episode ended.
After this, Gregory and Janine manage to sneak out of the club and away from Ava, only to get caught in light snowfall.
This seemed like the ideal moment for the couple’s first kiss, but to the dismay of thousands of fans, they did not end up kissing.
Unfortunately, just as they were leaning in for their kiss, Amber texted Gregory and he quickly ran off to find her, leaving Janine behind.
Why did fans expect Janine and Gregory to finally get together in this episode?
Many Abbott Elementary fans have been waiting for Janine and Gregory to kiss since he fixed the poster on her wall in the first season of the series.
In fact, many fans tune in weekly just to see whether the newest episode will be the one in which Janine and Gregory finally kiss.
However, when Brittani Nichols, a writer and producer of the show, tweeted that the “Holiday Hookah” episode was not to be missed, most fans were certain that something would happen between Janine and Gregory.
Although this “something” was not a kiss, this episode did mark a significant step forward for their relationship.
What happened in the next episode?
When Abbott Elementary returned after its mid-season break following the “Holiday Hookah” episode, it quickly became evident that the show was not going to bring Janine and Gregory together just yet.
While there is increased awkwardness between Gregory and Janine, especially when the pair is interviewed about the previous episode in a student’s podcast, they never really address their almost-kiss in person. So it is clear that they are both still avoiding the subject.
Why are Janine and Gregory not together yet?
The chemistry between Janine and Gregory is undeniable and when Janine entered the second season of the show newly single, their relationship simply seemed meant to be.
However, when Gregory started a relationship with Amber, the mother of one of his students, this changed his whole dynamic with Janine, once again.
It may seem silly that the show’s creators would wait such a long time to introduce a relationship that fans have been asking for since the beginning of the show, but there is a method to their madness.
Quinta Brunson, who is the creator of the show and the actress who portrays Janine on screen, has explained that Janine and Gregory both need to grow some more before they can be in a relationship.