Abbott Elementary Season 5’s Comeback Officially Ends A Major ABC Sitcom Character’s Story

by

Taraji P. Henson returns as Janine’s mother, Vanetta, in the eighth episode of Abbott Elementary’s fifth season, but her appearance won’t significantly alter her character’s story. The show is consistently funny thanks to its main cast, but guest stars haven’t always been as strong.

June Diane Raphael and Jim Rash are reliably hilarious actors, but the characters they play aren’t always likable. In season 4 of Abbott Elementary, they appeared as school district officials attempting to fire Ava, and they were among the show’s most frustrating antagonists up to that point.

It’s true that the problems at Abbott Elementary don’t just come from the school administration. There are also characters who directly make things difficult for the teachers, like Melissa’s rude and prejudiced uncle, or Ava’s rival from her sorority, Crystal. But Janine’s mother, Vanetta, is arguably the most challenging of them all.

Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 8 Brings Back Janine’s Mother Vanetta

Vanetta was first introduced in season 2, episode 21, titled “Mom,” and quickly made a strong impact on both the school staff and viewers. While Principal Ava saw Vanetta as someone who could fit in with her, Barbara Howard wasn’t impressed with Janine’s mother’s selfish and inconsiderate behavior.

The episode “Birthday” features a return appearance by Vanetta, but her character remains the same as before. While Abbott Elementary doesn’t have any Thanksgiving episodes, its Christmas specials are typically heartwarming and emotional. Because of this, viewers might anticipate a touching and healing reunion between Janine and her mother.

Janine expects her reunion with Vanetta in the episode “Birthday” to go well, and for the first part of the show, it seems like she’s right. Vanetta is initially difficult, but after Barbara encourages her to see things from Janine’s point of view, she finally tells Janine she’s proud of her.

I have to admit, I was hopeful when Janine finally found her voice on Abbott Elementary, pushing back against Ava’s often-blunt approach. It felt like a turning point for her character. But that hope was quickly dashed. Just a week later, she experienced yet another disappointment with her mother and realized she needed some space from Vanetta. It’s frustrating to see her take two steps forward, only to be pulled back by these recurring family issues.

“Birthday” Underlines Just How Different Vanetta and Janine Are

Image courtesy of Everett Collection

Right from the start of “Birthday,” I could tell Janine and Vanetta had completely different ideas about what Janine wanted for her life. Janine seemed really happy with Gregory, who’s doing well in his career and seems like a great guy. But Vanetta was convinced Janine was secretly miserable about breaking up with her ex, Tariq, even though he wasn’t exactly ambitious.

It’s funny watching Janine and Gregory – she’s totally into his chill vibe, but Vanetta? She’s side-eyeing everything, convinced there must be something going on and, honestly, she blurts out the most awkward things, like blaming a lack of… well, let’s just say ‘energy’ for his behavior! Thankfully, Barbara steps in and gently reminds Vanetta to look at things from Janine’s point of view and appreciate how genuinely happy her daughter seems. It’s a nice little moment that balances out the cringe.

For a brief time, Vanetta and Janine find common ground when Vanetta puts aside her own feelings and tells Janine she’s happy to see her daughter thriving in all aspects of her life – her relationships, career, and overall plans. Despite continued disagreements, Vanetta manages to express her approval of Janine’s choices.

When Janine shared her plans to marry Gregory and buy a house together, her mother, Vanetta, reacted badly, revealing her deeply negative personality and damaging their relationship. Vanetta’s unwillingness to celebrate Janine’s happiness, combined with her obvious envy, showed she hadn’t grown as a person, ultimately leading Janine to disinvite her from dinner.

Given how hopeful Janine is about reconnecting with Vanetta from Abbott Elementary, it’s shockingly disappointing when Vanetta reveals a mean streak while talking about her daughter’s plans. Telling Janine she’s naturally irritating and will ultimately push Gregory away is just plain unkind – and it mirrors the behavior that made Janine distance herself from her own mother.

Abbott Elementary Season 5 Highlighted The Sitcom’s Biggest Missing Character

Vanetta points out how strange it is that Janine’s sister isn’t around for her 30th birthday, given how little Janine sees her family. This also subtly acknowledges that Ayo Edebiri, who plays Janine’s sister Ayesha, was featured in season 2 but hasn’t been back since.

Aya Edebiri’s rising popularity and packed work schedule make it unlikely she’ll be back soon. She has several projects lined up, including the films Opus and After the Hunt, and the shows The Bear, Everybody Still Hates Chris, I Love LA, and Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, all scheduled for release in 2025.

It’s unlikely Ayesha will reappear on the show, and it would feel awkward for Abbott Elementary to pretend she never existed. The return of Vanetta in season 5, episode 8 provided a natural way to acknowledge Ayesha’s absence and also conclude the story arc between Vanetta and Janine.

Read More

2025-12-11 05:39