ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary is hot off a number of recent awards wins. The series won for Best Ensemble Comedy at the Screen Actors Guild Awards (along with an additional Acting win for creator and star Quinta Brunson). Abbott also recently took home honors from NAACP and GLAAD; the Critics Choice Awards; the Film Independent Spirit Awards; and the Golden Globes, among others.

All that is to say: if you’re not watching Abbott Elementary, you should be. This series personally restored my faith in network sitcoms, and continues to be one of the highlights to my week each Wednesday.

So, here are five excellent episodes from season 2 of Abbott Elementary that prove it deserves all the accolades in the business.

5. “Wrong Delivery” (2×02)

“Wrong Delivery” kicks off with one of my all-time favorite cold opens, a bit about Barbara mixing up celebrities (inspired by actress Sheryl Lee Ralph doing the same thing). That alone could give it a place on this list, honestly.

But more than that, “Wrong Delivery” is a great showcase for the Abbott Elementary teachers – particularly how their personalities and experience inform their actions throughout the series. The episode emphasizes Janine’s (Brunson) optimistic-to-a-fault attitude (watch her try to put a positive PR spin on rats) and Principal Ava’s (Janelle James)… unique approach to managing a school (Shark Tank to allocate funds).

Plus, the episode sets up an important dynamic with rival school Addington Elementary, as well as a personal twist for Lisa Ann Walter’s Melissa. All in all, “Wrong Delivery” gives a good feel for the characters, while delivering plenty of laughs along the way.

Bonus recommendation: If you like “Wrong Delivery,” try “Juice” (2×05).

“Juice” offers up more of Janine’s brand of (accidentally problem causing) enthusiasm, another fun Ava scheme, and several more iconic Barbara moments.

4. “Candy Zombies” (2×06)

Every sitcom needs their holiday episode touchstones. Abbott Elementary knocks it out of the park with “Candy Zombies.” Halloween at Abbott leans into the holiday fun, letting the staff’s costumes shine (Chris Perfetti’s Jacob as “Wage Theft,” Tyler James Williams’ Gregory as Sully Sullenberger…), while reminding the audience of the true terror of Halloween: trying to wrangle a bunch of kids on a massive sugar high.

For the Marvel fans, there’s plenty of Avengers gags between Melissa’s Scarlet Witch, Mr. Johnson’s (William Stanford Davis) not-Vision, and a student’s Baby Thanos. It’s also one of the few episodes where we get to see the ensemble all in scenes together (always fun). But even when the plot revolves around a candy caper, Abbott Elementary knows how to connect with audiences on an emotional level; in “Candy Zombies,” we see Janine struggling post-breakup, and ultimately getting the support she needs from her Abbott family.

Bonus recommendation: If you like “Candy Zombies,” try “Valentine’s Day” (2×14).

“Valentine’s Day” at Abbott Elementary also delivers all the fun you want from a holiday episode, including expanding on Janine and Gregory’s will-they, won’t-they dynamic. This time, the emotional plot belongs to Ava, who begins to realize she doesn’t hate learning after all. We even get an exchange of “I love you”s – though maybe not how you’re expecting.

3. Fire (2×15)

Ralph’s buttoned-up Barbara Howard comes undone in this episode after she accidentally starts a fire at the school, swinging from hilarious to heartbreaking by the end of the story. Ralph may have sealed her Season 1 Emmy win with “Sweet baby Jesus and the grown one too,” but the season 2 episode “Fire” reminds us she deserves all the praise heaped onto her. (As if anyone really needed the reminder.) 

The episode also lets Melissa showcase an endearing love for fighting fires, shows Gregory eagerly step up into the administrative role he’s craved since the beginning of the series, and even gives Jacob a little cookie redemption arc.

Bonus recommendation: If you like “Fire,” try “Fundraiser” (2×13).

“Fundraiser” is another episode that dives deeper into Barbara’s character, but through an excellent story that explores her dynamic with Ava. Oh, and the side plot with Jacob and Mr. Johnson involving a cat gets me every time.

2. Read-a-Thon (2×11)

Speaking of award-worthy… let’s talk about Walter in “Read-a-Thon,” one of the funniest episodes of Abbott Elementary that also brought me to tears. Yes, Janine openly challenging the ultra-competitive Melissa sets up some great comedic bits throughout the episode (including a bet that means the loser will have to participate in Jacob’s recently launched podcast). 

But the core of “Read-a-Thon” is a deeply touching story about Melissa recognizing that one of her students is struggling with reading. It dives into the important role teachers have not just as educators, but as advocates for their kids. The episode culminates in a moving one-on-one with Melissa and her student Mya, where she reveals her own struggle with dyslexia and shows the girl some of her own tactics to make reading easier. It’s a beautifully acted scene by Walter, and the perfect demonstration of the core belief of Abbott Elementary: that teachers make an impact on our lives that runs so much deeper than learning our ABCs.

Bonus recommendation: If you like “Read-a-Thon,” try “Principal’s Office” (2×04).

For more great Janine and Melissa moments, check out “Principal’s Office”. (Bonus: It’s got a little nod to Walter’s role as Chessy for The Parent Trap fans.)

1. Teacher Conference (2×16)

I’d call it recency bias, but the fact that I rewatched “Teacher Conference” three times within the first week of its premiere and found it just as charming and hilarious on every repeat viewing speaks volumes. I know the season isn’t over yet, but it’s hard to imagine anything topping this episode.

Season 2 of Abbott Elementary started exploring more of the teachers’ lives outside of their classrooms. And “Teacher Conference” brings that exploration to the perfect head, as they all “let loose” in their own unique ways. Janine and Jacob’s friendship and infectious enthusiasm for teaching kicks off the episode; the Barbara and Melissa “two plus one Math-a-Ritas” dynamic is absolutely everything; and Gregory and Janine solidify their standing as one of the cutest sitcom couples of all time.

Throw in a guest appearance by Lauren Weedman as Melissa’s sister and bookend the story with some great Ava moments, and you’ve got yourself one hell of an episode. PECSA weekend, make some noise!

Bonus recommendation: If you like “Teacher Conference,” try “Holiday Hookah” (2×10).

Like “Teacher Conference,” “Holiday Hookah” is one of my all-time favorite Abbott episodes. It’s another great showcase for what the teachers get up to outside of work hours, complete with a touch of Janine/Gregory romance, Work Wives traditions, and iconic Ava zingers.

You can watch new episodes of Abbott Elementary season 2 Wednesdays at 9pm ET/PT on ABC. They are also available to stream a day later on Hulu. The sitcom’s first season currently streams on both Hulu and HBO Max.

So, what episode of Abbott is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below.