David Farnor | On 31, Dec 2024

From Abbott Elementary to Teachers, the world of teachers has always been ripe soil for comedy, even as the industry has become tougher for those trying to educate future generations. English Teacher understands that more than most, as it explores both the hope and the cynicism that comes with the modern classroom.

Created by Brian Jordan Alvarez, the series follows Evan Marquez, who works at Morrison-Hensley High School in Austin, Texas. When we first meet him, he’s already facing unexpected additional pressure, as a parent complains about him kissing his former boyfriend, Malcolm (Jordan Firstman), in front of their son. Evan fights back, claiming that they’re in denial about their son being gay, which is the source of their frustration – and, tellingly, he’s right.

That doesn’t, however, dismiss the problem entirely: this is a show that understands being correct isn’t an instant pass to easy righteousness or simple solutions. That’s the key to the programme’s success, as Alvarez and his writing team – including co-star Stephanie Koenig – find nuances and tensions amid disagreements that social media would suggest are black-and-white in their polarising nature.

An early highlight is an annual football tradition of the boys cross-dressing and putting on a show – something that the LGBTQ+ alliance object to. Does it matter that there only a handful of them? Does it make a difference if it’s done with authentic acknowledgement of drag culture? Or if Evan’s friend, drag queen Shazam (Trixie Mattel), is actually a terrible role model? Even better is a gun safety episode that recalls It’s Alway Sunny in Philadelphia, as Evan leads a protest against a revived gun club for students, but has to go to extreme lengths to convince anyone that there’s a potential threat in the school.

Evan’s attempts to do the right thing, brilliantly, are almost the wrong thing, whether that’s due to his own presumed authority or his inability to listen and learn from other people. Alvarez is endearing as he presents us with Evan’s do-good dreams, without airbrushing over his flaws; he gently shows us a man growing and maturing over the eight episodes.

The supporting cast are wonderful, elevating what could have been a conventional comedy into something beautifully lived-in: Evan’s best friend, is history teacher Gwen (Koenig), who will call him out on his main character energy, while also getting preoccupied on her own rankings within the school’s hot-teacher list. His almost-helpful ally is the adorable football coach Markie (Sean Patton), who’s at once a conservative, straight guy and a gold-hearted puppy dog who will stand up for his colleagues without thinking. Carmen Christopher is entertaining as a guidance counsellor who wants to get rich and leave the profession, while Enrico Colantoni is likeably worn out as the jaded but committed Principal Moretti. Throw in a new teacher – Harry (Langston Kerman) – who may or may not have a crush on Evan (and vice versa) and you have a fun ensemble piece that allows each character to develop, something that’s even more impressive given how many witty quips and one-liners they race through in each 25-minute episode.

The pupils, meanwhile, don’t fade into one monotonous background, but pop up in unexpected and believably challenging ways, from a book club debating banned literature to a student who pretends to have asymptomatic Tourette’s. The parents are equally problematic, whether it’s Andrene Ward-Hammond stealing scenes as a mum paranoid that unhealthy sex games are constantly unfolding to Jenn Lyon’s ruthless Linda, a local business owner not above blackmail or bribery to get her way.

At every step, the show lets our sympathies settle before subverting our expectations, and that repeated whiplash smartly prods us to reconsider our own views and preconceptions. The result is one of the most understated and surprising comedies of 2024.

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