5 Reasons Why Abbott Elementary Is Better Than The Office

Life is unfair, so the biggest part of it we mostly spend at work. Maybe that’s the reason why there are so many workplace series, for the audience not to feel jealous about the characters’ lifestyles?

Still, sometimes the showrunners decide to add something more to the story, and they turn their show into a mockumentary. The most beloved of them all is definitely The Office, but Abbot Elementary is already popular enough to compete.

Both of them have the same format, the same awkward humor, and a lovable, quirky cast of characters. However, Abbott Elementary offers several key elements that make the show even better than the iconic series. And here are just 5 of them.

1. A More Diverse Cast and Setting

Set in a public school in West Philadelphia, Abbott Elementary focuses on the black community and the specifics of the teaching process. This provides a fresh perspective and a fairly authentic portrayal of education in an urban setting. Frankly, we can't think of another show on modern television with such a premise.

While The Office was groundbreaking in its own way, its mostly white cast and suburban office setting can feel dated compared to the diversity and real-world relevance that Abbott brings to the table.

2. Heartfelt Humor with a Purpose

While The Office has excelled at cringeworthy moments and absurd humor, Abbott Elementary has managed to maintain a perfect balance between comedy and heart. The show doesn't shy away from depicting the struggles of teachers in underfunded schools, yet it maintains a lighthearted tone that makes the social message more relatable.

“I’ll always be a diehard Office fan, but they all felt like actors playing parts. I think this show manages to use these old ideas and builds on it in a completely different and original way that feels closer to real conversations than scripted scenes,” Redditor North-Environment133 said.

3. Stronger Female Lead

Well, while the school's headmistress, Ava Coleman, bears a striking resemblance to The Office's Michael Scott, it's still a female character who's shown as a manager in Abbott. But the thing is, it's not just Ava who's shown at the helm of the team. The cast is female-led, with Barbara, Melanie, and Janine being the ones who take care of every problem that comes the way of the school.

4. Social Relevance

Abbott Elementary tackles contemporary issues in education, including underfunding, teacher burnout, and systemic inequality. These issues are integrated into the show's humor, creating a deeper connection with viewers who may personally relate to the struggles depicted.

In contrast, The Office never quite reached the same level of social relevance, focusing more on the absurdities of corporate life than on real-world problems. Even when the creators wanted to address an important social issue, they ended up taking it to another level of absurdity, such as with the fun run to raise awareness of the dangers of rabies.

5. Better Connection To The Filming Crew

In The Office, we usually see the characters interacting with the camera in a straightforward way, through these mini-interviews behind closed doors, but in Abbott Elementary, the crew is a part of their everyday lives, and the little glances they give to those behind the camera like "did you see that" is so real that it makes people relate.

“I think they definitely found the right balance in dealing with the mockumentary style. The way they don’t play into it too much however still have the classic camera stares/glances is always funny. The “camera crew” isn’t overbearing but when they’re called out it’s definitely in a funny way,” Redditor megatron-0098 said.

Abbott Elementary is available to stream on Hulu and Max.