English Teacher: Season 1 (TV Series)

English Teacher functions as a workplace sitcom, following a group of well-meaning teachers at the Austin, Texas based High School, with central focus on our English Teacher Evan who is gay and proud and whose professional and personal lives never seem to be in order; leading to a lot of funny lol situations. While keeping humour alive, the show keeps focus also on what it means being an openly gay, or even just an extremely liberal, teacher working in an otherwise conservative community. The first season of this show has 8 episodes of about 22 minutes each, a typical sitcom format.

We are introduced to Evan Marquez, a high school English teacher who is generally late to school but mostly loved by students. In first episode, Evan is being put under school investigation after a parent reports him for kissing his now ex-boyfriend, fellow ex-teacher-cum-tech bro Malcolm, in front of her son. Much of the season’s first half revolves around Evan’s futile attempts to navigate this scandal without losing his job, especially after Harry, a hot and flirty new gay teacher, arrives, complicating Evan’s agreement to no longer date other school faculty. We have a few other characters central to the plot. The PE teacher who understanding and touchingly observant and often times very helpful to Evan. PE teacher has crush on fellow teacher Gwen who is Evan's best friend as well. Then we have college counselor who couldn’t care less about the “guidance” part of his job, but does pack weed for school camping trips. And most importantly the principal of the school trying to keep it all together. Yes, the premise does remind one of the ht show "Abbot Elementary" except for a more gayer and high school version. While dealing with a new situation in every episode, the how also focuses on the current generation and ho aware they are. While also focusing on Evan's love life. His on and off fob situation with his ex Malcolm, plus his attraction to the new gay teacher in school make for some funny situations. 

Each episode displays how we learn differently from generation to generation as well as from one line of authority to the other. Evan will never be the type of queer person to roll over and take abuse from anyone, but he is also self-conscious in some of his participation. It’s such a refreshing point of view while being sly, slick, and hilarious as it skewers teachable moments from kids and teachers alike. The series is calling out just how ludicrous it all is, and the tension between the kids, who Evan and Gwen wonder are less “woke” than in previous years, and the intensity of parents and administrators. It does this with a sharp sense of humour but also warmth (using the PE teacher). The show’s attention is focused on the experiences of these teachers navigating their jobs in a difficult and rapidly-shifting educational landscape where the “kids are just different now.” Evan’s professional and personal lives, which always seem to be a little messy no matter how hard he tries to make sure they’re not. Brian Alvarez who is the creator of the show also plays the main lead and does an absolutely fantastic job. The makers don’t take themselves or their characters too seriously because so much of the show’s writing seems acutely self-aware. The best episode of the show is when they all go for a field trip and one of the mothers brings up these Radom sexual games that kids might be playing these days ending with some raunchy funny names. All actors doe a good job and their best to make you laugh, which is kinda important in today's time. The show moves at a brisk pace, never once overstaying its welcome with unnecessary fluff. It’s the kind of easily digestible comedy that I would recommend watching. (7/10)