The English Teacher - (FX) 

By: Rachel Brodeur

Known for its edgy and inventive comedies, FX misses the mark with The English Teacher. The English Teacher is well acted, headed by Brian Jordan (M3GAN, Will & Grace) as the titular character, and Stephanie Koenig (Lessons in Chemistry, The Flight Attendant) and Sean Patton (Shotgun Wedding) as his fellow teachers and friends in a fictional Texas high school. The cast has chemistry;  jokes are well timed and peppered throughout the trio’s banter as they bring their personal problems to school. The students, while secondary, offer a steady string of one-liners and precocious adolescent wisdom. 

What The English Teacher lacks is subtlety. Jordan’s character, Evan Marquez, yes is an English teacher, but beyond anything else, he is defined by his sexuality as a gay man which is the front and center of the plot. Episodes are heavy handed in almost lecturing the audience on a caricature of homosexuality and other hot button social issues that feel inauthentic with the sitcom format of exaggerated unlikely circumstances. It is this lack of authenticity and sense of place that make this show a less successful version of Abbott Elementary, which remembers to center the heart of well-rounded characters in humor and relatable comedy. 

In a media landscape with fresh new ideas and formats that push boundaries, The English Teacher relies on finding an audience who revel in a comfortable situation comedy. The characters are likable, the jokes are funny, albeit predictable, and at the end of the half hour, characters will have learned a lesson. 

Rachel’s Rating: 4/10 FX’s The English Teacher boasts a strong cast with good chemistry and sharp comedic timing, but its heavy-handed focus on social issues feels forced and lacks nuance.