School may be letting out a lot sooner than we thought. In a profile this week with Bustle, Quinta Brunson discusses a wide range of topics that are sure to give fans even greater insight into their favorite fictional teacher. Between addressing her days at Buzzfeed, her evolution as a comedian, and the public pressures of being a high-profile creative, the article lets the creator of Abbott Elementary go outside the classroom to tell her own story, but it also teases an unexpected fate for her beloved workplace comedy. While Brunson doesn’t put an end date on her acclaimed hit, she nevertheless uses this interview to signal that she’s ready to move on from Abbott, raising the very real possibility that the series may end with Season 5.

For context, Abbott Elementary first debuted back at the tail end of 2021 and quickly garnered critical praise of the highest caliber. The show is especially noteworthy for highlighting the grounded struggles of public educators at a time when many are not provided with the proper means to instruct their students or fulfill their basic duties, as well as introducing audiences to a memorable cast of characters whose personal lives are just as compelling as the series’ comedic riffs. Bolstered by a devoted following and viewership numbers that have only increased through the show’s fourth season, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say Abbott Elementary is one of the most successful shows on television. Consistently renewed for additional seasons ever since its premiere, the series boasts that perfect blend of audience and corporate support most shows only dream of, but nevertheless, Brunson still has good reason for believing even Abbott should come to an end.

Quinta Brunson Believes ‘Abbott Elementary’ Is Holding Back the Show’s Main Cast

Brunson‘s remarks don’t hint at a concern over a future drop in quality or a lack of narrative material that could maintain Abbott Elementary‘s current momentum. Instead, she doubles down on her concern for her fellow castmates, explaining, “I have cast members who would love to pursue other projects, and our show is very time-consuming. We shoot about seven months out of the year. That can stop people from being able to do a lot of other things.”

As disheartening as it is to admit that something as wonderful as Abbott Elementary could ever be a burden to an actor’s career, Brunson is essentially confessing that after five seasons, even a popular workplace comedy can drag down a performer’s schedule more than it bolsters their career. Not only is this perspective remarkably thoughtful for an industry that typically squeezes actors for everything they have if it means adding to a formula that works, but it also serves to remind viewers of just how much potential Abbott‘s cast still has to entertain the world.

Consisting of industry veterans and some relative newcomers, the impact that Abbott Elementary has had on its main cast will never be able to be understated. The series has underscored the strengths of familiar faces like Tyler James Williams while recognizing the underrated talent of actors like Sheryl Lee Ralph, but it has also acted as a showcase for younger talent as well. Aside from Brunson herself, Janelle James and Chris Perfetti have consistently proven they can also soak up their own fair share of the spotlight as Principal Ava Coleman and Jacob Hill. Moreover, given the exposure that Abbott Elementary‘s success has given both groups of performers, it’s no wonder many of them are itching to capitalize on their popular fictional lives, and with Brunson‘s series taking quite a bite out of their work calendar, it makes sense that the show would end to accommodate its beloved staff.

Ending ‘Abbott Elementary’ Sooner Rather Than Later Is a Smart Move for the Hit Workplace Comedy

Beyond what Abbott Elementary‘s cast is looking to accomplish off school grounds, ending Abbott Elementary in the near future is also a smart move for a completely different reason. Mainly, in a television landscape often defined by shows that end too soon and shows that don’t end soon enough, Brunson‘s series currently occupies a comfortable middle ground. With four well-received seasons under its belt and another on the way, Abbott Elementary has largely accomplished what its premise suggests the series set out to do, and churning out additional seasons purely to feed the show’s continuing popularity is a recipe for a disastrous drop in quality. What’s more, as a workplace comedy clearly modeled off shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation, the possibility of continuing Abbott Elementary without its central cast comes with a dangerous precedent.

While Parks and Recreation did exchange some early cast members for series regulars following its first season, that decision-making process clearly represented a series coming into its own over time. The Office, on the other hand, knows well just what can happen when you extend a series beyond its main cast’s willingness to commit to a project. The later seasons of the series following Steve Carell‘s exit are typically regarded as uneven, with the treatment of characters like Ed Helms‘ Andy Bernard reflecting a conflicted approach to The Office‘s main progression. In contrast, shows like The Good Place and Brooklyn Nine-Nine never fell flat. The Good Place memorably made the need to end something when it is over a crucial plot point of its main finale, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine sustained eight seasons by maintaining the heart of its cast, underscoring just how important it is that Abbott Elementary concludes its story with its main faculty intact.

‘Abbott Elementary’ Is Ready To Ring the Final Bell on Its Best Storylines

Even if the precedents set by previous shows can’t emphasize the importance of Brunson’s comments, the fact remains that Abbott Elementary‘s story is nevertheless primed for a satisfying ending in Season 5. At this point in the series, many of its main storylines are already nearing a cathartic stopping point, with Janine and Gregory’s slow-burn gradually approaching something more serious, Jacob bound to rebound from his last relationship, and Ava fully embracing the role of a dedicated, more considerate principal after her temporary firing toward the end of Season 4. Even Barbara appears poised to potentially retire by the end of Abbott Elementary‘s run, and another twenty episodes should be more than enough for Brunson’s series to wrap up each of these plot points with enough care for the series’ finale to satisfy its dedicated viewer base.

While there will always be new narrative angles to explore and hilariously absurd jokes to make—especially in this day and age—Abbott Elementary has already done enough. With episodes covering topics as salient as book bannings, storylines that humanize the daily struggles of educators, and even an unexpected crossover, Abbott Elementary has solidified its place in America’s cultural zeitgeist as a reliable source of kind-hearted comedy that makes it easy to laugh during even the most hopeless times. A talented cast and dedicated creator could certainly keep things going over the next few years, but if Abbott‘s actors are ready to move on from their characters’ lives, it’s starting to sound like the bravest thing for everyone would be to say goodbye.

All episodes of Abbott Elementary can be streamed on Hulu in the U.S.

via Collider