[lordhuachengzhu]

2026 is going to bring out levels of fandom behavior that haven't been seen since 2016

[crabappels]

All of this is to say I would love to discuss what people think Jacob’s core qualities are. What are his values? How genuine about them is he as opposed to reactionary? What are his core personality traits?

Like I find him to be a deeply goofy, positive, optimistic yet neurotic person. He wants to be inspiring but comes off as corny, despite the fact he is so genuine and earnest about everything he says. His head is in the clouds, but when it’s serious (liaison rep) he is surprisingly sharp. At the same time he’s socially clumsy and can’t read a room to save his life, yet he seems to be fairly empathetic and picks up on when people are upset. (So he would have trouble telling when people are lying but he can sense sadness and anger pretty well). He has an aggressive streak he lets out when he feels it’s appropriate and has a hard time expressing negative emotions for fear of upsetting people (first example I can think of is when he tries to avoid expressing his negative thoughts on his brother to Gregory because he doesn’t want to “burden” him).

What are other things yall can think of…

[ostriches-because-i-said-so]

i have waited so long for this form of analysis on him duuudddeeee. My main thing rn is how little we actually know about him for certain. Like you can grasp his personality and we know the gist of his past, but we know so little about his childhood. And it takes longer to meet Caleb than anyone else's relatives, I think. He's so open about himself and closed off at the same time and I love it. He struggles to be direct but then he can also be too direct. I have so many thoughts on him specifically, I'm so excited for what they do with him next season since they keep giving him boyfriends that go nowhere and that beginning of an arc in the karaoke episode that also pretty much went nowhere.

Also need him and Janine to have an episode again. They're growing so distant, I think it would be interesting to see that from both their perspectives. Janine as someone who never had many friends growing up and Jacob who we don't know if he had lots of friends growing up but did get consistently bullied growing up (I think that's established in the candy hearts episode but idr) The idea that they're subconsiously pushing eachother away because they don't know how to maintain that type of relationship (Mostly Janine, Jacob feels like he's still making an effort in that friendship and Janine is just too busy to notice at the moment, EX- I texted you, you responded 10-4 my dude.

He and Gregory also haven't had an episode in a while, which I'm not too upset about since they're plotline have been leading them away from one another for a while and they're still besties. I'm still mad about them doing exactly what I knew they would to Ava and Jacob's friendship possibility twice. (Liason debate and Teddie breakup) He and Barbara hardly had anything in the first place, if they get an episode that'd be awesome they're one of my favourite duos because they are so interesting dynamic wise but if they don't that's fine. I need Jacob to have a moving out arc with Melissa. He's paying rent for a room she isn't even letting him sleep in right now and their dynamic pisses me off more and more, I'll be honest.

I think giving Jacob a more serious relationship with a guy (Idk who he's dating right now he's gone through like 3 different guys this season it feels like and I don't know what keeps happening to them, they just magically disappear whenever) would begin to fullfill the arc from the karaoke episode, which hasn't really been acknowledged or resolved. And while I can acknowledge giving him a seperate apartment as he's breaking away from the main parts of Abbott isn't great, they've already moved Melissa up to the higher grades as a replacment anyway, and when he was the only one working with the higher grades he made it clear he would still be involved with his friends anyway, so I'm not that worried. As long as he gets a happy ending and comes back in every now and then, I'm good. All they do is insult him anyway. Remember that time they just forgot him alone in the woods? Funny bit guys, didn't make me sick at all.

Point is, I feel like Jacob's character has so more flesh that needs to be moved out (Like him and Melissa's spare room he's paying to sleep in that he's not even sleeping in!!! It makes me so angry) I need them to do more with him as he leaves Abbott so he can fully arc and get the ending he deserves. I don't think they'd fully kick him out, my guess is he'll still be extremely involved wherever he ends up in the district and we'll see plenty of him around, but my point stands. If they're going to move his character to a new place they need to resolve the current place.

I think about him a lot. Too much even. I don't think this answered your question really well but it's 1 in the morning and once I got started I couldn't stop. Gee, I wonder why Jacob's my fav. In the end, Jacob's a nice guy. I think he really does put thought into whathe does and doesn't support, but I know he'd be hipocritical and use it anyway sometimes. Like when Melissa and Barb talk about him sending articles that- I believe- he wrote on topics he does(n't) support. He knows what he's talking about, but I think he's only somewhat aware how far he takes it and it causes him to get trapped up in his own claims.

I've tried closing this rant 3 times, so I'll just end with... Jacob's my favourite and I'm already looking into the AuDHD diagnosis, don't worry

[crabappels]

I am SO CONFUSED about Jacob and Melissa’s relationship.

It’s almost like they have this wanna be Janine&Ava back and forth teasing dynamic but without any back and forth. It’s just Melissa being mean and Jacob having no spine.

Like Jacob is obviously okay with his situation: sleeping on the couch, the favoritism, etc. He’s stuck in the same position he was as a child and seems to just lean into it with minor annoyance. Is it that hard to find a studio in Philly??? Or is he exhibiting symptoms of Stockholm syndrome?? Boy stand up for yourself!! Damn!!

And I get Melissa treats her family and people she loves like a crazy person, and that may have something to do with it… but damn! The weirdest part is it feels more intentional as opposed to an error on the part of the writers, like they were building to something and cut it last minute. What is happening. Is Jacob going to grow a pair. Is Melissa going to stop bullying him. Omfg.

[crabappels]

All of this is to say I would love to discuss what people think Jacob’s core qualities are. What are his values? How genuine about them is he as opposed to reactionary? What are his core personality traits?

Like I find him to be a deeply goofy, positive, optimistic yet neurotic person. He wants to be inspiring but comes off as corny, despite the fact he is so genuine and earnest about everything he says. His head is in the clouds, but when it’s serious (liaison rep) he is surprisingly sharp. At the same time he’s socially clumsy and can’t read a room to save his life, yet he seems to be fairly empathetic and picks up on when people are upset. (So he would have trouble telling when people are lying but he can sense sadness and anger pretty well). He has an aggressive streak he lets out when he feels it’s appropriate and has a hard time expressing negative emotions for fear of upsetting people (first example I can think of is when he tries to avoid expressing his negative thoughts on his brother to Gregory because he doesn’t want to “burden” him).

What are other things yall can think of…

[crabappels]

It just ughhh irks me like. Okay the people on Reddit are not hyperfixated on Jacob as a character and obsessive like I am. But being further away from a character can sometimes be a help rather than a hinderance to discovering their true character yk. But it can also just lead to sort of half baked commentary not completely thought through because they hate the character. So I get sort of ??? About my interpretations of him idk

and sometimes I read fic or posts on here that just totally woobify Jacob. Like yes he’s a buttmonkey. He’s a loser and awkward and has hinted at a deep loneliness. But he’s also super resilient, very good at letting things go (see: how people treat him doesn’t really make him any less confident or talkative or anything, and it’s implied he’s been bullied his whole life). He doesn’t take insults to heart but he listens to criticism and changes.

I am just sort of obsessive about interpreting characters “correctly,” which can be so difficult because my own biases get in the way & the character changes over time.

[crabappels]

I just woke up five minutes ago so bear with me but something interesting about Jacob interpretations (and fandom in general) is how Jacob’s fandom characterization is so heavily influenced by how charitable you are to him as a character. On Reddit recently there’s been some “discourse” over whether Jacob would use AI, and a lot of people commented he would be the type to ask AI to come up with reasons that AI is bad for the environment. And while part of me could see this as true, a larger part of me is just like … that’s a deeply uncharitable interpretation of Jacob. I think people sometimes go that route because we know Jacob can be an anxious hypocrite and is certainly a klutz, but I argue that just because he has these (human) flaws, it doesn’t mean he hasn’t thought about his morals and their justifications. Frankly he seems like he thinks about these things TOO much and wouldn’t go looking to AI to validate him. (He’d probably go to Twitter. Lol)

I don’t know. It all depends on how charitable you are to the strength of his inner consciousness. And the fact people get vastly different interpretations of his character makes me wonder which is true. Is Jacob intellectually thoughtful & interrogative regarding his morals? Or is he a progressive reactionary following trends? Maybe a bit of both?

[crabappels]

Thinking about Jacob having a mean streak... Like how he gets aggressive when he feels he’s being attacked (Caleb appearance, certain times he’s criticized like when Gregory tells him not to break up w/ Zach like that)… His weird relationship w/ Morton (having a scapegoat for his anger? he Really takes advantage of having someone he’s “allowed” to hate for their sexism/xenophobia/etc.).

Yet at the same time he rarely gets angry at people he cares about & if anything is a total doormat. His generally people-pleasing personality makes those moments of aggression all the more interesting.

[crabappels]

@noxdemon Girl don't hide this in the tags!!

Like this makes a lot of sense imo... True to form I'm most curious about what this reflects about his childhood. Clearly he was not allowed to express negative emotions (we see this here w/ Nox's analysis and we also see it in his people-pleasing and doormat personality traits).

The real question (and one I'm surprised fan fic writers have not taken up yet) is how does this reflect on his parents? Did they ignore him whenever he expressed negative emotions? Or did they have an aggressive response, ie. yelling at him? (and thus further teaching him negative emotions are bad and should be hidden.)

I'd honestly lean towards ignored him when he expressed negative emotions just based on 1. his passive aggressive behavior and 2. his understanding of relationships ("I guess we're stuck here" phase) ... but also we know Christmases were full of yelling and fighting. Maybe it was a bit of both!

I'd love to see this explored further in fan media. I'd do it myself but I don't have any ideas lol :P

[crabappels]

Maybe Melissa and Jacob are more siblings than mother&son...

[dancinghannigram]

I would trade this sleep for you in a heartbeat But this weather will not lift It leaves us shouting into cliffs without an echo Each day you come closer So close I can almost feel your breath on my shoulders But I know if I turn around you might run away again

thank you mouse for the inspo <3

Text ID: "He died for you" and "Will you live for him?"

[crabappels]

I really want to change this blog name but it’s been so long … but I hate this UN. But I’m also attached. & I have no idea what I would change it to.

[carnelianqueen]

Am I the only one who really wanted to see Jacob's holiday show? I was digging the purple, and the opening was strong before the furnace blew. I feel like Jacob is actually lowkey gay musical producer royalty. I just get that from him.

[crabappels]

100% a lifelong theater kid who is still obsessed with it.

[crabappels]

Thinking about Jacob having a mean streak... Like how he gets aggressive when he feels he’s being attacked (Caleb appearance, certain times he’s criticized like when Gregory tells him not to break up w/ Zach like that)… His weird relationship w/ Morton (having a scapegoat for his anger? he Really takes advantage of having someone he’s “allowed” to hate for their sexism/xenophobia/etc.).

Yet at the same time he rarely gets angry at people he cares about & if anything is a total doormat. His generally people-pleasing personality makes those moments of aggression all the more interesting.

[withbeatles]

I feel like the goddamn reason no one draws Jacob from Abbott elementary is because his goddamn hair is so hard to draw. How do u draw it.

[crabappels]

After these last two episodes

[crabappels]

Everyone saying stuff about how contrived their fight is, and how Gregory is usually so mature, and this is so OOC or whatever blah blah. But like... yeah, that's the point. It's their first fight.

It's not literally about flying v. driving. It's about 1. how they each handle money (Janine who isn't thinking as strictly long-term w/ regards to money & as such isn't afraid to spend a little extra for comfort and enjoyment v. Gregory who, in part because he feels as the man of the house he must provide, is thinking long-term about money ie. retirement & their future together), 2. the impact of their childhoods (They grew up in very different households w/ very different perceptions of how to manage money and make arrangements. Both also grew up w/ single parents and likely don't have a great idea on how to truly compromise in a relationship), and 3. their innate personality differences, with Janine being more carefree and Gregory being more "obsessive compulsive" (in the psychoanalytical sense, not OCD)...

+ Janine is overcorrecting for a life spent being walked on, & Gregory has a bit of an ego and a desire to be the 'provider' that can make him think he's right because he's logical. Like ... of course they're going to have a big fight! They need to in order to grow! I mean it all makes sense, and it's a super important argument for them to have. I can't wait to see how it is resolved.

[ladyorlandodream]

Madame, who gave you permission to be this hot?!

[saltyseazdgx]

Long Island Iced Tea Janine I Love You