I Love FX's “English Teacher”
By Clara Seely-Katz
And it isn’t just because I had a phenomenal English teacher in high school who kind of looks like Brian Jordan Alvarez.
I want to preface this article by saying the trailer for English Teacher does not do it justice. The fast-paced and frenetic nature of Brian Jordan Alvarez’s current and past work does not translate well into a condensed trailer, probably cut by someone who specializes in trailers and not comedy (no fault of their own). I put the trailer down below to help you get an idea of the show, but really, this is one of those things that you must dive into head first to really get the comedic pacing and impact.
*spoiler-y material ahead
English Teacher is Hulu’s (or rather, FXs) latest solid, excellent A+ show. It comes out on a weekly basis, a format that I have been craving of late because if it came out all at once, I would have binged right through it, and it would be over, but instead, English Teacher opted for the slow burn. The comedy follows the life of Evan Marquez and his fellow teachers as they navigate high school, politics, and being good humans (or trying to be).
Although there has been some “right-wing blowback” over the show's perceived “wokeness”—the homophobic and bigoted complaints mainly stem from the fact queer protagonist leads the show. The complaints/complainers are toothless. Quite the opposite of “woke” posturing (which tends to be tedious even when done in good faith), English Teacher pulls no punches on anyone. It does an excellent job of making everything seem absurd (because this whole “woke” and “anti-woke” conversation is absurd, and the word itself has been co-opted by people who don’t even fully understand its roots).
Early on, Evan remarks that the kids are becoming less woke, and his coworker retorts that they are bringing the “r-word” back. They poke fun at everyone but are sure to keep a solid heart at the center of what they do, which makes this a uniquely diverse and accessible show. This is a perfect example of “offensive” comedy done correctly. These jabs help set the stage for what will be an all-around ridiculous time full of wild statements and jokes that teeter on the edge.
Another virtue of the show is how Alvarez and his team have been able to toe the line between realistic teenage behavior in the 21st century and cringe faux-Gen-Z dialogue that so many shows are plagued with today. The nonchalance of the kids in the show and their general apathy are more in line with the realities of teenagers today than most millennial/Gen-X-made shows I’ve seen as of late.
It is so refreshing!
I do not want to spoil too much of the show, but I have to say, when Trixie Mattel appeared in episode two as a down-on-her-luck drag queen who helps teach the football team how to body being a dancing queen and then subsequently robs the school, I shrieked like a goblin. I couldn’t choke the cackles down. It is ironically hilarious because Trixie is notoriously an insanely successful drag queen with an intense work ethic. It is the little touches that make this feel like a bespoke show for faithful Alvarez & Co. followers.
To understand English Teacher and how it came about, you must understand Brian Jordan Alvarez and the corner of the internet he has been inhabiting for a decade.
Brian Jordan Alvarez has been on my radar for an incredibly long time. He first captured my attention and heart with The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo, a short YouTube series with more funny in its little finger than most other series have in its whole body (or something like that).
It follows the life and messy friend group of Caleb Gallo (ironically, he is in school to become a teacher, although there is no relation between the web series and the new show).
Caleb Gallo is a show that is able to truly convey the emotional truths of being a young adult, confused, sexy, silly, etc., while also allowing for absurdity to rule. The absurd nature of everything Alvarez does is what makes it sparkle. The awkward pauses, the realistic overlapping of dialogue, and the harsh cuts make it feel honest/accurate and vaguely like an acid trip.
I feel like I am waxing poetic, but there is no other way to convey Alvarez’s writing style and comedic timing. Please I beg of you, watch the first episode of the web series I have linked here. The whole thing is short and sweet and will have you wanting more.
His long-time co-collaborator, Stephanie Koenig, is also someone whose brilliance is not shouted about enough from the rooftops; she also is in and writes for English Teacher!
She is an incredible foil to Alvarez, who always finds his groove in playing up more deadpan comedy. Koenig bounces around like a crazed toddler who just had an insane amount of ice cream and now doesn’t want to go to bed, which leads to intense and convincing chemistry with the more low-energy Alvarez.
A lucky outcome of their years of collaboration is an easy back-and-forth and a wonderful friendship that has translated to the screen. When you watch the two of them together, you get the feeling they are improving more than not; their line delivery is just too quick and too natural.
If not from Caleb Gallo, you may also know Brian Jordan Alvarez from his TikTok or Instagram or other videos on YouTube, where he has been consistently putting out weird and wonderful content over the past few years and has amassed a cult-like following of fans who all vibe with his off-kilter comedy and the characters he brings to life in his shorts.
He even starred in a full-length film that he and his co-collaborators made; Stephanie Koenig actually wrote, directed, and edited the entire movie. The film is called A Spy Movie and is free to watch online. Again, the content these two have blessed us with is unmatched.
This is all to say that Brian Jordan Alvarez and Stephanie Koenig are entirely and totally underrated. They have been quietly building their own cinematic universe and will soon be taking over our screens and our hearts, and I am completely ready to succumb. If committing to a show feels like a lot, commit to at least checking out Alvarez and Koenig’s shorts on social media, and maybe that will entice you to take the plunge.
Please give English Teacher a watch and some love, as get these kids to season 2! Because I need good television these days and I am sure you do too.
English Teacher is streaming now on Hulu!
Warning: If you watch this video, this song will lodge itself so deeply in your subconscious that you will wake yourself by accidentally singing, “There is a pickle in the fridge,” while in REM sleep. You will also lose 2-4 friends because, in your waking hours, you will be singing “There is a pickle in the fridge” on repeat without breaks for hours, without even realizing that you were singing at all in the first place.
