All American Review: Speak Ya Clout (Season 2 Episode 2)

Everything hurts and I’m dying.

All American Season 2 Episode 2, “Speak Ya Clout,” manages to avidly avoid the sophomore episode slump by cranking up the drama ten notches higher than ever before.

And it does so impeccably. 

Plenty of television shows attempt to draw audiences in by throwing their characters into as much turmoil as possible. Those same shows also tend to cause too much chaos that never hits quite right, losing all emotional beats that gave their show a thumping heart. 

All American, however, is an enigma; able to stay intently grounded while ramping things up. It never loses its imperative sense of genuineness. Heavy topics are approached in realistic ways, straying from the “very special episode” domain, while storylines get woven together by a common thread:

The trials and tribulations of high school football.

“Speak Ya Clout” focuses almost solely on the kids, reminding its audience exactly who the show is about.

With Coop’s departure from gang life, her arc feels in constant danger of being lost in the commotion of Beverly Hills. Thankfully, the revisiting of Coop’s relationship with her mother is able to keep it at the center of the series for the time being. 

Placing Coop and her mother under the same roof forces an interaction that results in extremely raw, yet unbelievably authentic performances. 

It also makes the story far more nuanced.

Mrs. Cooper claims she’s accepted her daughter, but all is not well. Things now shift from outright disdain to subtle, everyday repressed homophobia Coop is expected to swallow. 

Coop doesn’t push the issue, and it makes sense; pushing would mean disrupting the “peace” she’s worked hard for. She loves her flawed mother and misses being a daughter. Starving for acceptance, she allows herself to ignore the bigotry. 

Deep down, she knows she should push harder against it. 

It’s why she can’t write music.

This would leave Coop at an impasse, but luckily she has Patience. Patience pushes Coop, reminding her that acceptance doesn’t include forcing someone to hide who they are.

Coop: My mom ain’t saying we can’t be together.

Patience: That’s exactly what she’s saying every time she makes you hide who you are. 

The discussion itself is a finespun tribute to the Patience/Coop relationship. Speaking against a significant other’s parent is a bold move that often results in a visceral reaction. While she receives some pushback, Coop ingests what Patience has to say, and grows as an individual because of it. 

These subtle moments are revolutionary, portraying actual battles of the LGBTQIA+ community; ones faced daily. It isn’t always big swings. It’s fighting for validity, every single day, over and over again, even with the people who love you.

Coop: They know I’m gay I ain’t hiding it.

Mrs. Cooper: Well, we don’t need to go flaunting it in their faces, do we?

The conclusion to the plotline itself is satisfactory in that it isn’t a conclusion at all. Coop’s song doesn’t solve every problem and her mother doesn’t magically withdraw her prejudice. It’s instead about two people making a small step, but it’s a picture of reality.

Coop’s sexuality isn’t the only successfully tangible storyline unfolding. 

There’s also Layla Keating.

Rightfully portraying mental illness is a lot like seeing Bigfoot–it’s impossibly rare. Either rushed through or used as a plot device, mental health is generally handled without care.

Instead of falling into the stereotype, All American is decidedly taking their time with the deterioration of Layla’s stability.

In doing so, they nail the raw verity of it.

Mental illness doesn’t suddenly appear after a single bad day. It’s a process that decays you slowly, manifesting itself only after a slew of trauma.

Which is probably why Layla is able to mask it so easily at first. 

Layla is used to holding it all together. She’s also s a high schooler, surrounded by people who are intensely caught up in their own melodramas.

Unfortunately, that includes her own boyfriend, Spencer James.

It’s an interesting juxtaposition–how quickly Spencer knew Olivia wasn’t herself in All American Season 1 against how dense he is with Layla’s struggles. He could be distracted or was keen to Olivia’s shift after living in the Bakers’ home. 

Either way, his blinders towards Layla are unsettling.

Layla and Spencer are constantly unable to communicate. In Season 1, this caused petty arguments about trivial things like jealousy over ex-boyfriends. In Season 2, the stakes are raised, and their disconnect ends up amplifying Layla’s pain.

Spencer not only withholds the truth about moving back to Crenshaw, but she finds out from Olivia.

Layla is someone who has been routinely lied too or taken advantage of since the pilot. She is always on someone else’s backburner. Asher and Olivia betrayed her, her father abandoned her, and now she feels alienated by Spencer.

There’s also her mother’s tragic death. 

Layla has faced so much pain in her life. it’s why the complexity of her character felt so underused in All American Season 1. Now that strife is crashing down on her at once.

Greta Onieogou plays Layla’s slow spiral with utmost perfection. She allows her solitude to be felt in every down spiraling moment, making each scene uncomfortable to sit through.

Suicidal ideations and mumbling reiterations make things almost unbearable to watch, leaving a viewer aching to reach through their screens and pull her from the darkness.

The way Layla’s clothes and hair get increasingly sloppy, all highlight how unhinged she’s become, down to the way her lies spin out of control until she’s caught red-handed by them. 

It’s a frighteningly real portrayal of mental illness and a heartwrenching performance.

While it’s worrisome for the character’s future, the commitment to a realistic depiction of mental illness is truly special. 

Jordan Baker is doing his own version of a downward spiral. Clearly still reeling from his parent’s separation, he’s acting out in every conceivable way. It’s obnoxious behavior, but there’s something very real with its motive. 

It’s common for athletes to fall into a trap of becoming overzealous in their praise and adoration. It’s a fairly standard cautionary tale about getting too caught up in one’s own accolades, and something we’ve seen before. 

On a deeper level, rebelliousness says something about Jordan’s mindset. All American Season 1 placed Jordan’s character in a sea of self-doubt. Jordan wasn’t sure if he had what it took to be great, or if he was just Billy Baker’s son.

All American Season 2 has Jordan at the opposite side of the spectrum, reveling in the glory of State Champions.

Jordan: How often do you get State Champions in here?

Server: Spencer James works here…

Mix in the fact he’s dating women who look like his mother, and there is clearly more going on. 

Jordan is acting out in order to shield himself from his broken family, or he’s accepted that high school football may be as good as it gets for him. Either way, everything he’s worked for is in jeopardy.

It doesn’t take long for Billy and Laura to step in and set Jordan straight. Whether he’ll get his act together remains to be seen, but All American gets praised simply for allowing its parent characters to actually act like parents. 

Not all adults know how to act, and that’s clear through Corey’s actions. The man is all talk and no show. He constantly lets Spencer down and does absolutely nothing to redeem himself.

Some people just aren’t meant to be parents.

It’s a shame for Spencer, who has come a long way since the pilot. He seemed ready to accept a relationship with Corey going forward.

Spencer has been put through a lot throughout the short course of the series, but his focus has always remained on football.

Corey seems to be the one exception to that rule, forcing Spencer’s head to completely leave the game. No one could blame him, of course–it has to be impossibly hard to deal with your absentee father playing house with another family.

Still, here’s hoping Corey’s foolish nature doesn’t derail him from his dreams. 

With Spencer and Jordan completely distracted and Billy nowhere to be found, the responsibility is put on Asher to keep the team together. Although he fails in execution, he undoubtedly rises to the occasion.

It’s fulfilling to see the once central antagonist flourishing, especially against the contrast of everyone else’s drama. Season 1 of All American begged the question of if Asher actually loved football, or if he was garnering for his fathers’ approval.

“Speak Ya Clout” proved Asher loves football.

He also loves the idea of a successful future; one that’s not dependent on his family’s opinions. It’s touching to witness him reach for that dream, but even more touching to watch Olivia witness it.

Bets are on Olivia and Spencer as the big romance of the series, but Olivia and Asher do possess some chemistry. She undoubtedly is someone who inspires Asher to grow. 

It’s understandable while Asher has developed feelings for Olivia, and their journey towards romance should be an interesting and inevitable one.

Just think about what Jordan will say! 

A review of “Speak Ya Clout” wouldn’t be complete without a proper nod to Taye Diggs’ performance. The man portrays a broken husband and father with excellent subtlety and nuance.

Billy Baker has transformed from boastful and arrogant to solemn and meek. It’s evident in every move Digg’s makes–from how he carries himself, to the tone of his voice.

He uses every iota of screentime given to emphasize Billy’s fall from grace. 

All American is an outstanding program, but the stellar performances are what elevate it to one of TV’s best shows. 

Random Thoughts:

• It’s so exciting to see Olivia stable and healthy, but she gives so much of herself to everyone else. Will she have enough left for herself?
• The theory Corey called in the anonymous tip about Spencer’s living arrangements still stands.
• Spencer giving Coop advice about her relationship was refreshing. Coop’s advice is always flawless, but their friendship goes both ways, and that’s what makes it special. 
• The song Coop plays for her mother is actually sung by Bre-Z, the actress who portrays her. Lovely touch!
• “Do what you do best, and leave” was one of the most iconic lines ever. Spencer and Grace are so strong together!
• Spencer Paysinger, the man who inspired All American made a cameo tonight! He was the coach who yelled, “get your head in the game!” Did you catch it?
• Billy Baker’s locker room speeches are always very reminiscent of Friday Night Lights. Except you know, without so many white people?

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Are you overwhelmed by all the drama? Will the Eagles pull themselves together? Will Spencer return to Crenshaw, now that he knows about Darnell? Will Layla get the help she needs? Will Jordan stop dating women who look like his mother? 

Leave your thoughts and feelings below!

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All American airs Mondays at 8/7c on The CW. 

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