All American Review: The Crossroads (Season 2 Episode 11)

My tissue box is officially empty. What a moving hour of television.

All American Season 2 Episode 11, “The Crossroads,” takes Spencer’s injury and uses it as a means to bring characters together in an unbelievably touching way, making it one of the most intensely emotional episodes to date.

Everything about “The Crossroads” is flawless in execution. The writing is inspirational, the acting is outstanding, and the directional choices are absolutely brilliant–bringing the audience straight into the fray with no hesitation whatsoever.

From the opening scene, we are hooked into the action. The intensity and desperation of the moment seethe into us as we’re dragged alongside Spencer and Olivia. With the aid of well-crafted camera angles, it’s not like we’re simply watching the mayhem unfold–we’re actually right there beside them.

Samantha Logan’s performance is outstanding here, portraying her character with a manically frenzied realism that could be a masterclass in acting. 

Olivia: His name is Spencer and I can’t leave him, he needs me!

Her emotions are forced to flip on a dime throughout the hour–fear, desperation, and eventually anger pour out of her. As a racially profiling officer interrogates her with incredulous questions, Logan’s worry turns to violated outrage, proving her to be an expert in her craft. 

As far as plot goes, giving your protagonist a near-fatal injury could read as stale writing. Every show has done it, and has done it in similar fashion.

All American doesn’t stray from the framework we’ve seen before. It’s no surprise Spencer survives the shooting, so the conflict shifts. He’s alive, but now he must choose between living a normal life without football or undergoing a dangerous surgery that could leave him paralyzed.

It’s a clever way to raise the stakes, but again, it isn’t exactly revolutionary. When he inevitably decides to go through with surgery (and comes through it successfully), it’s also not that astonishing. 

There is no show without Spencer James, and there is no Spencer James without football. The shooting, instead, is used as a plot device to push him back into the game. 

It’s a predictable scenario, and the moment his hands begin to function again is overtly melodramatic–a syrupy sweet ending to a heavily drawn-out hour. Luckily, Spencer is such a likable protagonist, you’re still breathing a sigh of relief at the ending you see coming. 

But here’s the magical thing about All American. It’s able to take normal teenage drama tropes and portray them in fresh and compelling ways; elevating itself by integrating important topics like the systematic racism, stigma, and misogyny that exist in our culture today.

“The Crossroads” is possibly the best example of this, weaving in racially charged moments in dire situations, proving that people of color are forced to deal with prejudice no matter the circumstances.

Racism doesn’t take pauses. 

All American is extremely aware of its demographics and doesn’t lose a beat in finding jarring ways to educate on the harsh reality of being black in America. Doctors arguing if Spencer is worth their use of rationed O negative blood–as he lay dying on the table beside them–is a grating example of this.

Law enforcement attempting to manipulate Olivia’s addiction into a motive for the shooting is another.

It’s hard to watch, but incredibly eye-opening. 

So yes, All American does buy into some stereotypical tropes, but it picks and chooses well; using those tropes to educate with a finesse no one else has bothered to achieve.

It has a reason for every move it makes. Even in the moments that don’t dive beneath the surface for a greater purpose, it still finds ways to exude emotion (and a whole lot of tears) from its audience. Moments that might read as cheesy or campy in other shows, read as meaningful and powerful in this one.

Yes, I’m talking about the vigil outside of Spencer’s hospital room. 

Random Thoughts:

• The Eagles fighting for Billy and Spencer wrecks me. I am a sucker for the “sports team comes together to fight for a cause” trope.
• Spencer and Olivia have a chemistry that is so special. This experience is going to bond them in a very intense way.

Olivia: Thanks for saving my life. 

Spencer: Anytime. 

• Can Tyrone just die already? Please?
• A special shoutout to that fearless and fierce nurse who saves Spencer’s life by fighting for him. 
• Jordan has become an incredible leader. We love growth.
• The speech Spencer gives on Olivia’s podcast is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard in my life. Absolutely incredible. 

What did you think of this episode of All American? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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

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