All American Review: How To Survive In South Central (Season 3 Episode 2)

All American does so many things right.

At the top of that list, is the ability to set up some seriously compelling conflict. All American Season 3 Episode 2, “How To Survive In South Central,” does just that, by managing to set up monumental obstacles for all its characters, both on and off the field. 

Perhaps the most interesting thing about All American this season is how it’s pivoting said conflict.

While many assumed the major discord of Season 3 would stem from a Crenshaw vs Beverly rivalry, the majority of those issues were addressed in the premiere. Instead, All American is tearing down the walls from the inside out; it isn’t Crenshaw vs. Beverly, it’s both schools vs. themselves.

Setting up deep-rooted issues within each respective school allows a lot more things to go down. Big moments aren’t relegated to game nights, or reliant on cross-city trips for team brawls. Issues at home base force the story to move swiftly and concisely, keeping everyone on their toes. 

While Billy — in all his wisdom and experience — is able to empathize enough to keep Crenshaw’s heart beating, it certainly isn’t enough to keep them thriving.

Spencer is in an even worse position, realizing how leading a team isn’t synonymous with maintaining friendships.

Struggling at Beverly was one thing; Spencer had to earn the respect and love of his teammates. Returning home to Crenshaw meant that mutual respect wasn’t supposed to be an issue, but those personal relationships are proving to only heighten the stakes on every decision he makes. 

Spencer is a peacekeeper; it’s a trait he’s exuded from the pilot, and while it isn’t something that should ever dissipate from his character, it does allow the story to veer away from his protagonist’s journey sometimes.

In other words, we’ve seen this storyline before.

Implementing a mental related injury into his arc, potentially course corrects the issue. By placing Spencer under such an immense amount of stress, he is now also being physically affected by every fallout.

This means Spencer has to overcome himself in order to be his best — it isn’t about anyone else, but him, and his own trajectory. Conveniently, it also does what All American does best — interweaves important social commentary into the arcs of its main characters. 

All American Season 2 gave a dedicated look into Layla’s journey with mental illness. Season 3 is now looking at Spencer’s mental stability, shining light on the most stigmatized, underrepresented group in the world of mental health — Black men. 

Spencer’s internal struggles aren’t the only issue at Crenshaw — Principal Carter enacting budget cuts and higher GPA requirements for eligibility, forces a myriad of problems for the team, but it’s nothing short of a brilliant move for the show. 

Principal Carter may be introduced as an antagonist with an ax to grind, but what makes him complex is how beneficial his motives against the football team, stand to be for the school at large.

Higher GPA requirements and defunding sports may put us in panic mode for our favorite characters, but they also happen to be crucial moves for Crenshaw. Regardless of Carter’s motives, he’s helping to stimulate academic achievement, keep the arts alive, and stop giving special treatment to sports teams.

Sometimes, things aren’t black and white. Sometimes, they are a deep shade of gray.

Back at Beverly, Jordan finally realizes he’s more than just Billy Baker’s son, the new no-nonsense female football coach is both inspiring and empowering, and the general sense of healthy rivalry that exists within the team is a beyond refreshing approach.

That’s not to say there isn’t toxic masculinity on this show — failing to showcase that element of sports would be unfaithful to reality. The toxicity is always portrayed negatively, however, and the juxtaposition only deepens the importance of moving past outdated male behavioral norms.

An All American review wouldn’t be complete without a commentary on all the romance, so let’s first take out the trash. 

Asher Adams is absolute garbage, and after the steroid use, the whiny entitlement, crying over his suspension, and the affair with newcomer Vanessa, the boy deserves nothing but consequences. 

The real question becomes — why is Olivia staying with him? Being such an intensely strong character, the only answer could be she desires a status quo for the sake of her sobriety, or, she has secrets of her own.

As far as Asher and Vanessa, there isn’t an iota of chemistry between the two, but if it all leads to Spencer and Olivia’s romance, they can run off into that stupid Miami sunset, for all I care. 

All jokes aside, this does give a solid catalyst for Spencer and Olivia to get together, without feeling like the audience will turn on their characters. A matchup between them has extremely high stakes, after all, and should be treated delicately.

Olivia has her sobriety to worry about, Spencer is dealing with the stress on his arm, and Layla’s mental health is certainly still fragile.

But that’s what makes it all so fun to watch — the higher the stakes, the longer the wait, the more rewarding of a payoff, indeed. It’s exactly how teen romance should be done — by making your audience work for it.

“How To Survive In South Central” is a truly stellar second episode, with only one shortcoming —  all the incredible Black women, doing absolutely amazing things, but doing them in the background. 

This is a show about football, but hopefully, now that All American has laid it’s foundation down for the season, it will carve out time for Olivia running the Black students caucus, Layla growing her own record label, Coop and Patience dominating the music scene, and Kia inspiring the students of Crenshaw.

The boys are entertaining, but the women are what makes All American a show worth sticking around for. 

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

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