All American Review: Fight The Power (Season 3 Episode 12)
All American Season 3 Episode 12, “Fight The Power,” continues to center itself around the fight for social justice, delivering a poignant — albeit solemn — return from hiatus.
It’s not All American‘s fault; hiatuses are at the discretion of the network, and filming during a pandemic isn’t easy. Random breaks have hindered almost every network series this season, and All American is no exception.
“Fight The Power” is a strong episode, it’s just not necessarily the best episode to serve as a pseudo midseason premiere.
“Fight The Power” would have faired better as a direct follow-up to All American Season 3 Episode 11, “The Bigger Picture.” The two work as a seamless two-parter and Crenshaw’s final sacrifice would have been the perfect wrap-up before entering the show’s next chapter.
Alas, the chips fell elsewhere, and we are wrought with intensity right out the starting gate.
In one of the episode’s first scenes, Olivia reveals she’s leaked the bodycam footage. It’s cut directly in-between scenes of Billy making a hospital visit, and the welcome back to Beverly Hills feels heavy at best.
Luckily, the episode quickly hits its stride. The desire for lighter moments subside, and the sobering content becomes all-consuming. “Fight The Power” ends up being an hour of successful television that approaches social justice in ways that feel both thoughtful and gritty with raw emotion.
Above all else, it proves how All American doesn’t miss a beat.
Olivia’s actions are extreme, but feel necessary in a world that refuses to listen.
Victimizing Laura in service of scolding Olivia initially puts that important message in danger. The conversation between Laura and Grace, however, allows an adult to speak to Laura on how the system is failing; explaining why her methods are no longer viable for change.
It’s a smart move of duality — it allows Olivia to grow as a young adult but also steers clear of pushing Laura into “white savior” territory. Instead, it uses her to highlight how even those with the best intentions still struggle to grasp the urgency of changing the current system — one ingrained in oppression.
Both “The Bigger Picture” and “Fight The Power” focus intensely on Olivia, and at times the other Baker twin falls by the wayside.
Jordan losing football — the one thing he uses to measure his own self-worth — certainly allows for a rich storyline.
Wrapping things too quickly would be a grave missed opportunity, but that’s exactly what seemingly goes down in the final scene between Jordan and Spencer.
It’s a surprising move, considering how carefully constructed Layla’s mental health storyline was in All American Season 2. The show has also approached Spencer’s journey in therapy with extraordinary consideration.
Thankfully, there is an underlying sense Jordan’s not out of the woods quite yet.
Spencers decision to address his mental health post-injury was steadfast and genuine; there wasn’t a single moment he didn’t accept help with open arms.
Juxtaposing Spencer’s levity with Jordan’s flippant, lighter tone — not to mention his desire to jump back on the field with a head injury — points towards a character who is in denial about how bad off he really is.
If those final moments with Spencer are, in fact, cloaked with deceit in order to avoid his reality, it’s an impressive and subtle performance by Behling. He’s delivering cues only someone paying close attention would pick up on, and proving he deserves a chance to grip onto some heavier material.
“Fight The Power’s” best scene, however, belongs to the boys at South Crenshaw.
With Olivia benched (pun intended), Spencer steps in as lead in the fight against police brutality. Inspiring his teammates through an impassioned speech — beautifully delivered by Daniel Ezra — the team decides to use their platform by taking the field and forfeiting the game.
Heartbreaking is too feathery of a word to describe what unfolds as All American forces you to bear witness as these kids sacrifice everything they love. It’s a sacrifice made in order to fight for the right to live in safety from the very people who swear to protect them.
It is possibly the most moving thing All American has ever done. There is no dialogue, no dramatic score, and probably not a whole lot of acting, either.
The players are kneeling on the field, but it’s really All American kneeling in the name of social justice.
The opposing team kneeling, adds a moment of sentimentality that feels idealistic but hopeful. It conveys the message change may be possible, and humanity at its core, might still be truly good.
In many ways, it’s exactly what American sports claims to be — a thing of unity, of passion, of mutual understanding, and respect.
All American is showing how to turn protests into progress.
Random Thoughts:
- I have ulterior motives (Jordayla forever) but Layla may be the friend Jordan needs right now.
- Asher’s being left out of the inside scoop just like he’s being left out of the narrative this season.
- The fight for social justice is ultimately going to bring Spencer and Olivia closer together.
- Layla has grown so much as a character; she is a top-tier friend I’d like to have.
- The Mo storyline has been neglected. Here’s hoping this storyline is finally moving forward.
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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Kat Pettibone
Kat Pettibone is an aspiring TV writer, artist, and poet. As a Pacey Witter Fan Club lifer who never missed a TGIF, she has dreams of becoming your generations small screen Nora Ephron. She's also an avid lover of coffee, dogs and all things spooky.