All American Review: No Opp Left Behind (Season 3 Episode 16)
All American Season 3 Episode 16, “No Opp Left Behind,” brings estranged friends and family back into good graces, with a heartwarming hour only dampened by a few disjointed story points.
So much of All American Season 3 has been about characters taking their own, separate journeys. While much of that is most likely due to COVID restrictions, it’s important for characters to break apart and grow individually, and makes the inevitable reunions that much more delicious.
All American times its reunion perfectly in “No Opp Left Behind,” with an episode equally as awkward as it is touching.
With the return of Patience — and state championships right around the corner — the moment is right for the white flag to wave, in the first real group affair since All American Season 3 Episode 6, “Teenage Love.”
The friendship between Spencer and Coop receiving the same level of focus and intensity as any of the romantic arcs of the show is truly a refreshing thing to see reflected on television.
So much of high school is about love and infatuation, but friends are the life support of any teenager at a time where family can so often be the enemy.
Spencer and Coop chose to be each other’s support systems, and when the two finally find their way back together — much in part to Bre-Z and Ezra’s chemistry — it’s an instant reminder of how much their dynamic is missed on screen.
The emotional gravitas is enough to take anyone by surprise (I’m not crying, you’re crying, okay?!).
As hard as it may try, Friendsgiving doesn’t solve everyone’s problems — not even Spencers.
He may be back in the good graces of Coop, but Layla is a different, more delicate story. As hard as it is to watch the two get so lost with one another, it’s satisfying when a well-intentioned protagonist has to face consequences.
Even the most beloved of characters needs to be flawed.
One of the strongest aspects of All American is in the pacing of its story arcs. The show continuously allows its characters to sit in their emotions, for what plays as a realistic and human experience.
Layla and Spencer have a long way to go before they find some semblance of friendship, and that’s a well-executed mirror image of what heartbreak looks like at seventeen.
It’s also a moment of extraordinary growth for Layla. She has clearly worked tirelessly on her stability, knows her boundaries, and is handling the fallout in an exceptionally healthy way.
The narrative All American has crafted with Layla’s mental health journey has been nothing short of phenomenal. It’s taken an unprecedented amount of time to tell her story, and done so with poignancy.
It’s unfortunate to watch newcomer Carrie continue to be such a dangerous integration.
While it is tempting to sit back and grab the popcorn as this “SWF” story begins to unravel, it’s also irresponsible not to discuss the potential repercussions of what a character like Carrie could mean.
Carrie stands to be the first “shark-jumping” moment of an otherwise well-grounded series. She also threatens to devalue all the work All American has done to de-stigmatize mental illness by villainizing it instead.
Here’s hoping All American doesn’t trade in important messaging for a few melodramatic moments of entertainment.
Friendship is the major theme of “No Opp Left Behind,” and Spencer and Olivia are no exception.
The space they’ve taken has given both characters time to grow into better versions of themselves, but the show never misses an opportunity for the two to find each other in quieter moments.
The waiting may be tantalizing, but it’s a truly spectacular slow burn for fans to sink their teeth into.
Time is something All American is finally allocating for Jordan, whose road to recovery continues to take unexpected turns.
While the show still won’t give Jordan — or Behlings — a chance to navigate grittier emotional trauma, it’s at least providing him an opportunity to develop as a character in a more meaningful way.
“No Opp Left Behind” proves Jordan would be fantastic as a coach following in his father’s footsteps if he only could let go of being on the field. If this head injury leads to that realization, the payoff will be ultimately satisfying.
Most walk away from “No Opp Left Behind” with victories, both on the field and in their personal lives. It’s always rewarding to watch adored characters find their happiness, but it’s also equally unnerving.
What comes up, must come down, and I have a feeling things are about to crash and burn.
Random Thoughts:
- It’s always exciting when we get to watch some good football!
- Nobody eating Carrie’s mac and cheese is a top-tier moment of comedy (“I am also an athlete”).
- Everyone on this cast is impossibly beautiful.
- Asher’s football journey is the most interesting thing he’s done all season; I’m rooting for him!
- JJ’s orange hair. Enough said.
- Dillon has jokes!
- Hearing Spencer call Jordan his “brother” makes me weep. We love men showing affection to one another!
- A Spelivia and Jimone road trip next week? Sign me up!
- Will Jordan and Simone go through with the wedding?
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.