All American Review: Survival Of The Fittest (Season 4 Episode 1)
All American Season 4 Episode 1, “Survival Of The Fittest,” plays with an in medias res structure for a premiere that provides answers, but doesn’t always feel satisfying.
Dropping in weeks after where the All American Season 3 finale left off, “Survival Of The Fittest” uses flashbacks to fill in the blanks from the night of the State Championship.
Leaving the proverbial carrot dangling over Coop’s fate and Layla’s well-being, the show attempts to squeeze as much as it can from the previous season’s cliffhanger.
The problem with this approach is the utter lack of stakes in the reveal. All American can put Spencer in front of as many graves as it wants — there’s never any real doubt over Coop’s survival.
Layla has the same immunity; her dragged-out perilous night with Carrie fills too much screen time, and only ends up utilizing mental illness as an antagonistic device.
Over-acting and grey-toned filters make the scenes play more like a soap opera than a thoughtful commentary on mental health. It’s an unfortunate blunder for a show that has worked so hard to deconstruct the stigma that goes with the depiction of mental illness in media.
It’s clear what All American wants to do — highlight how far Layla has come in her journey with depression. It wants to show her working through demons in a healthier way than before.
To its credit, the episode successfully achieves this; unfortunately, in return, it ends up using suicidal ideation as an overdramatized plot device that only fuels negative connotations.
Where the episode shines, is in what results from the inciting incidents.
Coop and Layla’s respective experiences ignite various intimate character moments; many times, between characters who rarely get to share the screen.
Coop’s injuries leave Patience and Spencer in equal distress, drawing them into each one another’s orbit as they hold their breath over Coop’s recovery. It’s a beautiful friendship grounded in a mutual love for a third person. The unwavering support as they work through the episode’s darkest moments, is incredibly touching.
It’s certainly satisfying to see Olivia by Spencer’s side, as they settle into official couple territory. It’s much more cathartic, however, for Patience — and a returning Darnell — to be the ones getting through to Spencer when it counts.
Layla’s residual trauma — portrayed beautifully by Greta Ogieogou — also leads to a surprising (but enticing) new dynamic, as Layla finds solace with Jordan.
It’s easy to forget these two have been friends since childhood with how little screen time they share, but that long-term history ends up being exactly what Layla needs to feel safe. Their dynamic is equally soft and silly, as Jordan lends his calming presence to a frayed Layla.
With both living under the same roof, their dynamic could blossom into a friends to lovers romance with shocking ease.
Because it’s only the season premiere, I’ll bite my tongue on that for now, but my money’s on “Jordayla” becoming much more than old pals as this season unfolds.
Layla is also able to work through deep-rooted issues with her father in “Survival Of The Fittest,” communicating her need to feel safe in her space.
It’s a bumpy road watching the two find common ground, but the payoff is one of the episode’s best. Watching Layla open up about the trust issues she has with her father, is worth every awkward moment of conflict.
Parents really listening to what their kids need in order to succeed; these are the moments when All American changes the storytelling game.
There is a potential to All American Season 4 lying underneath the surface of soapy plotlines. If the show dials into more interpersonal conflict — whether that be Spencers hero complex, his issues with Billy, or something else — it will stay the grounded and beloved series it’s always been.
Four seasons in, All American needs to be more about the characters and their relationships to one another, than heightened dramatics used for shock value — especially as high school comes to a close.
Random Thoughts:
- We are going full Villain!Billy this season.
- It’s always a treat when all the characters come together for group scenes. More, please.
- The aftermath of Coop’s shooting may be her most interesting storyline.
- The sleepover fort is THE most adorable thing I have ever seen.
- Darnell is back! Chris is around! The whole gang is here! Let’s keep it that way!
- I appreciate the National Suicide Prevention line being displayed at the end of the episode.
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.