All American Review: All I Need (Season 4 Episode 3)
All American Season 4 Episode 3, “All I Need,” proves television can drive stories forward without always forcing conflict onto its characters. Providing wins in all the right places, the show effectively sets the stage for its next big chapter.
“All I Need’s” intentions are clear from the cold open; laying down upbeat music as the backdrop to light-footed and love-struck Spencer, All American’s resident fixer finally seems to have it all.
Some of Spencer’s story may revolve around whatever lies behind the questionable visit from Toledo’s head coach, but most of “All I Need” is dedicated to letting Spencer be happy.
More specifically, letting him be happy with Olivia.
Half an episode dedicated to “Spelivia” going on a date feels like fan-fiction coming to life in the best way. The things viewers wish they could see on screen — but usually have to reserve for their imaginations — have a carved-out space in All American.
The show is unbelievably dedicated to providing a solid pay-off to what was an epic three-season slow-burn romance, and the show is clearly better for it.
It’s the kind of teen TV romance magic that existed back in the ’90s, and that tone is echoed by the feelings of two nervous teens approaching their first time sleeping together.
Television has come a long way with how it approaches teen sex. It certainly doesn’t need to mean anything, but it can mean something when you’re in love — and there’s no better pair to tell that story than Spencer and Olivia.
Not only have the two characters been through so much to find one another, but the added layer of Olivia considering the effects of sex on her recovery adds a layered richness. The show clearly recognizes how imperative it is to keep her addiction relevant, regardless of what story it’s telling.
It’s become a trademark of All American. Things don’t happen simply for dramatic effect; actions force change, and those changes are engrained in characters forever.
That continuity follows Jordan in “All I Need,” when his medical issues bite back at him while applying to colleges. His story feels slightly repetitive when juxtaposed to Asher’s, but All American finds two different paths out of a similar problem.
Asher’s inability to play football at all opens him up for a future in coaching. It could be argued Jordan has a better overall demeanor for a coaching position (and a father’s footsteps to follow in), but pivoting Jordan to a junior college gives him an easy reason to stick around Beverly Hills post-high school.
It’s the curse every teen drama eventually must face: how to organically get all of its characters to magically stay in one place after graduation.
For All American, so far, so good.
If this season has any weak points so far, it lies with an adult.
Preach serves as this season’s biggest flummox. The storyline feels disjointed; broken pieces of an arc that don’t quite come together, being stretched to fit into Coop’s narrative for relevancy.
Preach has always been an interesting character. Unveiling a secret daughter certainly isn’t boring (if not a cliche of the genre), but All American doesn’t give it enough focus to actually hold any weight.
His daughter feels all but emotionally unaffected by her mother’s death, and there are far too many plot holes about Preach’s past to ignore.
Coop being intertwined with Preach’s drama doesn’t feel organic, especially in comparison to her tension with Layla. The two have incredible on-screen chemistry — one that has made for a fantastic partnership, and will make for an equally intriguing showdown.
What was once a clear path for Coop is now a hazy road, and her decision to walk away from music entirely, creates a potentially catastrophic domino effect for the people around her. That’s an interesting conflict for a character who cares so much about the people she loves, but it loses focus when Preach’s daughter gets added in.
Despite Coop’s potentially bloated storyline, All American is making some brilliant decisions — letting its characters be happy, and proving a show can evolve sans constant trauma. It’s also meticulously setting itself up for new conflicts — I just can’t quite figure out what they are yet.
But, that’s okay. Four seasons in, I want to be surprised.
All American, please keep surprising me.
Random Thoughts:
- Casual sex is important to portray, but Layla and Asher back together is my villain origin story.
- Taye Diggs has some heavy emotional lifting this season. Watching him play with new shades of Billy is so fun.
- Isn’t JJ supposed to be a regular this season? Where is he?
- That Toledo coach feels off. I get IMMEDIATE bad vibes.
- There is nothing more romantic than someone letting “I’m so in love with you” spill out, effortlessly.
- Grace James is an absolute icon.
- Crenshaw Deserves that win!
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.