All American Review: I Ain’t Goin Out Like That (Season 4 Episode 2)
All American Season 4 Episode 2, “I Ain’t Goin Out Like That,” sheds the melodrama and gets back to basics for a fantastically fun and family-focused hour of television.
From its — passionate — opening sequence, to its heartfelt final montage, All American dials back into what makes the show work; mixing the fervent with the funny, and adding a dash of good old-fashioned spice.
While Spencer and Olivia may be dodging Grace, All American dedicates a large amount of time to family dynamics this episode, and not just with the usual James and Baker families.
Asher’s mother steamrolling his decisions is a stark juxtaposition to Patience having an honest discussion with her father. The scenes play back to back — no doubt a purposeful maneuver — with All American once again making space to explain the importance of healthy parental/child dynamics.
There is an endless amount of delectable romance on All American, but the heart of the show has arguably always been the relationship between Spencer and Billy.
Driving a wedge between the two heightens a myriad of stakes. Olivia and Spencer are together now, and this is Spencer’s last year before college. With Corey gone, Billy is the only father figure Spencer knows, and there are big decisions coming his way.
A fragmented relationship between them means a disconnect in multiple facets of Spencer’s life.
The continuity is certainly there; Spencer’s evolved reaction to Billy’s anger is a result of lessons learned with Coop, and as All American Season 2 revealed, Billy isn’t always as gracious as he seems.
Their dispute also trickles down to Jordan. His issues feeling unworthy of his father’s pride have implemented so many of his decisions, consciously or otherwise. Recognizing Billy places more blame on Spencer due to his higher expectations, leads Jordan to a long-overdue confrontation.
It also gives Michael Evans Behling a rare opportunity to act dramatically. His comedic timing is a secret weapon the show should never lose, but he is one of the only characters routinely not given the opportunity for meatier storylines.
Jordan is the child at heart we love to laugh with, but his evident growth in “I Ain’t Goin Out Like That” is something his character desperately needed, and may be what pushes him to grab ahold of his future moving forward.
True to the form of the show, some relationships fall apart, but others come together.
The friendship between Spencer and Patience may be new, but plays as one of the show’s most organic. It’s partially in thanks to the character’s shared love for Coop, but likely also due to Ezra and Tavares’s off-screen friendship.
As Layla and Liv continue to move back towards BFF status, their clear communication could be a blueprint for healthy female friendship, and the scene between Spencer and Layla could be the world’s most healthy conversation between exes, ever.
They may not be in love anymore, but the two certainly know how to deliver a wonderful moment together.
Maybe Ezra just has chemistry with everyone.
The surprising new dynamic of the episode is Asher and Coop. An unlikely duo who share mutual anguish, their experience of physical limitations keeping them from achieving their dreams makes them understandably sympatico.
It’s an exciting look into where a friendship could go.
There isn’t really a single moment of “I Ain’t Goin Out Like That” which doesn’t land, connect, or deliver. It is easily one of the show’s funniest episodes, with the cast chemistry firing on all cylinders.
Every character trajectory feels intriguing and fresh, but All American never forgets to nurture its myriad of relationships. That includes Spencer and Olivia, who are proving to be better together than anyone could have hoped.
It’s hard to make the payoff ultimately worth it after a slow burn as epic as Spelivia’s, but All American is delivering the couple’s domestic era with a bang. There is no lingering desire for the days of Spelivia angst past — the bliss is more than satisfying.
These two will be happy forever now, right?
Random Thoughts:
- The JJ runner is hilarious. I can’t wait to see what they do now that Clowdus is a regular.
- Exploring Layla’s extroverted-introverted nature is so important.
- The Bakers are literally so cute, adopt me please.
- Is JJ…in love with Layla? Do not do this to me, All American.
- Olivia grabbing the pillow off Spencer’s lap is improv by Logan. You can not tell me otherwise.
What did you think of this episode of All American? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
All American airs Mondays at 8/7c on The CW.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
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.