All American: Homecoming Review: If Only You Knew (Season 1 Episode 4)
Everybody has secrets on All American: Homecoming Season 1 Episode 4, “If Only You Knew,” and Alumni Weekend is a powder keg for drama and revelations at Bringston.
It was about time Jordan learn what is going on while he’s not calling his girlfriend during snack breaks!
In typical teen drama (well, they technically are no longer “teens”) fashion, Jordan’s timing is perfect. As he hopes to surprise Simone, he gets his own surprise.
Damon and Simone will continue to deny it, but they share a deep connection that goes beyond friendship. They have supported each other since the beginning, and there is an understanding between them that they don’t share with anyone else.
Plus, they have some very intense chemistry.
It’s too early in the season to officially break up Simone and Jordan, but the cracks are there.
We know they love each other, but not all romantic relationships are meant to last forever. Or at least through college.
Simone’s goodbye scene with Jordan leads her into another deep and meaningful conversation with Damon. It’s not a coincidence!
Simone and Damon’s connection is one of the strongest aspects of All American: Homecoming, so it will be a failure if the show doesn’t capitalize on the instant comfort and understanding between them. As “If Only You Knew” makes clear, he’s there for her when Jordan can’t be.
It will be interesting to see if Jordan returns to Bringston as Simone and Damon inevitably grow even closer. When is his next bye week?
“If Only You Knew” finally shifts some of the focus onto JR–a rewarding decision.
Of course JR should lead the team against the alumni team. He continues to prove how much he loves the program and his teammates. His excitement is infectious at the start of this episode.
While JR thrives as a leader, he struggles to connect with his father.
It’s heartbreaking to watch JR go from contagiously happy to deeply upset by the end of the weekend. His father’s unexpected reveal leaves him with so many new and overwhelming questions about his family.
JR dealing with his parent’s divorce is an unfortunate reality that many kids face daily. The All American universe continues to craft intriguing, and relatable, stories for us to connect to.
Luckily, he has a supportive group of friends to lean on while he processes this major change.
All American: Homecoming keeps planting seeds about JR and Damon being brothers. While it’s starting to feel too obvious, “If Only You Knew” also proves that these two would be great brothers. Let’s be honest, they already are brothers!
Despite some competitive rivalry at first, Damon and JR support each other like family. They fight, but they also push each other to confront their problems and be better.
In a touching scene, Damon emotionally reminds JR that he’s lucky to have a relationship with his father–not everyone is so lucky.
Peyton Alex Smith continues to nail his emotional speeches, proving his immense talent each week.
When the boys work together, they are unstoppable! You can’t help but cheer watching them come back and win their game.
They have much better luck than Simone and Thea in their game, proving the stark differences between the two pairs. Simone and Thea don’t have the chemistry or bond that JR and Damon have, so their game suffers.
However, JR needs to talk to Damon about his adoption soon, especially because Damon is looking into his birth parents on his own. This secret cannot stay hidden much longer.
Amara and Marcus is easily one of the most compelling dynamics on All American: Homecoming. Kelly Jenrette and Cory Hardrict have a natural chemistry that allows them to effortlessly slip into moments of jealousy, hurt, and fondness this week.
Marcus’s jealousy of Ralph juxtaposed with his unwillingness to dive into the past creates an angsty storyline for these two in the coming episodes. There is a lot left unsaid here.
After watching them interact with ease and a soft familiarity in the past three episodes, it’s shocking to learn that their relationship ended so abruptly.
It is equally shocking to learn that Amara took a semester off in college.
Damon is not her child–but one of these students must be!
Kelly Jenrette delivers a strong performance this episode. While Amara assures Simone that her theory is crazy, Jenrette’s carefully executed response tells us otherwise. Amara is the voice of reason for these characters, but she has her own secrets.
Instead of using Amara and Marcus solely as mentors for the students, All American: Homecoming rightfully gives them compelling character arcs. They are clearly still dealing with some of the same issues their students face–giving depth to the whole cast of characters. This works so well!
While Amara relates to the struggles of Simone, Marcus sees parts of himself in Cam. Pulling on history allows the show to create intriguing parallels that seamlessly connect the past and the present.
The downfall of Marcus’s career specifically provides a cautionary tale for the athletes in the present.
He would have done anything to stay in the game, so we’re building to a big, potentially heartbreaking reveal. What was worth losing his relationship with Amara?
“If Only You Knew” is a strong episode that builds the mystery and conflict while setting a comfortable pace for the season. All American: Homecoming is slowly peeling back the layers of its characters, ones that we are already falling in love with, and humanizing them.
The more I learn, the more excited I get for each episode.
Stray Thoughts
- It is so important to have the group hang out in the lounge. Friendships are some of the most meaningful relationships formed in college. Plus, this cast has amazing chemistry!
- Jordan’s schedule is so fascinating to me.
- What’s up with Thea’s family?
- Keisha and Cam are slowly stealing my heart.
- Does anyone else think that Marcus and Amara are actually Simone’s parents? Let me know in the comments!
- The only thing this episode is missing is Nate!
What did you think of this episode of All American: Homecoming? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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All American: Homecoming airs Mondays at 9/8c on The CW.
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Julia Paino
Julia is a TV and pop culture enthusiast who gets too emotionally invested in her favorite characters. She loves making people laugh and is always down for a Taylor Swift sing-along. She is firmly on Team Stefan and has been since 2009. Follow her on Twitter @juliampaino!