Hey everyone. How are you all doing? It's a wonderful day to write some reviews. Today's review will be on one of my favorite CW series All American. From the name you probably know what it's about already.
Hi I'm Ifeanyi. Stay tuned.
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All American is a TV series that centers on black teenage American football superstar Spencer James as he journeys through the struggles of attaining his dreams of playing in the NFL someday just like his father did. With the help of his coach and parents' long time friend Billy Baker, he gets transferred from his hometown school at South Crenshaw, South Crenshaw High to Beverly High in Beverly Hills where he meets a lot of new friends and gets introduced to his new football team. It is here that he begins to get more traction from the executives and coordinators of different colleges who recognize his skills as a wide-receiver as he plays for The Beverly High Eagles.
Of course this would seem like a series just about playing football but it goes further from that. However, packed with a lot of gang drama, high school drama, love triangles, cross high school feuds, racial discrimination drama and suspense in the whole, it might just be worth your time. Let's talk about the major characters:
Spencer James:
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Spencer Alonzo James is a high school student and the main protagonist of the TV series. In the start of the series, he is a junior year high school student and a natural American football talent later turned superstar in episodes to come. He is the son of Corey and Grace James and the older brother of Dillon James.
Spencer James is born and raised in South Crenshaw by his mom where he attends his high school at South Crenshaw High. After scoring a winning touchdown for his team, The South Crenshaw Chargers in a night game at the immediate start of the series, Beverly High football coach and former NFL star Billy Baker meets Spencer outside his school and tells him, "come play for me." After a meeting with his family and some time to think about it, he accepts the transfer to Beverly High where he finds it a little hard to adjust at the beginning. Part of the reason for this is because he sees Beverly High students as rich kids and feels they have never felt the struggle of life like he did in Crenshaw. After a while, he makes a lot of new friends and becomes popular as the star wide-receiver of the school. During this time, he lives in the Bakers' home with Billy's wife Laura Baker and his twin teenage kids, Jordan and Olivia Baker (who are also in the same class with Spencer). Spencer has a thing for always wanting to be the hero, to be there to help people.
Billy Baker:
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Billy Baker is a black American dad and coach of the Beverly High Eagles (although in later seasons, he coaches for South Crenshaw). He is a former NFL star that stopped playing after he busted his knee and later on went into coaching.
Billy Baker handles Spencer's transfers to Beverly High and becomes his coach. He also has a history with Spencer's mom back when they both schooled in Crenshaw High and were high school sweethearts. He and Spencer's dad also played together in Crenshaw High back when they were teens and also played in the NFL. Billy Baker has two teenage twins and a wife who is a lawyer. Later in the series, he experiences problems with his spouse as a result of a past experience with Grace James, which later lead to their separation.
Tamia Cooper:
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Tamia Cooper- popularly know as Coop- is a gay black American high school student and Spencer James's best friend right from when they were just kids. She is born and raised in South Crenshaw and attends Crenshaw High.
During the series, Coop finds herself in the middle of gang business which most of the time worries Spencer and leaves him no choice but to come from Beverly to South Crenshaw to save her. She joins a gang when their childhood friend Shawn is killed by a gangster, vowing to get revenge for him. This plays out for a long time in the series. However, she focuses on her dream of being a musician with her girlfriend Patience Roberts and they both later rise to fame after doing live freestyles and later on working with millionaire music producer JP Keating and her daughter Layla Keating who schools at Beverly Hills.
Olivia Baker:
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Olivia Baker is the daughter of Billy and Laura Baker and twin sister of Jordan Baker. She is the first Beverly High student to speak with Spencer James and they quickly become friends. At the start of the series, Olivia quickly develops feelings for Spencer but loses him to Layla Keating.
Olivia had a drug addiction which led to her being sent to a rehab center by her parents for months. She returns changed. Olivia is somewhat like Spencer when it comes to always wanting to help people. The both of them end up together in later seasons of the series. She fights racial injustice through her podcast and by journalism. At times, her old addiction problems set in and she struggles to be sober, although at a time in the series, she breaks her sobriety.
Jordan Baker:
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Jordan Baker is the son of Billy and Laura Baker and the twin brother of Olivia Baker. He is popular for being the star QB1 and captain of the Beverly High Eagles.
Jordan at first did not like Spencer and even tried to get him out of Beverly High but later on became very close to him and they even start calling each other "brother" (they even have a special handshake). He at times in the series believes that his dad looks down on him in some ways and does things to prove himself to him. He gets in and out of trouble at times and at one time had a concussion which almost ended his football career. Jordan later dates and marries Simone Hicks (although the marriage was annulled later on) who at first falsely accused him of getting her pregnant.
Layla Keating:
Layla Keating is black American high school student and the daughter to millionaire music producer JP Keating. Her mom died when she was eight.
Layla becomes Spencer's first girlfriend after he moves to Beverly Hills. She is an extrovert and seen as a "Miss Perfect" by some. Layla Keating takes her studies seriously until she decides to follow her father's footsteps and get into music- which she is apparently good at- and later on signs Coop into her label. At times during the series, she gets serious depressions (which she inherited from her mom) that later on makes her break up with Spencer and lands her into a rehab center where she healed for about two months. She and Spencer date again for a while and she later on loses him to Olivia Baker.
Asher Adams:
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Asher Adams is a white American high school student from Beverly Hills. He is the main wide-receiver of Beverly High before Spencer shows up and takes his spot. This causes Asher to have a mix up of feelings.
At the beginning of the series, Asher also does not like Spencer because his girlfriend Layla breaks up with him and goes for Spencer. This makes Asher to sometimes want to get rid of him. Later on, Asher dates Olivia who later on also ends up with Spencer. Asher finds it very easy to get upset for things and looks for the easy ways out. Howver, he and Spencer become friends. He looks to impress his divorced dad by being the best in football as it seems like that's all his dad cares about. Later on in the series, Asher gets a serious heart condition and his football dreams end. This makes him find peace in other things he loves and makes him consider coaching.
Laura Baker:
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Laura Baker is a white woman, attorney (later turned D.A of Beverly Hills), the wife of Billy Baker and mother of Olivia and Jordan Baker.
Laura has a kind personality and loves to keep family together and fight for justice for others. However, she and Billy Baker separate after Billy's past hook up with Grace James while she was already married to Billy comes to limelight. She becomes furious and heartbroken and shows such to her kids. Fortunately, they later on get back together and she doesn't hold any beef with Grace James as they become very good friends, having girls' nights out.
Grace James:
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Grace James is a black lady, the mother of Spencer and Dillon James and the wife of Corey James. She is a single mom who keeps family close and wants what's best for her sons.
She was Billy Baker 's high school sweetheart and also had feelings for Billy's best friend, Corey James. Corey James leaves Grace when Spencer is eight because he felt he is not loved after he hears about what happens between her and Billy. Grace, during the series gets into relationships with two other men. She also takes a course on urban planning and is handed the responsibility of urban planning for Crenshaw High.
JJ Parker:
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JJ Parker is a white student of Beverly High and star linebacker of the Beverly High Eagles.
He is the funniest character in the series and always tries his best to live in the moment, have fun and make no enemies. People love JJ for his craziness. He doesn't quite do well when it comes to the ladies but does exceptionally well when it comes to throwing parties. He once replaced Jordan (after his concussion) as QB1 (and led the Eagles all through the championship) which led to a fight between the both of them. However, it all ended after some episodes and they became best of friends again.
Patience Roberts:
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Patience Roberts is a gay black American from South Crenshaw and Coop's girlfriend. The both of them meet in church and they also go to the same school.
Patience lives with her parents. Her relationship with Coop is approved by her parents but rebuked by Coop's mom. After a while though, Coop's mom succumbs and approves the relationship. Patience keeps Coop in check from doing stupid things. They are both also a music duo as she posseses a very nice voice. Patience is signed as an artist by JP Keating and later on leaves the label with the help of Laura Baker and signs into Layla's album.
Dillon James:
Dillon James is the brother of Spencer James and the second son of Grace and Corey James. He is a black middle school student.
Dillon James does not have much memories with his dad before he disappears. This makes him want to meet him so bad and he was the main reason Spencer gave their dad a shot to try and have a life with them again.
What's my opinion on the series?
Well one thing's for sure. I really love this series. It's kept me busy for a while now, and I don't mean busy sleeping.
But if you're a type that doesn't like a lot of drama, this might not be for you. At times, the drama can be too much- especially coming from Layla an then Spencer at times. But apart from this, the series is very nice. My favorite character? JJ Parker. My worst? Layla Keating😁. I mean, damn, her drama is too much and she's a "Miss Too Perfect".
See you next time for another amazing review
Thank You.
Let's Go Hive!