7 burning questions All American needs to answer when it returns
By Mads Lennon
All American delivered an emotional, riveting, fall finale that included a shocking death, a long-awaited hookup, and several juicy new developments sure to keep fans theorizing until its much-anticipated return.
Last week’s episode of All American was all about the homecoming dance, and this week’s episode (aptly titled “Homecoming“) is all about the game. Post-dance, everyone is still reeling from Asher’s confessional, none more so than Layla who is dealing with some seriously conflicting emotions. Asher’s life is no picnic at the moment either and doesn’t look like it will be improving any time soon if the events of this episode are of any indication.
Outside of Beverly, tragedy strikes in the heart of Crenshaw leaving behind a devastated Coop to pick up the pieces. Meanwhile, Spencer begins to feel the gravity of his choices and how they affect those he loves most, both in Beverly and back in Crenshaw. Many characters were faced with difficult, sometimes life-altering decisions, and I was left with several burning questions about where the show will go from here when it returns in January.
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7. What’s going to happen to Asher?
Asher is a character who refuses to fit into the neat and tidy confines of the jock stereotype so often depicted on CW shows. While he initially begins as your typical rich, hot-headed, cocky athlete feeling threatened by the new guy in town, we soon discover his entire life is a carefully concocted facade to manage his popularity at school.
In reality, Asher’s family has lost their money, and therefore some of their status, and he’s too embarrassed to admit that to anyone, even his own girlfriend (up until recently). Then, Spencer begins to get a little too close to said girlfriend for his comfort.
Last week, Asher discovered the two of them actually shared a kiss and his frustration boils over and spills out into a microphone during a liquor-fueled tirade at the homecoming dance. Not only does he aim to hurt Layla, but he also brings down Olivia, too, by admitting to their former liaison. His falling domino chain of bad decisions gets him suspended from the football team, dumped, and then unceremoniously kicked out of his house by his father.
I feel bad for him, but only to a degree. Most of these events occurred due to his lack of ability to take ownership of his actions or to have enough maturity to act accordingly when things didn’t go his way. Not to mention his decision to sabotage his own teammates by stealing their playbook during the playoff games.
Having an emotionally abusive father, while awful and not at all Asher’s fault, is not an excuse for him to try and ruin everyone else’s lives. So when the show returns in the winter, will he begin his much-needed journey to character development? Or must he truly hit rock bottom before he makes a real effort to improve himself?
6. Will Laura be able to assist in taking down Tyrone?
As of this episode, Laura Fine-Baker has had little to do but play the part of Billy Baker’s dutiful wife. She has shown herself to be a woman of grace and kindness in the few short scenes we have seen of her – such as her warmth towards Spencer and even towards his mother, Grace, despite her shared history with Laura’s husband. Beyond that, we don’t know much about Laura.
Tyrone Moore may be able to change that. Coop turns to Spencer for help when it appears Shawn, and her by extension, may get further into bed with Tyrone and his gang. Spencer, in turn, appeals to Laura, who is an attorney and wise to the dangers men like Tyrone pose. This episode doesn’t offer us many details in terms of Laura’s plans to get Tyrone as the bulk of her position depends on how much intel Coop can get from Shawn and given his death, that’s not looking too likely.
However, now that Laura is aware, could she be of more assistance down the line? Will she become a helpful source for Spencer in the future when he (likely) tries to save Coop?