Seasons 7 and 8 of All American have struggled with placing Coop at the center of the story, with her weaving in and out of a main supporting role. But "Somehow Some Way" remembers that Coop is an integral character in the show and one who has a massive emotional response to finding out about the ICE raid that occurred at South Crenshaw High School after missing 13 of Amina's phone calls.
Coop loves and cares about her family, and that has always been evident in her character and is especially significant during "Somehow Some Way," when Coop is front and center with the goal of getting Amina released from an ICE detention center. All Coop wants to do is bring Amina and Preach back home, but one of the things that Coop faces is the emotional weight of feeling helpless in the face of such a traumatic event.
Coop feels guilty enough for missing Amina's phone calls, but her emotions also lead her back to years prior, when Coop was facing the aftermath of the death of her friend Shawn, who had been killed after Coop tried to convince him to work toward a better life. Coop faces flashbacks throughout the episode, juggling her struggles to reach Amina and her guilt about moving on with her life after Shawn died. But while Coop may take the lead in this episode, she is far from being alone. Layla, Breonna, Khalil, KJ, and Jordan rally around Coop, trying to help her narrow down the best way to locate Amina.
Layla succeeds in getting Coop to eat, reminding Coop that in such an important time, Coop needs her strength to be the best version of herself. Meanwhile, Jordan's input and Laura Baker's off-screen assistance also show the Baker family coming through for Coop in getting things done. However, this plays against how it seems that no matter how much Breonna tries to help Coop, it only results in Coop's frustration being thrown back in Breonna's face.
"Somehow Some Way" is an integral episode for understanding how Coop and Breonna's relationship functions in a time of stress. While Breonna aims to be supportive, Coop only sees an argument. Since becoming an official couple, season 8 has spent less time with them than season 7, undermining any real potential connection they could have. That is especially clear when Breonna is trying to be there for Coop, but Coop only sees a debate or pessimism. The way it gets presented, it comes across that Breonna does not understand the core of who Coop is as a person.
Layla succeeds in having Coop eat by knowing that Coop would give in when understanding that Coop needs her strength to be at her best. Jordan and Laura Baker, even though she does not appear, each get credit for coming through for Coop. Breonna, on the other hand, is only ever met with Coop's frustration. Anything Breonna says is wrong, and any suggestion she has only makes things worse. It is not a great look for a couple who has not had a lot of screen time or years of history and foundation to make up for the arguments. Coop's inability to recognize Breonna's desire to stand by Coop's side is only strengthened when Patience appears to be a shoulder for Coop to lean on.
Coop and Patience have years of history, and Patience knows how important Amina is to Coop because she was there when Coop started her bond with Amina and is aware of the complicated history that exists. Coop's bond with Amina is essential to this episode, and it is an aspect of Coop's life that Breonna appears vastly unprepared for. In comparison, Coop and Patience coming face to face is an easily digestible family reunion. Patience knows exactly how to be there for Coop because she knows what it means to be there for Coop when things are hard. Meanwhile, Coop has a significantly easier time opening up to Patience about her emotional state than she does with Breonna.
The difference in how Coop responds to each of them, as well as how Coop responds to Breonna in comparison to Layla and Jordan as well, comes from a shared history. But it takes Patience having to explain to Breonna directly that Coop is lashing out at her because Coop loves Breonna and believes that love will stick around, even in the aftermath of taking her anger out. Still, "Somehow Some Way" does try to show that Breonna is being there for Coop, helping connect Coop to a judge that ultimately helps them locate Amina and get her released. Breonna is also responsible for reaching out to Patience, understanding that Patience may be exactly what Coop needs at the moment, a painful recognition for a partner who is trying to show they are capable of being what their significant other is looking for to get through a difficult and stressful time.
Coop carries the episode well, placing a lot of emotional significance on her relationship with Amina and the importance of her found family. Coop refuses to rest until she can help Amina, and her determination also helps Coop come to another realization: Torts law is not the right specialty. Coop was initially inspired and encouraged to attend law school by Laura Baker, and one of the key things that Coop wants to be in the world of law is a disruptor. Coop wants to help people. She wants to stand up for the people who need a voice and give them the chance to rise up. After her happiness being questioned by Amina and Layla at different points, Coop ultimately makes this realization when confronting her boss at her internship, who directly tells Coop to become the type of lawyer that inspired her to go to school in the first place.
Outside of Coop's main plot, the Jordan and Cassius dynamic still continues to play a role but is getting more stale in each episode. Due to the pacing and design of the season, with each episode taking place throughout the course of one week, Jordan and Cassius have had different versions of the same conversation since Jordan told Cassius about the offer for the Beverly High head coach position. It has gotten old and tired, and continuing to place them in scenes together when their conversations have gotten that predictable only hurts both of their screen time.
Even in the aftermath of the ICE raid, the story still finds a way to pit them against each other in arguing about the revelation to the public that they are cousins. The story had moved far beyond that, dealing with actual emotional responses to the traumatic events that had just occurred, and Jordan and Cassius are still having petty fights. The only time they stop is to turn against a member of the media who is more concerned with questioning them about their relationship and KJ's walk-out than he is about being a journalist and covering the story of how the children were impacted by the ICE raid.
The one other significant detail to come out of Jordan and Cassius' scenes is showing how well Jordan knows the South Crenshaw High School students. He points them each out directly, stating how their normal personalities are more bright and vibrant than the devastated versions of the students that are sitting in Layla's lounge. Jordan's recognition of the students, and who they are, could be a tease toward Jordan choosing to stay at South Crenshaw High School. He knows the students, and in this moment, comes across as someone doing his best to be there for them, waiting with them while they wait for their parents.
Ultimately, Amina's release back home leads to another series of questions, such as how long it will be until Preach can return home as well and how Coop and Breonna's relationship will play out as Coop shifts her focus from torts. Another question that must be confronted is how Coop and Breonna's relationship handles the stressful afternoon and evening they experienced while searching for a way to get Amina and Preach released. Placing Coop at the forefront of the episode helped the show feel grounded in familiarity, as it was led by a character who had years of established background as the episode's focal point.
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