All American's soft reboot is happening and it's going to have a major hurdle to overcome

Spoilers ahead for All American season 6 episode 13 "Victory Lap"

All American season 6 is closing in on its finale set for July 15 but the trigger for the soft reboot that had been rumored looks to have been pulled. Fans have anticipated that we'd be coming up on the end of Spencer James' journey on the series since this season was heavily focused on his intent to be drafted. From the beginning of the show, Spencer has dreamed that he'd play in the NFL. It's been a major piece of his story and what he's been working toward most of his life.

Well, he finally achieved his dream in "Victory Lap," an episode that saw Spencer be drafted and that provided a time skip in which he played in the Super Bowl and got engaged to Olivia. But it's not just the flash forward that gives away the series is about to move on from Spencer, it's been announced that Daniel Ezra won't be returning to All American as a series regular for the show's seventh season.

Ezra told Deadline the following about his exit:

"After making the difficult decision to leave All American, my sole focus became completing the journey of the most life-affirming character I’ve ever played in the manner he deserves. Thanks to Nkechi and the writers, I got my wish. Season six is ‘Spencer’s goodbye.’ I’ll miss him. I’ll miss our cast and crew. I hope it’s been as fun to watch him as it has been to play him"

Reportedly his departure was a creative decision made by him and showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll ahead of season 6 and doesn't stem from budget cuts the series will likely go through for season 7. But, as fans react to the news, there's been one common refrain: "Isn't the show about him?"

It seems, before the series can reach the true launchpad for its soft reboot, it's already going to have to contend with the confusion fans are feeling over Ezra's exit. For six seasons we've been with his character Spencer and there was an assumption that once his journey completed so, too, would the show. However, that's not going to be the case.

Soft reboots are notoriously hard to pull off because it requires an established fanbase to believe in, and support, characters that have taken over for the leads they began watching the show for. Typically, fans leave right along with the actors who've been written out. If Ezra is only the beginning of the departures for All American's main cast, it'll be hard for the series to maintain its audience.

The series is one of the most popular programs on The CW and is a winner on Netflix as well. That's why it was able to obtain a coveted spot on the network's roster. The football drama is the only pre-Nexstar era original to do so as Walker, All American: Homecoming, and Superman & Lois were canceled. However, that renewal is going to come with new, younger characters and there in lies the rub.

The writers, and therefore the show, are going to have to answer the question of what All American is without Daniel Ezra as its lead. His compelling performance and the ensemble cast around him are what made the series a must-watch for many who fell in love with it upon first viewing. Without Ezra in the mix it'll be a very different show even with it continuing to be a football drama.

It's possible that All American could be the rare series that manages to pull off a soft reboot that keeps fans just as engaged with the show as they've been previous years. But it's going to be an incredible task, presumably one that gets underway in the two extra episodes CW ordered for the sixth season. From the looks of the promo for season 6 episode 14, we're in for Spencer's return to South Crenshaw High in the wake of his Super Bowl win and there are scenes of Jordan in the coach's office at the school as well.

The series may be gearing up to return to being a high school drama for its seventh season with the story now taking place firmly in Crenshaw. But we'll see how things shake out in these last two episodes. Stay tuned to Hidden Remote for more news.