It’s time to say goodbye to All American. In many ways, it is time, and I’m relieved the series went out on its own terms and had this final season to wrap up, instead of being canceled abruptly.

However, I wish we had gotten a few more episodes, or even a two-hour finale, to let some of these stories breathe. 

We’ve watched Spencer James, the Bakers, and their friends for years, and the new generation for the last two seasons. Losing them will hurt.

(Kevin Estrada/The CW)

All American has owned a part of my heart for eight years. I loved the couples on it, but more than that, I loved the friendships and the families on the show. They’ve conquered so much together, and it’s rare to find these close platonic bonds on TV anymore.

All American Season 8 Episode 13 felt like a love letter and final goodbye to Spencer James and Olivia Baker. While it included other characters, this was their episode.

It highlighted the importance of family, legacy, and the next generation, and that’s always been important to the series.

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Motherhood and Faith Showcased Olivia’s Arc

Bringing back the time capsule from All American Season 4 highlighted that Spencer and Olivia’s dreams haven’t changed.

That’s why Olivia had so much faith that Spencer would be there for her, and she seemed frustrated that the others weren’t as concerned about finding him.

(Kevin Estrada/The CW)

They were more concerned about her and the twins’ health. I hated that this episode went back through time and showed scenes we saw only a few weeks ago, when they could have spent time on new scenes with Olivia.

While it was for Olivia’s own good, I also disliked how almost everyone acted like Olivia was in denial concerning Spencer.

The best part was when Laura Baker arrived. She knew her daughter needed honesty and support, and she’s the only one who truly understood what it was like to give birth to twins and have a husband who was a busy football player.

Being brutally honest about her fears bonded mother and daughter even more, and both have always been survivors. Olivia has conquered everything in her way, and that’s how Laura encouraged her through the difficult birth when the twins’ heart rates kept dropping. 

She was the only one who could get through to her since Olivia needed someone to understand. The mother-and-daughter scenes were some of my favorites.

(The CW/Screenshot) Spencer’s Arc Should Have Occurred Earlier

Let’s be clear, Spencer never would ignore Olivia or cheat on her. I knew he was with his mom, and seeing them at a meeting trying to get Spencer traded closer to home made sense.

I wish this story occurred earlier in All American Season 8. It was an important beat because it showed Spencer had a few good years in New York, but he values family above all.

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His general manager, Rachel, at the New York Bobcats, tried to play dirty by refusing to release him from his contract and insisting that the team molded Spencer into the football player he was today.

No way, lady! That was his family and Billy Baker. When they threatened a franchise tag to keep him under contract and forbid him from playing for other teams, it reminded me of when Toledo State University tried to blackball Spencer from other Division 1 schools.

(The CW/Screenshot)

I love how Grace has always supported Spencer. They’ve been close since the beginning, and she’s one of the biggest reasons he wanted to move home. 

But Crenshaw has always been home. It has the people he loves and the memories. I teared up again just thinking about all the secrets and dreams he shared with Coop on those swings and how many games he played on that old football field.

He wanted to share those things with his and Olivia’s twins, and Grace knew that was the key since the New York Bobcats was also a family business.

It was about honoring legacy and respect. They were angry he spoke to the LA Robins’ general manager first, and now tried to make them pay by asking for a ton of players in the trade.

Things got emotional and greedy until Grace intervened again. She was the only person Rachel grudgingly respected, partly because she was fierce like her late mother.

(The CW/Screenshot)

She was the only one who could explain Spencer’s legacy.

All American Season 8 Episode 13 Gave Fans The Spencer & Olivia Scenes We’ve Been Waiting For 

I never doubted that Spencer would show up. Coop’s idea worked, and Spencer arrived just as the twins were about to be born, proving Olivia right.

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She looked happy and peaceful now that her soulmate was there.

I love that we got a few minutes of Spencer and Olivia alone with their new babies before the extended family barged in. It was intimate as they each held one and looked in amazement.

Those babies already had a strong grip, and Spencer looked like a natural holding them and putting them back in their bassinet.

(The CW/Screenshot)

I love how Spencer has matured. He used to be afraid to contemplate fatherhood, but now he knew he could conquer anything with Olivia by his side. That truly defined them.

I appreciated how All American used that twist since it happens in real life. Spencer and Olivia thought they were having twin girls, but ended up with one of each because one was never angled right at the ultrasound.

They named the twins after Grandma Mary and Spencer’s dad. I was hoping they’d name the boy after Billy, but these work, too.

All American Has Always Been About Defining Family

It started with Spencer, and that’s why he fought so hard to come back home. He wanted to raise the twins with his mom, Jordan and Layla.

(The CW/Screenshot)

He knew Crenshaw and LA were home, just as Jordan realized he was at home coaching at Crenshaw.

I suspect he also wanted Cassius and KJ to stay nearby, and like his father, he knew he made a difference in his team’s lives. He needed to help Khalil finalize his spot at Stanford and gain even more self-confidence.

While Jordan and Cassius have bonded, Cassius seemed surprised that Jordan rejected the Beverly coaching offer and pushed for him to stay. Cassius wasn’t used to family loyalty, but that was about to change. 

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While the finale didn’t focus much on the newer players, I appreciated that both Cassius and KJ got a happy ending. KJ and Amina are so much like Cassius and Ava because Amina was so outspoken and thought she knew what was best for him.

It was obvious that Cassius found that amusing and approved of his son’s girlfriend. What a perfect time to gain a girlfriend after getting injured, but life works in mysterious ways.

(The CW/Screenshot) The Flash Forward Showcased the Perfect Full-Circle Moments

The writers showcased a longer flashforward than usual in All American’s series finale in the final eight minutes.

There was something meaningful about Laura Baker swearing Coop into becoming a lawyer. She was one of the first people to believe in her.

I wish we could have seen more of Amina and Preach working for the Crenshaw council. I could envision them and Coop working together to make Crenshaw what they always wanted.

I also wish we could have seen more of Jordan and Layla as parents and successful in their careers. I’m thrilled they were successful, but I felt jipped.

One of my favorite moments was seeing Spencer and KJ together at the Super Bowl game for the LA Robins. Spencer handed down the torch as he retired.

(Kevin Estrada/The CW)

It was bittersweet, but family came before football, and it showed how much Spencer believed in KJ.

Ending the series with a vision of Billy looking at his boys with pride highlighted the perfect full-circle moment since Jordan and Spencer just discussed how they wished he could see them now.

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I’ve missed Billy Baker so much over the last few seasons, so I love that the ending scene was a simple, heartfelt moment of the three characters who began the series together.

That scene made me cry more than any other time-jump moment. Well done, All American. It’s the end of an era.

(The CW/Screenshot)

Over to you, All American Fanatics. Were you happy with how the series ended? Were there other OG stars you had hoped to see in the finale?

Let us know in the comments.

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