All American Season 1 | Episode 9 “Keep Ya Head Up” Review

When we left All American before the holidays Beverly Hills won the playoffs, Asher screwed his team over, Coach Baker switched out his son’s drug test, Spencer and Leila got together, and Shawn was murdered. Thankfully, episode 9 picks up a few days later. Asher’s off the team and brooding. Jordan’s pacing over his drug test results. Spencer and Leila are keeping their relationship hush hush. Coach Baker and Spencer win some awards. And Crenshaw is grieving.

I’m going to be honest, this episode gets emotional. I cried. Spencer cries. It’s a whole thing, so fair warning.

Player of the Year

When Spencer shows up at the end of practice, Coach Baker makes the exciting announcement that he’s won Division Coach of the Year and Spencer’s been awarded Division Player of the Year. Woot woot! Spencer is honored and humbled, but he isn’t too thrilled about having to give a speech and interview. Afterall, he has more concerning things on his mind like Coop, his Crenshaw community, and grief/guilt for Shawn. Billy convinces him, though, that it’s good exposure if Spencer wants to get to the NFL or become All American. He needs to focus on himself instead of letting Crenshaw be a burden.

However, when Patience calls Spencer saying that Coop is spiraling and wanting revenge for Shawn, Spencer ditches a scrimmage and the interview. Coach Baker isn’t happy about it, and neither is the reporter. Later, Billy confronts Spencer about bailing and shows him how the reporter bashed him all over twitter. They get into a pretty heated argument (see below) until Baker finally dismisses Spencer.

Before the awards, Spencer’s mom can tell that something’s wrong. He wonders why he was able to get out and Shawn wasn’t. He and Shawn used to be the same kid who liked the same things. She tells him that’s just how life is in Crenshaw, stating that most people “don’t even start the race until it’s over.” He was given an equal opportunity to succeed, so she tells him to win the race for the rest of them.

All episode, it’s obvious that Spencer is grieving Shawn. At a memorial service for Shawn, the pastor lists names of young men who were lost to gang violence, asking who will be next. It hits a chord with Spencer. So much so, that when he’s thanking people during his award speech and he gets to his baby brother, he remembers that list. He recites the names and gives an emotional speech about how they weren’t given the same opportunities to fulfill their dreams, it’s time for a change, and he’s “winning this race for them.” His life isn’t going to be about getting to the NFL anymore, it’s going to be about giving back to his community so that they have opportunities for their dreams too.

Saving a Friend

As stated above, all episode it’s clear that Shawn is on Spencer’s mind. Throughout the episode, we see flashbacks as Spencer remembers him, Coop and Shawn on the swings as children when life was easier. He remembers one day when Shawn’s older brother came to get him, saying that he needed him to do something for him. A young Shawn explains to his friends that it’s probably to steal something.

Another memory flashes back to a year ago after Shawn’s brother was killed. Spencer meets Shawn on the swings to give his condolences. Shawn says he’s going to take care of it, but Spencer is confused. Tyrone then shows up to get Shawn because they have something to take care of. Tyrone asks if Spencer’s going to join them, but Shawn says Spencer “always has somewhere better to be.” Spencer tries to tell Shawn that he doesn’t have to do this, but Shawn goes anyway.

As Spencer is remembering this, Coop’s spiraling for revenge. She even tells Tyrone that they should be doing something besides playing video games. So, when Spencer gets the call, he goes running. They argue about her wanting revenge. Spencer couldn’t save Shawn from that life, but he’s determined to save Coop from it. Coop later turns down Shawn’s spot with Tyrone.

Unfortunately, when Coop tries to make amends with a rival gang member, she sees something that changes her mind – he has the backpack of money Shawn gave Tyrone. She tries asking questions, but the guy brushes her off by saying she doesn’t want to get into it. It’ll only get her killed. Better believe Coop’s flame for revenge is reignited.

At Shawn’s funeral, Patience is singing a beautiful song, but Coop’s trying to get back in the gang with Tyrone. Spencer shows up, and Tyrone walks right up to him. He heard about Spencer’s award and tells him that Shawn was his guardian angel. Shawn may have always messed with Spencer, but he made sure everyone else left him alone. He always told everyone that Spencer was going to be someone that Crenshaw would be proud of. Tyrone repeats what Spencer remembers from the swings, “Spencer’s always got somewhere better to be.” Spencer’s always thought Shawn didn’t like him, but it turns out Shawn was just keeping Spencer out of the gang life because he knew Spencer was better than that. Ugh! Cue the tears – Spencer’s and mine!

Back to Coop later that night, she goes back to Tyrone, wanting to take Shawn’s spot in the gang. She knows that Tyrone can’t just hand the spot over to her. So, other girls in the gang – who are a lot bigger than Coop – fight her. Oh no… this isn’t the way, Coop. ☹

Other Highlights

• Spencer and Layla confirm their new relationship status with each other but decide to keep it a secret for a while. However, after Layla gives Asher some advice to fight for what he wants (aka back on the team), he tries to win her back, but she blurts out that she’s dating Spencer. Oops.

• Jordan’s panicking about his drug test results. He knows his football career is going to over. He just wonders how the Malibu coach knew. Olivia suggests that maybe it was Ripley since she and Jordan were the only ones there. Whenever Jordan questions Ripley about it, she gets super defensive and storms off. I still think she’s shady. Anyways, Coach Baker eventually tells his son not to worry anymore because the whole team passed. Olivia questions this later, but of course, she believes her father when he says he didn’t do anything to protect his son and his team.

• After Spencer ditches the scrimmage and the interview, Spencer and Billy get into a heated argument about trust and who’s looking out for who. Spencer declares that his community isn’t a burden, but a responsibility, and Billy’s forgotten where he came from. Billy argues he’s just looking out for Spencer, but Spencer’s not buying it. He doesn’t know what to believe because Billy has so many secrets, like stealing the coaching job from his father. Billy insists that he’s just trying to protect Spencer’s future. “My future or your future,” Spencer asks. Spencer starts to leave after being shown the reporter’s tweets, but Billy stops him. He gets in Spencer’s face and starts preaching about being All American and how colleges don’t like headlines. Again, Billy says he’s trying to protect Spencer’s future. They bury the hatchet after the awards when Billy says that he respects Spencer and they don’t have to always agree. He also says that he didn’t steal the coaching job from his father, he earned it against 50 other people. He’s telling him this because he wants to earn Spencer’s trust back.

All American airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on The CW!