All American Season 2 | Episode 10 “Protect Ya Neck” Review

It’s SoLA Muse Cotillion time in Beverly Hills on this week’s All American, but what’s a fancy party without some drama? Even though this event should be a good time celebration about Olivia (and Kia and the other girls), it’s hardly what she expected thanks to Asher slacking in the boyfriend department and a life-altering cliffhanger. The good thing is that everyone shows up to the party, but not without their own problems lingering in the back of their minds. Jealousy consumes Coop. Layla’s nervous about her first real event since leaving the center. A Heisman trophy winner might just be after Billy’s job. And Spencer’s still worried about Coop since Tyrone keeps randomly popping up. He has reason to worry, but not necessarily just about Coop.

Loved that Way

Jealousy always has a way of rearing its ugly head and destroying relationships. No matter who you are or how strong your relationship may seem. As soon as that jealousy shows up in one form or another, all your insecurities, that you didn’t think you had, make you doubt everything. Coop’s jealousy comes in the form of Patience’s ex-girlfriend, Luna. She shows up in town for the cotillion because once a cotillion girl, always a cotillion girl. Coop immediately catches the jealousy bug and gets upset at Patience for not telling her that Luna would be in town and going to the cotillion, but Patience swears up and down she didn’t know. It was a surprise. Still, Coop isn’t happy about it, especially when Olivia does some Instagram snooping and Coop learns the truth about Luna.

Luna’s not just any ex. She’s THE ex. The girl who helped Patience come out. The girl who used to paint portraits of her. Patience’s first. Coop confronts Patience about it, and it turns into an argument about trust and lies. Patience is tired of the way Coop loves. She feels suffocated. She tells Coop it’s time for them to take a break only for Coop to respond that it’s real convenient timing. Why don’t you try listening to her, Coop? No wonder she wants to take a break. I used to love Coop, but man, she’s making it hard to lately.

Cotillion

Even though Olivia was hesitant to join SoLA Muse at first, she’s really found her place in the group that’s so much more than women who wear white and do brunch. They’re women of substance and action who helped Olivia find purpose. We haven’t been able to see much of her work with them, but it’s no surprise she’s excited for the event. The only problem? Asher. As her boyfriend and best friend, you’d think he’d be ready and willing to be there for her, but instead of joining her at dance practice, he’s been putting all his time into workouts for football. She’s clearly bummed about it, but she doesn’t push him. He promises to make the final practice, and she takes his word, but a Heisman winner shows up to football practice, and that promise gets broken. So, Kia gives her Spencer as her date while Kia takes Jordan. She tells Asher not to even bother showing up. Can anyone blame her? Olivia is always supporting Asher’s dreams. Just once, she wants him to support her.

While disappointed, Olivia still manages to have a good time with Spencer’s help. To her surprise, she even gets the award of the night, the most promising Cotillioneir, for her 100+ hours of volunteer work and her podcast on social justice issues. It’s a proud moment. Unfortunately, Asher shows up after her speech just in time to see Spencer and Olivia sharing a hug. It sets him off, like jealousy tends to do, and he gets loud when she tells him that he made his priorities clear. He argues that football is all he has and that he can’t “pick and choose and get an award whenever he wants.” Billy intervenes and advises Asher to leave, and thankfully he does. Sheesh, and here I thought Asher was doing so much better, but this little outburst shows he’s still the same guy who called Olivia, Layla and Spencer out at homecoming. Only this time, it’s not alcohol that’s his problem. It’s steroids. Oh boy.

The Bubble Popped

Olivia started her podcast, Liv the Truth, because she suddenly realized she’s been living in a bubble of “safety”. We can’t control what’s happening outside of this bubble, social injustices shouldn’t be ignored or pretended away. We need to be aware of them. She says all of this in her podcast as a voice over and ends it by saying that “we can’t just sit in the comfort of our bubble, thinking that we’re safe because, one day, it’s going to pop.” This voice over is pivotal to this episode for a couple reasons. One, the SoLA cotillion is part of this Beverly Hills bubble that’s safe from violence and danger. It’s full of pretty white dresses with gloves and tuxedos with tails and expensive tables. It’s controlled and beautiful… at least until now. Two, that bubble is about to get popped in a big way.

In the days before the cotillion, Spencer keeps running into Tyrone. He shows up at his work in BH, making cryptic threats about Laura and Coop. Coop tells him not to worry and to keep living his life like she is. Being the protective guy that Spencer is, he doesn’t listen. He meets with Kia’s uncle to voice his worry for Coop. He gives him a gun, but we all know Spencer’s not about to get that violent. Instead, he finds Tyrone in Crenshaw and gives him two options: take the win of getting out of jail or get the hood turned on him again. Tyrone isn’t scared off too easily, though, but neither is Spencer now. When Tyrone tells Spencer he’s got nothing to offer, Spencer comes back with “if I ain’t got nothing to offer, then I ain’t got nothing to lose” and if Tyrone goes after Coop or Laura, then nothing will stop him from going after Tyrone. Nothing.

This is kind of a new side to Spencer we haven’t seen before. The martyr/protector, yes. But saying he’s got nothing to lose and making a threat against Tyrone? That’s new and it worries me. Tyrone’s not one to take to threats too kindly. He’s the type that will get you, or someone you love, before you even have a chance to get him. First, I thought he was going after Darnell because he sits beside him at a restaurant and make conversation, but that’s not happening. At least not yet. Actually, maybe it’s just his cover for his real endgame: getting rid of Spencer. As Spencer is talking to Olivia beside her car after cotillion, a car drives by firing multiple shots. Spencer protects Olivia but gets shot himself. The episode ends with Olivia screaming and crying for help.

Her Beverly Hills bubble just got popped.

Notable Mentions:

• Olivia’s podcast gave me straight chills.
• Coop’s mama being supportive and welcoming and accepting and giving advice to her daughter – yes please!
• “You can either live looking miserable or die smiling, your call.” – Spencer to Olivia
• That dance!
• “She takes after her mother.” – Billy and then Laura’s soft smile 😊
• Spencer putting Layla’s mental health and recovery first even though he wants to be with her. Him researching recovery! I love a gentleman.
• Layla and Spencer. Spencer and Olivia. Layla and Jordan. Kia and Jordan. Spencer and Kia. I love them all???
• Dillon and Grace being out of town ☹
• “That’s my baby girl.” – Billy giving Asher the protective dad talk
•  Samantha Logan’s acting in that final scene? Girl, you better get that Emmy!

All American airs Mondays at 8/7c on The CW!

Featured Image: IMDb