Since COVID-19 hit, more time indoors has allowed more time to stream great films and televisions shows. One show I’ve been able to take in during this time is a football drama called All American. I couldn’t stop watching it. And if you’ve never seen it, you should add it to your watch list as soon as you can. Here’s why.
1. It has a solid storyline. All American tells the story of a talented and rising star athlete, Spencer James (Daniel Ezra) who has the opportunity to leave his current school, South Crenshaw High and attend Beverly Hills High, under the mentorship and leadership of his coach, Billy Baker (Taye Diggs), who invites Spencer to play for his team. While the premise of the show centers around football, it’s relatable and it speaks to both urban and privileged communities. The strong storyline gives a glimpse into different worlds through the eyes and experiences of Spencer. It intersects his worlds to find levels of understanding and common ground. It also manages to address the importance of community, race, and diversity, and additionally, focuses on education, navigating assimilation, gentrification, and life through the eyes of teens coping with the weight of the world on their shoulders. Spencer is wise beyond his years and a guy that’s hard not to root for. He's smart, funny, complicated, and unique. And he can be trusted to do the right thing and make good decisions. On and off the football field.
2. All the eye candy. Gorgeous athletes in uniform. Need I say more? The men on the show are real fine, and serve up plenty amounts of eye candy, which is always appreciated. Especially for those of us spending a lot of time indoors these days. It’s also refreshing seeing attractive characters who have depth to them and bring something more to the table. Throughout the series some of the older men on the show -- the fathers, coaches, counselors, and teachers, do what they need to do when overcoming obstacles to take care of their loved ones. They serve as great mentors, guides, and at different times, cautionary tales, for the younger characters. The younger men on the show such as the athletes, teammates, and neighbors, do the same for their friends, significant others, and families as they each navigate different conflicts and challenges.
3. It's not another teen soap. Sometimes shows marketed to younger audiences can have a soapy-like feel, filled with complicated love stories and dramatic plot twists that are often predictable and have been done before. What's exciting about that? Nothing. In All American, there are light doses of it, but the majority of the show focuses on the life of the characters living in Crenshaw and what life is like for the ones living in Beverly Hills. Neither of these worlds or the people living in them is perfect. They're filled with issues like substance abuse, discrimination, politics, mental illness, and the pressures schools and communities put on coaches and student-athletes to win and succeed. All American is definitely a show worth watching.