'All American' Season 2 Episode 11 Review: Will this emotional crossroads bring Spencer James back to football?
Review contains spoilers for 'All American' Season 2 Episode 11 — 'The Crossroads'
With a powerful opening scene, 'All American' brings back all the feels as Spencer James (Daniel Ezra) is taken to the hospital after being shot while trying to save Olivia Baker (Samantha Logan). As the silences speak louder than words, Daniel Ezra and Samantha Logan's performances will leave you in awe and wonder.
With friends and family standing together in unison, Grace, Billy, Laura and Layla rush to his side and wait for the doctor's word. Turns out, the surgery can leave Spencer paralyzed. Worried about the consequences, Grace James (Karimah Westbrook) is in two minds about letting her son undergo the operation but Spencer is clear. "I don't want a life where I cannot step back on the field," he tells his mom. When she reminds him: "You quit football," he expressed how "painful" it was to play after his father's death but he "always knew" he would come back on the field.
Asher Adams (Cody Christian) realizes he had been a jerk at the cotillion and comes to the hospital to support Olivia and Spencer. Soon, Spencer goes under the knife and all the early indicators are a "success" except for the "damage to the nervous system." Knowing there is a big decision he needs to make, the community from both Crenshaw and Beverly Hills rally around him to show support.
In the meantime, Spencer asks Coop (Bre-Z) to do him a favor, but somehow things go from bad to worse. Tyrone Morris (Demetrius Shipp Jr.) sets up Preach (Kareem J. Grimes) to be caught red-handed with a gun and he is arrested. Without even being a part of a gang, Spencer becomes the spark that starts a war.
Elsewhere, Jordan (Michael Evans Behling) and his teammates step up to help Billy out while he is tending to other matters. Cliff Mosley, the head of the Beverly High School Boosters, tries to overthrow Billy as a coach but the team gets together and protests for their coach. In the end, Jordan's efforts bear fruit and Billy is retained as the coach.
Towards the end of the episode, Spencer and Olivia sit together as she records his words for her podcast 'Liv The Truth'. The two lie side-by-side on the hospital bed and share a silent moment together. Will the two be end game as per fans' wishes? Wait and watch as more episodes roll out every Monday, 8 pm on The CW.