I Hate to Admit it, but You Should Binge Watch ‘All American’: Season 1 Review

You know how the CW sometimes has a reputation for trash tv? First 2 seasons of The Flash and Arrow aside, I don’t know how they’re still pulling numbers, but a few weeks of stay-at-home orders and a vast array of things to watch will have you 6 episodes deep into a show you used to openly hate on. That’s how I wound up running through seasons of All American like Marshawn Lynch hopped up on skittles and being surprised by how invested I was in this show based on the true story of a black man from the hood who made it out of his tough situation and became an NFL player. Don’t get me wrong. There are plenty of moments that remind you this is an at-times, poorly written CW teen drama. Luckily, the good outweighs the bad as they get you intrigued with Taye Diggs and ridiculously good-looking actors, then center the show around the great game of football and the exciting young actors that play their positions well.

All-American is all about Spencer James, a kid from the mean streets of South Crenshaw, LA who transfers to Beverly Hills 90210 high school in hopes for a better life and a shot at the NFL. On paper, it’s a polarizing tale about poverty and equity. Take the time to peel back those layers and it becomes a divisive take on access, abandonment, addiction, and social justice issues. While the first episode has it meh moments and eye-roll worthy scenes, it sets the tone that they’re not afraid to dive headfirst into the complex dynamics of single mothers in America, race, …