Senior skip day, a treasure hunt for a time capsule and a special Spelivia moment, what more can we ask from an All American episode.
“Show Me The Good Times” was one of those end-of-senior year episodes I love. There’s so much hope for the future, plus so much living in the moment with all the fun things that only the end of your senior can bring. All American was able to bring a lot of stuff into this episode while keeping the drama we expect.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a senior skip day episode. The last one I remember was Dawson’s Creek. Beverly Hills 90210 has a great one too. It’s great that another TV show is highlighting this right of passage in a senior’s life. Everyone had their own idea of what the day would hold, but none of them were right.
Both Jordan Baker (Michael Evans Behling) and Spencer James (Daniel Ezra) had the same idea. They wanted a romantic getaway with their girlfriends at the same place. A little awkward, but a double date can still be romantic. Until JJ Parker (Hunter Clowdus) shows up and changes the mood completely. Then, Spence invites Tamia “Coop” Cooper (Bre-Z) and Patience (Chelsea Tavares), and Patience invites Layla Keating (Greta Onieogou) and Asher Adams (Cody Christian) because she doesn’t want to be alone with Coop.
I’m happy they all ended up in the same place. It’s always fun when the whole gang is together. And this was even more special because they all filmed predictions for a time capsule for where they will be in 20 years.
Layla’s was so sweet. First, she said she wanted to be a boss, then she’s like, I’m already a boss, so a mogul. But she’s also picturing herself with a daughter she will be close to like her mother. It was nice to see that side of her again. Jordan is right. She’s been different lately. Coop betraying her set her off. I want to see more of the soft side of her as well as the badass boss side.
Coop and Patience had very different videos. Coop sees herself with Patience in 20 years, while Patience has no idea what the future holds, despite telling Coop she was end game for her. But she’s just so angry. I love this couple, but if Coop doesn’t start thinking about how her decisions affect Patience, they won’t last long.
Jordan and Simone Hicks (Geffri Maya) have big dreams for themselves. They want to reach the top of their sports. Geffri is getting her own show, so while the road will be bumpy for her character, I’m sure she’s got good things coming. It was nice to see them united after their little fight. It does suck that Simone will miss prom, but being on a college team is bigger than that. Some might say, but senior prom only happens once. It all comes down to your priorities and what you would regret more.
Asher is still scared of the future, but I love how JJ encourages him to be a coach. And it’s nice to see Ash have fun after everything he’s been through.
JJ’s video almost made me cry. He really cares about his friends and creating moments for them. He created some great ones for them on this day. I hope he gets his wish that he can keep bringing them together and that they will take him seriously. I also hope we see more of this side of JJ in the next season.
Last but certainly not least, Olivia Baker (Samantha Logan) and Spencer’s videos were not a surprise at all. Liv wants to be making a difference. Spence hopes he will be spending time with his wife, coaching pee wee football and being an activist in the community.
While Spence was the only one that seemed to be thinking of the other half of Spelivia, they had quite a special moment. After an entire day of trying to find alone time, they found it at Spence’s house, and they were able to have a very romantic first time. They care about each other so much. I’m glad it happened just the way it was supposed to.
While the kids were off on their skip day, the adults were trying to find a time capsule they made on their skip day. These adult storylines are so much fun. Billy Baker (Taye Diggs) and Grace James (Karimah Westbrook) were so cute trying to find their time capsule, but apparently, Denise Patterson (Alexis Fields) had hidden it so that they wouldn’t open it before their 30-year reunion. But of course, they did. Even D’Angelo Carter (Lamon Archey) got in on the fun. He didn’t have a senior skip day in boarding school, so he lived vicariously through them. Laura Baker (Monet Mazur) was ready to go to dinner, but even she found some fun in it at the end. She stole the joint from 74’s time capsule. And she and Billy had Denise join them for a late dinner while Carter and Grace swept away for some alone time.
Laura was not feeling the fun. She just wanted to go to dinner. (The CW) 
Grace was on a mission to find her class’ time capsule. (The CW)
It was sweet that they didn’t just read their predictions. They read Corey’s too. They all had high hopes for themselves. Grace thought she’d be the first African American president. Denise thought she’d be married to Morris Chestnut. Corey thought he’d be an all-star football player. Billy’s was sweetest. All he wanted was for the love of his life to love him back and have children. He truly is a family man.
What was your favorite moment of senior skip day? Tweet me @PrimetimeAddiction or @MandyTTCarr or comment below.
