All American “The Choice is Yours” Review

Just when we think the Beverly Hills Eagles are on the right track, another secret causes more tension on and off the field. Thankfully, Coach Baker knows just the trick to fix it. Meanwhile, Coop is forced to choose between Spencer and Shawn. Layla enlists Spencer’s help in reading her dad’s new girlfriend, and Olivia sees something that breaks her heart. A lot happens in episode 6 of All American, so let’s dive right in.

Works Every Time

In the last episode, Olivia told Jordan about her drunken hook-up with Asher. Jordan promised that he wouldn’t say anything even though he really wanted to. However, sometimes you just can’t hide your anger towards someone. Jordan lets his frustration with Asher out on the field, ultimately causing the Eagles to barely win the game. As expected, Coach Baker is not happy with this, especially since they have a big game coming up against Malibu.

He tries to get the boys to tell him what’s wrong, but it’s to no avail. So, he takes Jordan and Asher on a field trip to Malibu’s team’s practice. They’re good. Even so, Asher and Jordan get into a scuffle on Malibu’s field after Jordan finally reveals that he knows about the hookup with Olivia.Time for plan B: a long walk home for Asher and Jordan. During their walk, Asher tries to explain that it was just a one-time mistake, and that he and Olivia were both in dark places. When Jordan asks what he has to be depressed about, Asher finally confesses about his family’s money problems. The confession gets the best friends back on good terms.

She’s Not Mom

Also in episode 5, Layla’s dad brought home his new girlfriend, who he also happens to manage/represent. Layla’s not thrilled about it. “It just seems a little convenient. One minute she’s a no-name artist on my dad’s label, and the next she’s dating him with an album dropping,” she says. Plus, she believes that Chyna isn’t even her dad’s type, aka nothing like her mom. I mean, you can’t really blame Layla. If my dad brought home a new girlfriend so soon after my mom’s death, I’d be skeptical too.

Once Layla finds an engagement ring in her dad’s bag, she swipes it and enlists Spencer’s help to do that thing he does and read Chyna. One thing leads to another and the rapper is set to perform at Alvin’s block party in Crenshaw because she’s from there too. Spencer tells Layla that he’s not getting any bad vibes from her, which isn’t what Layla wanted to hear.

However, when Chyna questions if Alvin has a barbershop, Spencer and Coop wonder how she could be from Crenshaw and not know Alvin. Layla overhears this and confronts Chyna just before she goes on stage. Chyna admits that she moved away when she was little, but it wasn’t her idea to do the show in Crenshaw, it was Layla’s dad’s.

After the show & shooting, Layla overhears her dad celebrating with Chyna and it bothers her because someone got hurt during the shooting. “You wanted an authentic Crenshaw experience. I guess you got it.” She hands him the ring and walks off.Later, Layla’s having a drink while Spencer closes work. They talk about her dad, and he advises her to cut him some slack and be honest. Her dad shows up and they have an honest talk about him leaving, her mom, etc. He says he was never good enough for either of them. He apologizes and gives her the ring back. It was an anniversary upgrade for her mom, but he never got to give it to her, so he thought Layla might want it. He says he knows he’s not the father she deserves, but he loves her.

Back inside, Layla thanks Spencer. She admits to him that he’s like the only guy she feels she can trust. One thing leads to another and she kisses him. She apologizes, but he says that he’s not sorry for it and they kiss again. Little do they know, Olivia sees them from outside and starts to cry. Poor girl. ☹

He Needs Me Right Now

Early in the episode, Spencer has plans to hang with Coop, but she bails saying that something came up. When he still shows up, she’s with Patience and claims they just needed some hang-time. He’s understanding until Shawn shows up and Coop drops everything to go with him. Patience tells him that’s how it is, and now Spencer needs to find a way to get Coop out from under Shawn.

Remember how Shawn’s been hiding a lot of cash in Alvin’s barber shop? Well, that’s not such a bright idea since everyone knows Alvin’s is a safe place. Another gang (for lack of a better word) shows up while Coop is there with Patience. They have guns and they know Coop has been working with Shawn. She texts Shawn about the trouble while she cuts one of the guys’ hair. Shawn shows up, and things get intense as the guy threatens Shawn that he, Coop and whatever business he has going on in the shop need to be gone next time he comes by.

Coop goes to Shawn’s to tell him to move the money because Alvin’s was vandalized, and she finds out he has a baby girl. Her mom left a while back, and the money he hides in Alvin’s is for her. He keeps the money at Alvin’s because it’s neutral, “anybody finds out and my hustle becomes everybody’s hustle.” Coop suggests that it’s time to find a new hustle, but he doesn’t know what else to do. She tries to assure him that he’s smart, he just runs around the wrong people.Coop shows up to the block party with Shawn, which Spencer isn’t happy about. She’s trying to get Shawn hooked up with Layla’s record producing dad too – the same way Spencer’s trying to hook Coop up. She’s only staying if he can stay, so reluctantly, Spencer agrees.

After Shawn gets a card from Layla’s dad, he tells Coop that maybe she’s right about getting the money out of Alvin’s. He leaves to go get it but gets cornered by the other gang as he’s leaving the shop. Guns get drawn. Shots get fired. Coop goes running to find Shawn, and one of the other gang members has been killed.  Spencer tries to stop her as she tries to go find Shawn, claiming that he was trying to do the right thing, but Spencer doesn’t buy it.

She tells Spencer that he has no idea what’s going on in the hood and that she looks out for her people. She believes in Shawn the same way she does Spencer. Spencer yells that Shawn is a thug. He says that whatever’s coming for Shawn, is coming for her too, and it’s just a matter of time before his family is in danger. Coop understands this and says she’ll be out of his house by the night. Spencer’s surprised she’s choosing Shawn over him and his family, but she claims that he’s good now. “You don’t need me anymore, but Shawn does, and I’m not going to turn my back on him.”

Spencer shows up at Shawn’s to tell him that it’s his job to look out for Coop now. He threatens that if he drags Coop down with him, they’ll be having a very different conversation. When he leaves, Shawn goes back inside, and Coop is sitting there.

All American airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on The CW!