Critic’s Rating: 4 / 5.0
4
Ever since I watched the All American retrospective, I suspected the series would cover an ICE raid during Season 8.
Nkechi Okoro Carroll teased that she wanted to cover a storyline she hadn’t done yet and that she had read about many real-life teenagers who had experienced it.
I haven’t seen that many shows cover them. Only The Cleaning Lady and The Fosters came to mind, so I was curious to see how All American would address the issue.
(Kevin Estrada/The CW)
Amina already addressed a raid once earlier in All American Season 8. She’s very passionate about standing up for other people, and she believes that staying silent means you’re complicit.
All American Season 8 Episode 6 put that to the test. Amina was supposed to help Preach at school and stay out of trouble, but on that day, there was an ICE raid, which triggered her and her views again.
No one should feel that immobilized with fear. None of the petty issues mattered anymore. It was about coming together to help one another.
There Were Too Many Petty Issues in All American Season 8 Episode 6
There were way too many petty issues to endure before we got to the “meat” of this episode.
How many times can we watch Cassius and Jordan argue over Jordan’s job offer? If I have to watch the same fight weekly until the finale, I’ll pull my hair out.
(The CW/Screenshot)
Since I suspect Spencer is the other person Jordan goes to for advice, I fear we have a few weeks to go.
It’s difficult to believe that Cassius forgot to mention the press conference. I enjoyed it when these two were planning the show showcase and rematch together.
It was more of a family rivalry versus a cutthroat race. It took Preach to remind Jordan that this showcase wasn’t about egos. It’s about the boys and their offers.
That’s the biggest problem. Khalil sees Jordan possibly leaving as abandoning him, while KJ sees it as betraying their family, and it only fuels Khalil’s anger.
Khalil and Jordan shouldn’t have revealed each other’s secrets, but they push each other’s buttons, similarly to how Billy and Spencer did.
(The CW/Screenshot)
Hopefully, they’ll see what’s really important and come and talk. Khalil witnessed some things he shouldn’t have and will need Jordan.
Cassius Will Soon Realize Cliff Mosley Runs the Show
All American fans know how shady Cliff Mosley is. He wanted Billy Baker out years ago and is working just as hard to ensure Jordan isn’t reinstated.
He doesn’t actually care about Cassius. He’s a pawn so that Cliff Mosley looks good to the Boosters.
Cassius slowly learned that after Cliff revealed the family connection between Cassius and Jordan.
Cassius didn’t play quite how Cliff Mosley wanted, meaning he relented, saying he was proud of KJ and the team for wanting to help and support the others at Crenshaw after the raid.
(Kevin Estrada/The CW)
He didn’t care if he didn’t give the best image. The boys had morals and were willing to stand up for others. They had way better character than Cliff Mosley.
Preach and Amina Sims Were the Episode MVPs
Preach may have been frustrated with his headstrong daughter, but he was also proud of Amina. It’s why he wanted her to return to Dinsburg and get a better chance than he had.
I almost laughed at Preach’s reaction to the vice principal. It wasn’t exactly funny, but it was obvious Preach didn’t think being compliant would work for them, and being agreeable only gets you so far.
Of course, Amina couldn’t stay out of trouble. She tried, but she’s too much of a fearless leader.
I’m not sure telling the ICE agents that they were disrupting school was the best idea, but I was proud of her for defending Ms. Perez.
(The CW/Screenshot)
Amina understood that you don’t turn on your classmates or your teachers in times of need. She thought that standing by and doing nothing was just as bad as the crime, which was why she wrote her essay.
Amina really did learn some of her fierceness and sass from her dad, though we don’t often see Preach like this.
I’ve never seen him quote the law. Did he learn the legalities of what needs to be on a warrant from experience or from hanging around Coop? It was impressive that he was right.
Preach has come so far and cares about those students, and he wanted to protect them, most of all his daughter.
I cried when he told her how proud he was of her, and he understood why she reacted the way. People listen to her.
(Kevin Estrada/The CW)
In the End, Only Safety Mattered
The petty issues no longer matter when everyone was barricaded together, hiding from the agents. It’s terrifying that Ms. Perez had her ID in another room, but the agents didn’t care.
She was just another violent criminal to the agents, so her main priority was to talk to and reassure her daughter. I appreciated that Ron, the teen who seemed selfish, loaned her his phone to call her daughter.
Those petty arguments no longer mattered. It only mattered that they survived, and I suspect that’s why Khalil backed Amina up. They’ve been through everything together, and he knew she thought quickly on her feet.
I’ve seen other ICE raids on TV, but this one was difficult to watch. They treated Ms. Perez, Preach, and Amina like they were criminals, and how they shot up Preach’s classroom must have terrified the rest of the students, too.
KJ made me proud, too, after acting like a jerk lately. He initiated the protest to assist and check on Amina, Khalil, and the rest of South Creshaw.
(Kevin Estrada/The CW)
While he was concerned about his friends and wanted to support them, he also feared that ICE could come for him and his friends. He wanted to stand up to them before it was too late.
He’s learned from Amina.
I’m curious to see the aftermath of this, especially with how Coop reacts, since she never answered any of Amina’s calls or texts. That will have ramifications.
Over to you, All American Fanatics. What were your thoughts on the ICE raid, and what will the aftermath be? Are you tired of the petty football issues between Jordan and Cassius?
Let us know in the comments.
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On All American Season 8 Episode 6, South Crenshaw experiences fear with an ICE raid. It was an emotional episode. My review!
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In All American Season 8 Episode 5, secrets come out and drama erupts at Coop’s dinner party. Check out the review!
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Amina’s secret is finally revealed on All American Season 8 Episode 4 and she and KJ share a moment, but will it be revealed?
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