It is nearly laborious to consider that Friday Evening Lights premiered in 2006. Its “clear eyes, full hearts, cannot lose” perspective will endlessly be a staple.
That stated, there isn’t any denying that All American has a method of doing issues higher than its predecessor.
All American is predicated on the real-life experiences of soccer participant Spencer Paysinger, specializing in two completely different colleges, South Crenshaw and Beverly Excessive College, their college students, households, and communities.
We are likely to suppose that cash brings happiness. The children at Beverly Excessive are privileged with beautiful issues and hefty allowances, however the extra significant issues in life, like household, solidarity, and character, shine at South Crenshaw.
After first watching All American, it is laborious not to attract a comparability from it being a mixture of Friday Evening Lights and no matter teen drama present first involves thoughts, whether or not it is 90210, The OC, or Riverdale, however a deeper look reveals there’s rather more to the present.
From shining a lightweight on crucial social points to extra dramatic storylines, we’re right here to share the important thing variations that All American does higher.
Socioeconomic Points, Racism, And Violence
On the present, we see subjects like gun violence, racial profiling, gang violence, racism, and socioeconomic points prevalently featured. Sure, we see a few of these briefly proven on FNL, however nothing like we do on All American.
The CW collection tells a narrative that’s larger than simply soccer. Whereas we see how the world may be sadly divided, at a deeper evaluation, it additionally factors out how we’re all human and have shared tales.
When Spencer first transfers to Beverly Excessive, his first 12 months is introduced with racism and stereotyping by fellow college students. We even see Asher ask him if he’s a crip or blood in All American Season 1 Episode 1.
Nonetheless, it does not finish there. Spencer additionally experiences resentment and stereotyping from his former teammates for leaving them and becoming a member of the world of the prosperous.
No matter how anybody sees him, Spencer is a humble character with timeless hometown delight who will do all the pieces for his pals and group, together with preserving it from gentrification, an all too real-world drawback.
His dedication to his pals is very evident in his friendship with Coop. She results in a gang, and her character, amongst others, depicts how not having many choices in life can lead her down a violent path.
Spencer doesn’t need that to occur to anybody, particularly Coop and his youthful brother. Together with opening up a dialog, we additionally see motion taken and optimistic outcomes. This academic angle offers All American, irrespective of the subject, a step above.
Earlier than FNL noticed the break up of East Dillon and West Dillon, inequality, racism, and gang violence was scarce. The exception, in fact, is Coach Mac McGill’s racist feedback and Smash’s protest of the way it was dealt with.
Whereas FNL covers class variations, it isn’t close to the financial hole seen in All American and the issues that come up from it.
Gun violence is entrance and heart when Spencer is shot whereas defending Liv from a drive-by taking pictures and circles characters like Coop, Preach, and Tyrone. FNL’s greatest depiction of the problem is Vince giving Coach Taylor his gun.
Sexuality
In Friday Evening Lights, the queer characters are minor, at greatest. Probably the most we see is on Friday Evening Lights Season 4 Episode 4 when Julie and Devin Boland go to a homosexual bar and see assistant coach Stan Traub.
Nonetheless, in All American, Coop is deserted by her household for being a lesbian. Persistence, her girlfriend on the time, is there for her by offering her with a spot to remain and somebody to assist her work by her sexuality and settle for herself.
Their relationship is by far the most effective on the present, and there’s no lack of content material depicting their loyalty and love for each other.
Whereas the LGBTQ+ group has been extra prevalent in TV collection these days, it isn’t the place it must be, and infrequently, the depictions fall flat. Nonetheless, this pure, stunning relationship is inspirational.
Police Brutality
Throughout All American Season 3, Olivia is enraged by the taking pictures of Tamika, a younger Black girl who’s killed by police whereas asleep in her automotive. Olivia can not help however suppose again to how she drove intoxicated with Spencer and acquired in a fender bender.
Olivia and Spencer have been provided a experience house as a result of her white mom is the District Lawyer, however she will be able to’t recover from the truth that issues may have ended a lot otherwise.
That isn’t the one time we see this within the present. On All American Season 1 Episode 3, Spencer and Jordan have been pulled over by the cops whereas driving Jordan’s convertible. Spencer instantly raises his arms and acts calm, whereas Jordan is confused and questions the cop.
In the long run, the 2 find yourself face down on the pavement and handcuffed. Once they get house, Spencer scolds Coach Baker for not educating Jordan on what to do when such conditions come up.
When recalling FNL, no large moments of training come to thoughts.
Racial Profiling
In All American, there isn’t any lack of racial profiling depicted. An incredible instance is when Spencer, Olivia, Jordan, Dillon, Asher, and Kia get frozen yogurt.
When Dillon and Spencer begin arguing, the proprietor does not simply kick them out; she calls the cops on the group for “loitering and disorderly conduct.” To high it off, the cops ask them if they’re a part of a gang.
This scene is extremely infuriating, provided that this store outcomes from gentrification in Crenshaw.
Perhaps extra of an instance of simply pure racism, however when the police pull over Dillon’s bus to speak to Smash, claiming he was the one to throw the primary punch within the brawl seen in Friday Evening Lights Season 1 Episode 6, we see racial profile.
Smash was strolling away, and Tim Riggins was the starter of the altercation. Nonetheless, the true instigators have been the opposing workforce and refs.
Psychological Well being
In All American, Layla struggled with melancholy. Her absent father, her mom’s demise, and general pressures from life turn out to be an excessive amount of, and she or he makes an attempt to take her personal life and results in a psychological well being facility.
This important second creates a dialog surrounding psychological well being and the way even the individuals who appear to have all of it collectively may be hiding what is going on on inside.
This isn’t to say that FNL did not cowl points surrounding psychological well being.
We see Jason Avenue wrestle after turning into paralyzed, Waverly Grady has bipolar dysfunction, and Tyra Collette clearly has PTSD. Nonetheless, it lacks the training and dialog round these points that All American drives house.
Substance Abuse
From the beginning of All American Season 1, Olivia’s dependancy points are entrance and heart. Her sobriety is one thing she has fought for day by day since going to rehab. We even see she has a sponsor.
Sadly, she does find yourself relapsing. Nonetheless, dependancy can’t be cured; there isn’t any remedy for it, and it is essential for viewers to know this and to interrupt the stigma.
Tim Riggins struggles with alcoholism in FNL, and he positively lacks the parental assist Olivia has.
Additionally, nobody tries to cease him like they do different underage characters, and it’s barely talked about as a legit drawback, so there is not any shock his makes an attempt to cease by no means work.
The record may go on. All American is far more than simply your common teen drama. Being pregnant, betrayal, first loves, heartbreak, accidents, steroids, the poisonous tradition that soccer can have, demise, lies in households, plus many extra subjects all have a house within the collection.
Hopefully, the present will proceed for some time and may proceed to coach its followers on the extreme points many TV exhibits will not contact on as a result of they’re too controversial.
Eve Pierpont is a workers author for TV Fanatic. You’ll be able to comply with her on X.
