Jordan and Spencer are in recruit and rebuild mode and JJ has a life changing experience. Here’s our All American season 5 episode 16 recap.
Jordan and Spencer recruit
The episode opens with the boys at the beach house. Spencer shows Jordan some old plays created by their dads and a list of recruits Billy was looking at. Inspired by Billy, Spence comes up with his own list, ready to think outside the box by giving people a second chance.
Spencer and Jordan are at GAU with coach Kenny and offer him a list of old recruits―guys with big dreams but who never made it. Kenny isn’t feeling it at all and tells them to let him focus on recruiting with his open tryouts. He doesn’t want to get people’s hopes up. Jordan and Spencer already reached out to two of the guys on their list and continue to pursue them. We meet Kai and his son Manu, short for Emmanuel, a single father who Garrett cut on signing day for having a son. Spence meets with Sal Dominguez, a former convicted felon, who shares that he was stealing because his mom and sister were homeless. He recognizes his wrong but no one else would give him a chance.
On the field, Kai and Sal show up for training day and at first are so rusty, but eventually get into their rhythm. Kenny is upset with Jordan and Spencer for going against his wishes but admits that the guys were some of the best and wants to see others form their list. In the end, he offers the two men scholarships and a second chance at GAU.
JJ’s dilemma
JJ wakes up from sleeping at the Beach house because the frat house is too busy. He’s having trouble balancing football and the frat and wants to take a step back. His plans are derailed when he’s named recruitment chair for his frat. He changes his mind to step back and vows to balance it all. He’s also asked to host a meet and greet at the Beach house because they can’t have alcohol on campus.
While JJ is setting up the house for the frat event, Asher is questioning this decision, but JJ promises that he’s not drinking and is making better choices. Asher calls JJ out on looking tired and again he swears he can juggle both. At the party, JJ’s energy is low and Keith, the frat president notices. He coined JJ as “the fun” to the recruits but as the night progresses, the vibe is clearly low. Keith catches JJ sleeping and reminds him of why they chose him to be the head of recruitment leader. He also offers JJ some “party favours” but JJ declines.
When recruits begin to leave the Beach house, JJ decides to turn the night into a true party. He goes upstairs to find Keith who has overdosed on Molly laced with fentanyl. He’s taken to the hospital and when Asher finds JJ at the end of the night, JJ is shocked. He tells Asher he was about to ask Keith for pills to help him with his energy and realizes he could have died. He’s done with partying and decides to step back from everything. Asher offers to help but JJ is determined to do it on his own.
Layla and Olivia’s dilemmas
At the Bakers, Layla is looking to rebrand Keating Records. She’s torn between using the Keating name and what she built under her ForMonica Records label. She feels like she’s abandoning her mom’s legacy if she goes with Keating but she also just went through a battle with Clay to get the family name back. She feels stuck and Olivia understands. She’s going through the same dilemma with not being invited to the awards ceremony to receive the award “Jayden Davis” won. They reminisce about the secret secret identities they created back in middle school that allowed them to escape their problems. Layla invites Liv to LACon for a day to forget about everything.
Coop enrolls in law class
Coop is getting ready to leave for her day at the library when Layla asks if she’s supporting Skye and her presentation at LACon. Coop didn’t know about it, or the fact Skye was out with her grandmother. Layla questions why she doesn’t know where Skye is and what she’s up to, but Coop is focused on her law class.
Coop finds Skye and Ms Maurita at Slauson. Maurita is missing Coop and shares she’s had a fall which bruised her hip. Coop asks Skye why she didn’t tell her and she responded because she knew Coop’s been busy. Coop tries to reassure her and promises to be at her presentation. She later runs into Professor Hill who tells her she’s no longer auditing the class but is now a student in the class and is expected to attend a study session later that day. He also tells Coop to leave her street slang behind. Coop meets the group and tries too hard to be like them. Later, she drops the persona and decides to be herself and the group loves her.
The girls show up for Skye and Coop’s missing. Skye is clearly upset. The girls continue to chat about the need to not be themselves for a day and decide to go to some random party which turns out to be a quiqnceañera for a girl named Valerie. The girls have a good time until Valerie recognizes Patience and thinks she was invited to sing at the party. Patience decides to perform as the girls watch as Valerie has a father-daughter dance with her dad which upsets Liv. At the party, Valerie’s mom gives a speech about how Valerie wanted to hyphenate her last name to take both from her mom and dad, Layla’s wheels begin to turn. Layla decides to go with For Monica Keating Records to honour both her parents.
Later, Coop goes home to tell Skye all about her day but doesn’t apologize for missing her presentation. She tries to tell Skye she’s all in and sneaks in that she loves her, but it’s too late.
The episode closes with Olivia visiting Jordan at the Beach house. She confides in Jordan that she’s sad her dad will not be there to walk her down the aisle or dance with her and Jordan steps in telling her he’s got her. Spencer shows up and she tells them both that she’s decided to attend the award ceremony as herself and that she’s done hiding behind an alias.
Tweets of the night
JJ wants change.. It’s unfortunate that he wants to go off on this journey alone. 😕 #AllAmerican #AllAmericanCW
— The Visionary. ÷ (@RonTheArtist_) April 18, 2023
Spencer and Jordan giving coach Kenny the blues 😭😭 this man gone be bald by the time they graduate 🤣🤣 #allamericancw
— Keish Keish (@DespicableKei) April 18, 2023
If that girl is at Liv’s ceremony..
I need Spencer to put on his big boy drawls this time and cut Alicia off already. #AllAmerican #AllAmericanCW pic.twitter.com/R5UlK7wP7O— shesolovely_ (@ambitous14) April 18, 2023
One IM TIRED OF CRYING, two I would like our Happy JJ back, third season is hitting home for a lot of us can we go back to a fairly tail where We can dream curiously through the show. Lastly no more death PLEASEEEEEE I can’t take no more #AllAmerican #AllAmericanCW
— Lex👑💖♈ (@Alexissmith0414) April 18, 2023
JJ almost made me cry #AllAmericanCW 🥺
— Ali•cee•YAH (@leesve_) April 18, 2023
SAMANTHA LOGAN THE ACTRESS THAT YOU ARE!!! #AllAmerican #AllAmericanCW pic.twitter.com/3mFWfkTjWu
— Nel💫 (@mrsalexsmith___) April 18, 2023
If they make spelivia conversation a cliffhanger again #AllAmerican pic.twitter.com/9ljAl6Wei2
— Shay Muv✨ (@Ariana_shay_) April 18, 2023
All American airs every Monday at 8pm on The CW.
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