All American returns with a brand new season and a brand new generation. Here’s our All American Season 7 Episode 1 (premiere) recap.
CW’s All American has finally returned with a brand new season and brand new cast members, but with Daniel Ezra and Samantha Logan gone as full-time cast members, we still don’t know whether fans of the show will return.
The season seven premiere is all about introducing new cast members and storylines. After being so invested in the old storylines, it feels weird to have to get to know almost a whole new cast all over again. Although it’s a bit jarring to get to know new faces and stories, the premiere episode does a good job of pulling you in.
So without further adieu, here’s our All American Season 7 Episode 1 recap.
Introducing KJ
The show opens with us being Introduced to a young football player from Oakland named KJ, his dad/coach Cassius, and his mom. They look like one big happy family until we learn that Cassius and KJ’s mom are planning on separating. Cassius wants to fight for their marriage, but his wife is done.
Later, when KJ and Yasi walk the halls at Crenshaw, they bump into Khalil who we learn might have to repeat 11th grade after missing too much school. Khalil is angry and bumps into KJ setting up a rivalry.
Coop, the babysitter?
Soon we find Coop with Amina who is renting Spencer and Miss Grace’s house with her dad, Preach. She thinks she’s grown, but she soon finds out she isn’t when she has to ask Coop for money to go out with her friends.
Although they do mention that Preach is still a teacher at the school, it’s a bit odd that Preach doesn’t make an appearance during the episode.
Coach Baker 2.0
Meanwhile, Jordan is adjusting to coach life at Crenshaw. The head coach calls him out for trying to be the players’ friend instead of their coach.
Later at home, Jordan is venting to Layla about the head coach. She says that Jordan might need boundaries and she’s proven right when she finds out that he’s joking with the players on social media about the head coach behind his back.
The next day, we find Jordan dancing in the dressing room with the players. The fun and games are cut short when he finds out his star quarterback, Yasi, skipped practice to go to the beach with KJ and a group of kids, including Amina.
Bash at the beach
Later, Jordan pulls up at the beach to get Yasi, but he tries to be cool in front of his friends. He plays an Instagram video of Jordan drinking back when he was a player and refuses to get into the car with Jordan.
Later, after an argument with Khalil, Amina decides to get back at him by kissing KJ. After their kiss, Khalil checks KJ and punches him. When KJ tries to stand up for himself, Khalil’s Crip friend pulls out his gun. KJ doesn’t want any smoke and decides to leave.
Back at the hotel, KJ wants to go back to Oakland ASAP. Before he can even get his bearings, his parents let him know they’re getting separated, that Cassius got a coaching job in L.A., and that he and Cassius are moving to L.A. while his mom stays in Oakland.
Layla and Coop go drinking
It seems Layla is bored after achieving everything she could in music and with the club. She’s spending her time planning on painting the Baker house. Coop comes over for a visit when we learn that she graduated law school. We also learn that half of the Vortex are living in New York. Coach Mendez and Asher are coaching at Astoria Prep.
With Coop finished law school and Layla playing Marth Stewart at home, they are left wondering what happened to their lives. They end up day drinking at Layla’s bar when Cassius walks in and joins them.
It’s really sad to see Coop and Layla as the only remaining ladies from the Vortex. It’s definitely not the same.
Amina’s love triangle?
Later, at The Hangout, Amina is applying for a job when she bumps into KJ. She apologizes for kissing him earlier at the beach. She sees that he needs a friend so she keeps him company. They use Preach’s key to get into Crenshaw where they bump into Jordan. Amina leaves them alone while they throw around the football to let off some steam.
When Amina goes home, Khalil is waiting for her. He apologizes for how he treated her at the beach. She encourages him to get back on track with school. It’s clear that she likes him. The love triangle is in full effect.
Meanwhile, KJ meets up with his parents to talk about their new reality.
Jordan learns his lesson
When he gets home, Jordan gets a voicemail from Spencer that reminds him of where they started—with a dream and a coach that believed in them. It’s Jordan’s turn to be that for the next generation. This is the third Spencer reference after the opening scene at his and Grace’s old house and a reference to him donating and upgrading Crenshaw’s gym.
Jordan creates a new Instagram account and puts his personal account on private to set boundaries with his players. The Crenshaw head coach notices and we learn that the coach has a reason to be hard on Jordan. We also learn that the head coaching job Cassius is taking over is at Beverly setting up a second generation rivalry between Crenshaw and Beverly.
Overall, this was a good episode. It was a bit odd at first, but they did a good job of setting up the stories and giving viewers a reason to tune in next week.
All American airs Mondays at 8pm on the CW.
Kevin Bourne is SHIFTER’s Toronto-based editor and Senior Entertainment Reporter focusing on Black music and film & TV. He was named one of 300 international voters for the 81st and 8nd Golden Globe Awards and a Tomatometer-Approved Critic by Rotten Tomatoes.
;
Tweets of the night
I miss Spencer, Liv and Asher? A lot.
But that does not take of how greatly they flipped the script to go into the original route, with actually great characters that don’t feel like copys of the OGs and exploring the OGs in a main way.
It was so great!#AllAmerican https://t.co/ah190SHVRy
— Drako1909 (@Drako1909) February 4, 2025
I dont even have anything of the new cast. I wish them success. And i’ll always love Jordan. But i aint tryna see more of layla, coop nor laura #AllAmerican #AllAmericanCW
— RaHeartsReality (@madeforreality1) February 4, 2025
Ok wait this is about to get GOOD! I’m excited for the rest of the season for real! #AllAmerican pic.twitter.com/VAlwJskQoc
— 💗 (@ChloeTheStar50) February 4, 2025
It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve watched this Jordayla scene. I’m always going to be super emotional watching Jordan carry Layla to bed. #AllAmerican
— Sri-OTA Forever 💚 (@sriisme) February 4, 2025
We definitely have something to look forward to with Amina and KJ. I see it now. #AllAmerican
— B🐝 (he/they) (@mxplusbee_) February 4, 2025
Related content:
ALL AMERICAN SEASON 6 EPISODE 15 (SEASON FINALE)
https://shiftermagazine.com/film-and-tv/all-american-season-6-episode-15-season-finale-recap