Liv relies on her family and the Vortex to help her stay sober in light of Billy’s death. Here’s our All American season 5 episode 13 recap.
It takes a village
Directed by Daniel Ezra, the episode opens to a messy Baker house. Olivia’s voice is narrating about losing her dad and the relationship between a dad and his daughter and her dreams. We get a flashback to young Olivia and Layla playing and talking about their future weddings. Of course, Liv wants to wear a pants suit because her father says she can do whatever she wants. She says her dad calls her a change maker and asserts he’s always right.
Olivia is back in her room staring at the bottle she found in Billy’s drawer. She goes to Jordan in the middle of the night to ask for his and Layla’s help confessing she’s not going to make it without them. She fears for her sobriety.
Joy then enters the house. Olivia has called her and others to help her through this. She knows she will need everybody’s help but Spencer is nowhere to be found. Olivia asks for everyone to keep checking in on her because she’s afraid to be left alone. Later, we see Joy questioning Liv as to why she felt she needed all the babysitting. She encourages her to use the day to dig deep and figure out what’s really going on.
Meanwhile, Alicia is making breakfast for Spencer at the beach house but he can’t eat all she’s made before a workout. She wants to talk and he’s about his workout.
Coop, as part of Olivia’s “village”, takes Liv to Slauson where they eat and finally clear the air. We learn that both were jealous of their individual relationships with Spencer fearing they would each be forgotten. In the end, they became close, making room for each other enriching their relationship.
With the focus being on Liv we have so many great moments of her finding her way. She sits with Mamma Laura, playing scrabble talking about her grief. Laura admits that she is not having the easiest time grieving. She cries all the time and chooses to keep her emotions hidden from the kids. A call leads Laura to go to Billy’s office where Liv joins her and chooses to confront her fears so she can figure out more about her process.
Asher is concerned for Jaymee and the baby
Jaymee and Asher are visiting the doctor to see the baby. It’s early in the pregnancy process but the doctor is being cautious with Jaymee’s condition. At the doctor, we find out the baby is seven weeks along and that Jaymee is doing really well. Asher is concerned and questions the doctor without Jaymee being present. She takes offense to that and reminds Asher that she is able to take care of her body. Later, Jaymee questions why Asher is really worried and he shares that he’s afraid of losing them, especially after Billy’s death. Clearly Asher will have to work through his PTSD.
Jordan and the package
Jordan and Layla are back in Crenshaw dealing with a package that came for Billy. Jordan is afraid to open it because it means it’s real; there will be no more of anything coming for his father. They bring the package back to the Baker home where Jordan is really struggling with whether he’ll remember his dad. Layla shares that a little while back she was missing her mom and a song popped up for her about remembering her. She tells Jordan there will be little reminders of his dad.
Crenshaw remembers Billy
The kids at Crenshaw High are talking to Preach about Coach Baker. Preach makes himself available to the students, but unfortunately, Jabari is not trying to share how he’s doing. He’s is having flashbacks of the crash and picks a fight for no reason as he is carrying grief and guilt. He is later met with Laura who allows him to share what happened on the bus so they can both release their emotions. We see a flashback of Billy helping Jabari out and realizing the bus could take one at a time. He tells Jabari to tell his family he loves them; a tear jerking moment.
Spencer lashes out
Meanwhile Spencer is running and working out. He finds Coach Kenny and lays into him about why he’s not focused on the team and rebuilding GAU. Coach Kenny is trying to be there for Spencer, giving him an outlet to talk but Spencer is not having it. He is bypassing his grief and focusing on moving forward. When Coach stops by to check in on him later in the day, Spencer is angry that he hasn’t done more for the program. Coach Kenny calls him son and Spencer snaps, telling him he only needs a coach and is no longer staying at GAU.
Alicia is later seen folding Spencer’s clothes. He says she doesn’t have to do that and they make plans to just watch a movie and eat the cold breakfast. Coop interrupts the moment bringing Liv to meet Asher for her next appointment but with Asher still with Jaymee at the doctor, Spencer volunteers to take Liv. Spencer apologizes to Alicia who is taken aback but puts on a brave face.
Her and Spencer have a discussion in the car where she tells him she didn’t include him in the group call because she didn’t want to burden him saying he’s saved her life so many times. He reminds her that he meant it when he said he would save her life again after he got shot. She sees a carnival and is reminded that her father loved to attend them. Spencer takes her there so she can feel connected. He says the ferris wheel is the place to be close to him but she’s not ready so they play games which is the first time we’ve seen them both smile in a while. There’s a throwback to their first date where Spencer loses again at basketball. Liv gets the courage to go on the ferris wheel and here we see all the grief pour out of her as she embraces what she’s been afraid of the most- the silence.
Later, at the family dinner, Liv wants to speak to Spencer and talk honestly about her confession of wanting him back. He’s clearly struggling and tells her they will eventually talk but clearer heads are needed. She is worried about him and it’s all over her face but she leaves him be. She decides to revive her podcast to get all her thoughts out believing she will help herself and others. We hear her voice over from the beginning where she talks about losing her dad and dreaming. She encourages her listeners to not run from the silence but face it. By the end we get a beautiful moment between Liv and her mom where they embrace and finally Liv looks a little more at peace.
Tweets of the night
Every1 on my timeline mad at spencer because he tripping and not addressing his feelings but can you imagine that pain!? He ignored the call from billy then he died hours later. And that voicemail. Plus this the second dad hes lost. That pain swalloing him whole #AllAmericanCW
— Keish Keish (@DespicableKei) March 14, 2023
MY BABY KIA IS BACK!!!! She looks beautiful🥹🫶🏽💝 #AllAmerican #AllAmericanCW pic.twitter.com/GUkn2CJIbg
— Steph (@_steph_02_) March 14, 2023
This episode ATE DOWN. I can say with my whole chest that this was the best written, best paced, best directed episode in this season of #AllAmerican Everything just went together (the package stuff was eh lol) but wow, when the opening scene came, I had chills. #AllAmericanCW pic.twitter.com/4qTCDif0v7
— Steph (@_steph_02_) March 14, 2023
Omg!!’ I’ve cried all through this episode and seeing what really happened with Jabari and Coach with the bus, I just broke all the way down again 😢🥺😩 #AllAmericanCW #AllAmerican
— Donna Boo (@chocolateluvn86) March 14, 2023
We got so much great jordayla content today AND everyone knows about them 🥹 Was not expecting that at all #AllAmerican #AllAmericanCW
— Jess (@JessicaLP2016) March 14, 2023
Nobody cared like I knew they wouldn’t. Jus wasted 13 episodes on a secret for no reason 💀 #AllAmerican #jordayla https://t.co/gzNteDnDXf
— Cameo Baggett (@cameob96) March 14, 2023
All American Mondays at 8pm on The CW.
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