All American: Asher Moves Against JJ In “Feeling Myself”

All American continued the strain in Asher and JJ’s friendship during “Feeling Myself.” However, when Asher is allowed to participate in the recruitment process for Coastal California College, it opens an unexpected doorway.

Visiting South Crenshaw High School has Asher and Billy talking coach-to-coach as Asher goes down a list of potential players his team is interested in pursuing. However, Billy offers another player, Jabari, as well. Asher remembers the high school student as a solid opponent in the previous championship game and places his name on the list to bring back to Coach Montes. However, Asher receives a negative answer, given a scholarship would result in him sitting on the bench for three years, as the current holder of that spot and scholarship is JJ.

Asher accepts the answer, not moving against his friend until JJ shows up at Grace’s party at a fancier restaurant, reeking of alcohol and dressed in a toga. Then, seeing that JJ is still partying, rather than taking post-season seriously, Asher decides, following through on Coach Montes’ advice, to do what will allow the team to be better.

While Asher has been fighting tooth and nail to get Coach Montes to allow him to be a student coach and prove he is worthy of learning, JJ has been partying since the season ended. Unfortunately, JJ’s priorities have been more surrounded by partying and letting off steam than focusing on continuing to improve his game and team standing.

Asher’s frustration certainly makes sense, given their more recent arguments over the same pattern of behavior. However, is potentially giving away JJ’s scholarship and spot on the team a step too far?

Jabari’s acceptance of a full-ride scholarship for JJ’s current spot on the team, and Asher at the helm of it, could continue to create problems for Asher and JJ.

“Feeling Myself” also finds Spencer and Jordan backing up Olivia on her quest to find proof that Coach Garrett is purposefully having his players injure the opposition. Finally, Olivia gets two sources to admit it occurred, and in Isaiah’s case, that Coach Garrett had him practice and taught him how to achieve it. Olivia is closer than ever to publishing a story that could bring real trouble to Coach Garrett and the GAU football program.

While Olivia and Spencer may not be entirely moving on, they are starting to dip their toes in the water of moving forward. Spencer and Olivia acknowledge the hardship in their emotions toward being around each other in the aftermath of their breakup.

But Spencer is the first to be willing to go on a date. After helping his mother pick out a wedding dress, Grace encourages Spencer to go on a date with the store employee. While hesitant at first, Spencer determines that one date does not need to turn into a relationship, and he can take it slow in figuring out how to move on.

Layla and Patience walk the red carpet as a way to get Patience more publicity for her next album. However, “Feeling Myself” continues to sprinkle in teases toward Layla and Jordan’s growing relationship, including how they nearly keep getting caught.

Previously, Patience had witnessed Jordan’s attempt to cover up his reasoning for visiting Layla at her studio. In “Feeling Myself,” Olivia glances briefly between Jordan and Layla after seeing Layla in a gown for an event when Jordan suggests he is not interested in going with Olivia to track down an ex-GAU football player.

While Layla and Jordan have not been called out yet, they were directly caught by a drunk JJ outside the restaurant during Grace’s party. Jordan and Layla were initially nervous that JJ would tell everyone before they were ready. However, JJ reveals being so drunk he could barely recall the night and therefore does not remember seeing Jordan and Layla together the previous night.

Although that may be a temporary relief, JJ does claim that he will eventually remember what and who he saw, giving Jordan a brief pause in wondering how to deal with it.

As for Coop, her involvement in Laura’s firm becomes more personal when Preach is served with a case that could potentially lose him full custody of his daughter. Of course, Coop is determined to ensure that does not happen, but her emotional investment in the case prevents her from seeing how a judge will perceive Preach in a courtroom.

Laura, sadly, must take Coop off the case due to her inability to be unbiased in this matter. However, that does not mean that Coop will not try in other ways to continue to help her friend.