Spoilers for the All American series finale follow. The CW drama ended on September 28 after eight seasons. In the final scene, Spencer and Jordan leave the South Crenshaw field as Billy Baker watches them. On Reddit, that brief return brought some viewers to tears. Others still wanted to know why several familiar characters were missing.
Billy’s return hit hard
Taye Diggs appears as Billy in the last shot. Billy has not come back to life; the moment is a tribute to the coach who helped raise Spencer and Jordan. One viewer who had mixed feelings about the later seasons said this was the scene that stayed with them:
“Billy looking on at his sons from beyond gut punched me.” — a viewer in r/AllAmericanTV
Another fan in the episode discussion said Billy’s appearance made them cry, even after they had already become emotional when Olivia and Spencer’s twins were born. The scene gave the original story a clear ending for Spencer and Jordan, and viewers noticed the choice to put both men together on the field.
Where were Darnell, Asher and Dillon?
For other fans, the missing original characters were hard to ignore. One viewer wrote:
“Finale was also incomplete without Darnell, Asher, and Dillon.” — a viewer in r/AllAmericanTV
A reply asked what happened to Dillon, Spencer’s younger brother. Another viewer wanted to see Asher, Jaymee and their daughter after the six-year jump. The episode makes room for the younger characters, but those viewers wanted one last update on people who had been part of the show for years.
Did the finale feel long enough?
The time jump also split viewers. The finale shows Spencer and Olivia with their children, Jordan coaching at South Crenshaw, and Coop becoming a lawyer. One commenter felt those endings arrived too quickly:
“This episode doesn't feel like a series finale at all” — a viewer in the episode discussion
Another viewer wished the episode had been an hour long so it could spend more time on the six-year jump. They still liked the happy ending and the closure for the core group. The complaint was about how much the finale tried to fit into one episode, not about every character getting a good outcome.
Some fans also brought up season 6. That season ended Spencer and Olivia’s wedding story, and one viewer said it would have been a stronger place to stop the show. They still found things to like in seasons 7 and 8. For longtime viewers, the last two seasons and their younger cast remained a point of debate even as the series ended.
Not everyone was disappointed
In the same Reddit conversation, another fan had a much simpler response:
“I loved the last episode it was perfect” — a viewer in r/AllAmericanTV
That mix of reactions fits what the finale shows. Billy’s final appearance, Spencer and Olivia’s twins, and the group’s future gave some viewers the goodbye they wanted. Others missed characters who never returned or wanted more time with the people who did. The finale is available now; The CW lists “To Live and Die in L.A.” as the last episode of season 8.
