Warning! Spoilers for the All American season 7 finale!

All American season 7 season 7 ended with a playoff match between Beverly High Eagles and South Crenshaw Chargers, with the former down by four going into the final play of the game. The final stages of the episode saw quarterback KJ throw a long , with credits rolling before viewers learned the ball's destination.

Now, in an interview with TV Line, Carroll opens up on the decision to end the episode (and season) on a cliffhanger, despite no confirmation that the series will be renewed. She discusses how the games between Beverly and Crenshaw always take a more personal turn, and that, at this stage in season 7, the game is so much bigger than a football match. She reveals that ending the episode on a cliffhanger felt like a powerful decision, and could set up season 8 well. Check out Carroll's comments below:

“The football games between Beverly and Crenshaw — they’re always so personal. And this season especially, it is so much bigger than the actual game,” she tells us. “It is symbolic of the unresolved nature of the Jeremy family and the Baker family and their relationship, of the unresolved nature of Khalil and Amina’s relationship, of this new generation’s struggle.

For us, who won that game and who gets to declare themselves the victor of everything that went down over the season felt like such a powerful way to end the episode, and — fingers crossed — allow us to come back in Season 8 to pick up with the results of that game and how it affects them moving forward.”

What This Means For All American Season 8

The Result Will Set Up The Story For Season 8

The decision to end the season on a cliffhanger is a bold move by Carroll and the show's creative team, especially as All American season 8 has not yet been confirmed. If this proves to be All American's final ever scene, it does work in some ways, as it shows the incomplete and unresolved nature of many of the interpersonal relationships between the show's characters. It would also leave the conclusion to the game unresolved, with the viewer left to make their own minds up about what happens.

While season 7's cliffhanger ending is symbolic, it also presents a lot of questions, and a season 8 renewal will provide the opportunity to give the show a proper conclusion.

Despite this, it feels likely that Carroll made this decision with the expectation that season 8 of the show will happen. The decision will have been made to try to end season 7 in a way that closes out the series, while also feeding into the story arcs for season 8. Should this be the last-ever scene, All American will not be the first show to conclude with a cliffhanger ending. This is a practice that can work well, but there is risk attached.

Our Take On All American Season 7's Ending

There Are Many Questions

While season 7's cliffhanger ending is symbolic, it also presents a lot of questions, and a season 8 renewal will provide the opportunity to give the show a proper conclusion. There are so many All American characters whose stories need to be concluded in a satisfactory way, and this is something that would require another season. All American has been one of the CW's most iconic shows, and hopes will be high that the series has done enough to earn another season.

Source: TV Line