4th & Forever: Alcoa
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Positive docu talks football, hard work, racism.
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4th & Forever: Alcoa
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What's the Story?
4TH & FOREVER: ALCOA is an installment of the 4th & Forever franchise that follows a high school football team in southern Appalachia. The Tennessee-based Tornadoes, the most successful football team in Tennessee, has a total of 18 state titles, five of which were won in the last five years. Now the pressure is on to win their sixth state championship. But their new recruits are inexperienced, and the COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc on the season. It’s an uphill battle, but with the help of folks like Head Coach Gary Rankin, Offensive Coordinator David Sweetland, and Defensive Coordinator Brian Nix, the team is working hard and coming together in hopes of cinching their 19th championship.
Is It Any Good?
This solid series follows the coaches and players of the Alcoa High School Tornadoes as they try to win their 19th state championship. It follows the traditional formula of the franchise by following the team as they meet with coaches and academic counselors, practice, and of course, play against their rivals. Some of the athletes' families are also featured. Meanwhile, like its sister shows, 4th & Forever: Alcoa also attempts to create a cultural connection between the team and its community by highlighting the team's athletic legacy with Alcoa’s blue collar history, and the diverse culture of the aluminum smelting plant around which the town built there a hundred years ago. Nonetheless, most of the focus is on how the Tornadoes play the game, which is what will make it appealing to football fans.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about American football. Why is it so popular in the United States? Is it the way the game is played? The rivalries? Or the culture that surrounds it?
Race and racism are frequently addressed 4th & Forever: Alcoa. Why? How do conversations about these topics in this documentary differ from the others in the franchise?
TV Details
- Premiere date: May 20, 2021
- Cast: Gary Rankin, Brian Nix, David Sweetland
- Network: Max
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts
- Character Strengths: Communication, Perseverance, Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: August 26, 2021
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