Fated in the End Zone

I kept seeing ads for this one and, at first, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to watch it. I’ve seen several verticals with this storyline before, but the ads eventually won me over—so here we are!

The Lead Couple

Sebastian and Monica make an adorable pair. One moment that made me laugh was when Sebastian won his game and ran to Monica to celebrate, and the first thing she mentioned was their impending separation… Girl, come on! You could’ve saved that thought for tomorrow.

Monica (Kailey) is incredibly sweet, though sometimes too passive. I never really understood why she allowed her stepmother and stepsister to walk all over her for years without ever speaking up. Did I miss something? A little more confidence could have changed everything for her.

Sebastian (Jake), on the other hand, is the complete opposite. He exudes confidence—almost to the point of arrogance. But what I really liked about him is that he’s straightforward, which isn’t always common in vertical dramas.

Mean from the Start

Enter Lisa—the classic mean girl. Unlike others who maintain a polished image in public and scheme in private, Lisa doesn’t even try to hide her nastiness. And then she has the audacity to wonder why Sebastian isn’t interested in her? Well, maybe because he’s looking for a kind and loving partner—not a manipulative, borderline psychotic one.

Let’s Talk About the Story

A few things in the plot felt a bit off. First, in the hospital scene, we see Sebastian’s mom behind him, even asking him to grab a coffee. Yet, the moment he leaves, she immediately threatens Monica. And then—just minutes later—Sebastian calls Monica? Dude, weren’t you supposed to be in the cafeteria or something? That transition didn’t make much sense.

And then there’s the classic forced breakup trope. They were so happy together, even engaged (well, she didn’t get a chance to say yes—thanks, Lisa), yet Sebastian didn’t even question Monica’s sudden change? Come on! She was thrilled about the proposal, happy about the baby, and suddenly she leaves with his best friend? And he just accepts it? Really? Do I need to remind him that the last person he saw with Monica was his mother? How hard is it to connect the dots?

She claimed she left him for money, okay she played the gold digger card. Let’s keep that in mind for later.

Seven Years Later

Now, Sebastian is a famous football star—rich, successful, and still devastatingly handsome. He has everything… except Monica. And let’s be honest—he didn’t return just for her, but it’s pretty obvious she’s the main reason.

So, when he finally sees Monica again, how could he not start questioning everything? He kind of does… but only in his head. Same for Ian—he’s immediately suspicious about the kid’s real age, yet instead of talking to Monica, he asks Lisa? Of all people?! He knows her, so why would he even trust her word?

And another thing that always makes me laugh in second-chance romances: Why do they never check the internet? Monica had easy access to Sebastian’s career updates, but Sebastian? He was heartbroken, sure—but after becoming a massive football star, how did he never look up what happened to his ex-best friend and ex-girlfriend? Even out of curiosity?

When he returns, he acts like he wants revenge, but let’s be real—no one believed that. Not even himself. He quickly drops the act, which was a relief. And one thing I loved in this version was how naturally the relationship between Sebastian and Ian developed. Despite the family drama, their bond felt effortless and real.

Questionable Choices

Back to the money issue—Sebastian believed Monica left him for financial reasons. Yet, when he returns, it’s clear she’s not rich at all. Why didn’t that immediately raise red flags for him?

And another confusing detail—he specifically returned to Thunder Bird, clearly keeping an eye on the club. So how did he not know Monica had lost it? And if he did know, why didn’t he ever wonder how it happened?

As for Monica, I didn’t fully understand how she lost the club to her stepsister. And if it was so important to her, why did she settle for being a janitor instead of fighting to get it back? If she had truly given up, why keep working there at all?

Ian—The Cutest Kid

Ian was absolutely adorable, and I’m pretty sure he always knew Sebastian was his dad. I just wish we had seen more of him!

Too Much Drama?

I love a good Drama Queen moment, but this one may have gone too far. Lisa, in particular, was the worst villain I’ve ever seen in this storyline. Honestly, she made me rethink my hatred for Lucinda from Breaking the Ice—Lucinda was an angel compared to Lisa!

Final Thoughts

Overall, I did enjoy this vertical. The main couple was cute, and this was my first time watching Jake and Kailey—they did a great job! Maybe because I’ve seen this plot so many times, it didn’t excite me as much as it could have. But if you’re into second-chance romances with drama, it’s still a fun watch!