All American: Homecoming does not give Simone an easy win in penultimate episode

Simone's village has been an integral part of growing All American: Homecoming's foundation. But, season three has been challenging the group dynamic from Damon's early exit to JR and Keisha's growing dynamic impacting both of their connections with Cam. The aspect of having people to rely on and lean on is an important part of life, and All American: Homecoming has always strived to portray a show where having people in your life to ask for help is always considered a positive.

But, in "I Stand Alone," All American: Homecoming asks Simone to step away from her village, not because of any drama among the group, but because in the final tennis match of the episode, Simone must step up to win without having her supporters on the bleachers.

It is a bit disheartening for Simone to have to play by herself after being actively verbal about the importance of having support there for her. But, even if she had not realized it before, Simone had stood alone previously and thrived. So, what makes this time different?

"I Stand Alone," however, also wants to back up Simone's point by having the tennis team lean on each other to help Simone prepare for her upcoming match. Simone bonding with her teammates who step up to be there for her is supposed to be a nice moment, but it is unfortunately hindered by the lack of screen time Simone has spent with her teammates throughout the season. Other than Thea, none of Simone's Bringston tennis teammates have had a strong impact on the plot, so while seeing Simone's teammates rally behind her is pleasant, this moment almost comes across as random because of how little screen time Simone actually spends with them.

For the most part, Simone's teammates have acted as plot devices to portray Simone as a good leader. However, watching the group of young women fall behind Simone's leadership when the show has refused to make any of their personalities distinct does not make for the most convincing leadership, even if Simone is supposed to be a good leader, a quality that comes across better with her village than any members of the tennis team.

Otherwise, "I Stand Alone" is also headed toward a love confession between Simone and Lando, that is, if they are ever able to have the conversation without being interrupted. At every opportunity they are given, someone gets in the way, and it appears that the show may be trying to force the conversation to occur in the series finale as a much more dramatic moment. But, it still would have been a much more pleasant conclusion to end with Simone and Lando's romantic reconciliation in comparison to another obstacle in Simone's way, a rumor that suggests that Simone's win may not have been entirely fair.

Even though this was originally intended to be the penultimate episode of the season instead of the series, it still would have been more exciting to let Simone have this one win without adding another layer of drama or controversy to it.

As for the other subplots of the season, with Bringston Baseball once again dead, it seems that JR's entire central plot of the season was for nothing unless of course, someone comes out of nowhere to fund the club team in the series finale. Even Keisha and Cam reach a sort of understanding as Keisha admits how her own self-sabotage led to their demise, rather than anything Cam did.

Both Keisha and Cam appear to be heading toward positive futures, just not together. While Keisha prepares to go on tour as a backup dancer, Cam is signed as an artist by the record company he had worked for. It is a cheerful ending for both of them, and while Cam does not appear to be in a rush to get back together with Keisha, the idea that they may both have to take some time to be single to work through their own feelings as they strive for the next chapter of their lives offer the characters, and their relationship, some closure.

With one more episode left, and more drama to come, All American: Homecoming only has one last chance to tie up its loose ends and deliver a finale that gives the characters, and the audience, a sense of closure for a story that did not get the chance to finish on its own terms.