Has All American: Homecoming erased Damon's significance from Simone's life?

From the beginning it was clear that All American: Homecoming had originally lined up Damon Sims to be a significant love interest in Simone's life. Starting from the show's backdoor pilot, Simone and Damon share a connection that helps play a role in Simone's emotional separation from the long-distance relationship she has with Jordan Baker.

However, it did not take long after All American: Homecoming introduced Lando as another romantic prospect for Simone for fans to become divided about which Bringston baseball player was better suited for Simone. While the question remained in the air for a while regarding which way Simone would end the love triangle, the decision to remove Damon from the equation at the beginning of season three has resulted in him basically being erased from everyone's lives.

Damon is meant to be playing baseball in the Dominican Republic, and Simone ended their relationship to give them both the best chance to focus on their respective sports rather than trying to tie themselves to a long-distance romance.

But, the following episodes of season three have not just removed Damon as a physical presence, they have basically made it as if he never existed at all. A flashback montage in "After the Love Has Gone," only solidifies the idea that All American: Homecoming might be trying to claim that Damon is no longer significant in Simone's life.

The flashbacks open with recalling Simone's relationship with Jordan. Afterward, the montage focuses a lot on group memories Simone shares with her found family at Bringston and concludes with recalling a romantic moment with Lando. But, where were Simone's memories of her romance with Damon? Why was that not relevant?

For the most part, Damon is never mentioned by anyone. While that might not be an unpopular road to take when a character is no longer a series regular, the decision to leave Damon's connection with Simone entirely out of her memory montage is a bit strange when looking back at the first two seasons of All American: Homecoming.

Damon was an integral part of Simone's support system, and even though he has not been present throughout season three, to leave him out of her flashbacks is a noticeable decision.

Simone is granted one episode early on regarding missing Damon, but the narrative needs to move on quickly so that Simone can focus on other leading plot lines, such as reconnecting with Lando and the cancer storyline. Meanwhile, Damon's existence has become the equivalent of JR mentioning him offhand.

Season three has been a particularly controversial installment for All American: Homecoming, from JR and Keisha's emotional cheating plot to Simone's cancer to not taking Simone's tennis career particularly seriously throughout the narrative. However, even if All American: Homecoming is leaning toward having Simone end up alone or with Lando at the conclusion of the series, ignoring the significance that Damon had in terms of being a platonic friend or romantic partner to Simone in her flashbacks ultimately hurt the dynamic that All American: Homecoming had used for its original foundation.