Truth Hurts

**"Truth Hurts"** is the fifth episode of the first season of *All American: Homecoming*. It first aired on March 21, 2022.

## Synopsis

**GETTING ANSWERS** - When the power goes out at Bringston, everyone takes the time to reveal some surprising truths to each other. Simone grapples with telling her friends about her son when she learns he will be in town for a visit, and Thea unexpectedly turns to Simone for dating advice. Damon becomes worried about JR who is dealing with issues in the wrong way. Cam challenges Keisha when she is ready to give up on her choreography dreams. Meanwhile, Coach Marcus and Amara's relationship comes to a head, leaving them questioning how to move forward.

## Plot

Thea and Simone run drills. Afterward, Thea snaps at Simone as her grandmother sets her up for a blind date. Simone gets involved and ends up helping Thea. Later, Amara and Simone have coffee. Tariq and Cheyenne plan to bring baby Shay by for a visit, though she's worried about what will happen once her friends find out. Cam visits Keisha who is preparing for a local choreographing contest. Marcus interrupts Amara's workout but she's uninterested in what he has to say. She wants answers that he refuses to give. Simone and Damon talk in the standard room. He's worried about JR as he hasn't been seen in a while. He also submitted a request for adoption records and has a new email from them. He doesn't view moms who give up their kids in a positive light. The power goes out on campus.

The blackout is city-wide as the heat wave burnt out the power grids. Keisha tells everyone to behave before leaving to get supplies. Cam tells Damon he found JR drunk on the third floor. Thea intervenes as Simone said she would help. Marcus and Amara are stuck in the gym together as the electronic doors are sealed. Damon finds JR who admits his parents are divorcing. JR is done with baseball as he quits, ready for Damon to take over the mantle. Simone tries to help Thea prep for her date as they get to know one another. Damon interrupts so they talk in Simone's dorm to discuss JR's behavior. He wonders if they have something going on but she insists they are friends. Simone pawns her Thea issue off on Damon but promises that JR will be fine.

Cam, Thea, and Damon try to help Thea prepare for her date. Wilinda arrives as the conversation spirals into sex, making Thea leave uncomfortably. Nate visits JR as she can relate to having parents who divorce. Simone arrives so Nate advises her to speak with JR. Her attempt is futile as he blows her off. Cam watches Keisha's routine and he tells her that Normani will be a judge to look for dancers in her next video. Cam encourages her to enroll as a dancer, too. Marcus and Amara try to talk but they end up arguing as he's refusing to man up and tell her the truth. He mentions that she should talk to her sister, Tina, who made it clear he wasn't good enough for Amara. He used PED in the minors, had a reaction, and then couldn't face anyone after letting them all down. He quit the team who later ran an injury story to protect themselves. Marcus, subsequently, broke up with Amara. She admits he was always enough. Simone pulls JR to the hall where they continue to argue. He decides to smoke weed despite the drug testing.

Damon finds JRs father's number and calls him out of concern, suggesting that Raymond call JR. Nate and JR play cards with JR winning a hand. They make a wager - JR wins and he gets Nate's weed, but if Nate wins JR has to stop acting like a fool. JR explodes as he warns Nate to stay out of his life. Cam learns that Keisha called off the dance competition. Simone tries to talk with Thea who feels humiliated by the boys and mocked, something Simone can't understand. Simone pulls Thea to Keisha and Nate to admit she has a son who she gave up for adoption. Keisha and Nate admit they've known for a while as they found the pictures on her laptop. They plan to spoil the baby rotten. Damon overhears the admission but walks off. She followed him so they talked in his dorm. She couldn't tell him as he kept making comments about what kind of mother gives up her son. She wants to explain her situation but Damon stops her as she doesn't need to. It took courage and a lot of love for her to give up Shay. He asks for any other dark secrets so she admits he could be JR's brother.

Marcus and Amara have a date on the floor of the gym with vending food. She apologizes for Tina's involvement in their relationship. He wishes he could do things differently with her and they end up making out. Cam talks to Keisha about her quitting the tournament which leads to an argument. Thea sits with Simone as she appreciates Simone telling her about Shay. She respects Simone getting back to tennis after having a baby. Keisha apologizes to Cam and asks for his help in making the video happen with just her. He agrees to help her so he sets up lights on the court. Cam sings for her video since she forgot her music. JR listens to a voicemail from his father just as Damon bangs on the door, demanding to know if JR would ever tell him they could be brothers. JR gives Damon the picture he found as he explains the theories they had. Damon is angry they were playing God with his secrets. JR doesn't want or need a brother, which is fine with Damon, who leaves in a huff. Damon talks with Simone about the situation as he feels betrayed by her. She tries to apologize but he closes the dorm door on her. The lights turn back on. Amara and Marcus discuss having sex which she sees as closure and not a new chapter for them. Thea meets with Zeke for their date. She makes it clear she loves tennis, doesn't mind splitting the tab, but doesn't plan to have sex with him. They decide to have a date. Keisha submits her video with support from Cam. He asks her to get food but she wants a rain check to sleep. Nate bumps into JR who is hungover. He apologizes to her for being messy but she understands as she went through something similar when her parents split up. She suggests talking to his parents for answers, as either way, it's a choice. Damon opens her adoption records request, learning there's no record of his adoption.

## Cast

### Starring

* Geffri Maya as Simone Hicks
* Peyton Alex Smith as Damon Sims
* Kelly Jenrette as Amara Patterson
* Cory Hardrict as Coach Marcus Turner
* Sylvester Powell as Jessie Raymond
* Camille Hyde as Thea Mays
* Mitchell Edwards as Cam Watkins
* Netta Walker as Keisha McCalla

### Guest Starring

* Iyana Halley as Wilinda
* Rhoyle Ivy King as Nathaniel Hardin

### Co-Starring

* Herbert Coleman as Jerome
* Kareem Lewis as Kevin
* Delisha Williams as Giselle

## Trivia

* This episode's title originated from the song "Truth Hurts", originally sung by Lizzo.

## References

1. ↑ *All American: Homecoming*: Season One Ratings
2. ↑ Listings - ALL AMERICAN: HOMECOMING on The CW | TheFutonCritic.com