‘All American: Homecoming’ Star Geffri Maya Discusses Season 3 Premiere & The End Of The Love Triangle

SPOILER ALERT! This post contains details from the Season 3 premiere of All American: Homecoming.

There’s been some changes at Bringston University.

The third and final season of All American: Homecoming debuted Monday with a time jump to junior year, speeding up Simone’s [Geffri Maya] story a bit, since there’s now only 13 episodes to end the series. But luckily, the premiere episode takes a few steps back to catch audiences up on everything they missed.

Season 2 left audiences on pins and needles, waiting to see how the love triangle between Simone, Damon and Lando would play out. Turns out…she chose Damon.

It’s not long before there’s trouble in paradise, though, as Bringston is rattled with the news that sports funding is getting cut, meaning that two entire teams will be eliminated. While Simone does her best to shed light on the issue, there’s no stopping it.

“We have always considered the actuality of what it means to attend an HBCU the importance of the representation, and also how important it is to support these schools…It’s very, very important to be seen,” Maya told Deadline of the latest challenge facing Bringston.

While a sizable donation from tennis superstar Coco Gauff keeps the tennis team safe, the athletic department is pretty surprised to find out that the baseball team — which just won a championship — is on the chopping block.

By the episode’s end, Damon and Simone are going their separate ways as the former accepts a bid to play pro ball in the Dominican Republic. While Damon’s time at Bringston is up, the rest of the crew is still around as things speed forward to junior year for the remainder of the season.

“I think what is so beautiful about this season is that it’s so layered. There’s so many storylines that are really focused and catered to the journey of the character. We do our best to give life to these fictional people,” Maya added.

In the interview below, she breaks down more about the episode and what’s in store as All American: Homecoming closes its final chapter.

DEADLINE: How are you feeling about the show coming to an end after Season 3?

GEFFRI MAYA: Well, I think the biggest thing [I want is] to honor and celebrate in the legacy of the All American universe. It started from very humble beginnings, and then turned into just this epitome of hope and encouragement and inspiration to families and to children, and the next generation of artists and creatives. I think it’s something so special to honor and celebrate about being a part of that. The simple fact that NK [Nkechi Okoro Carroll] and Marqui [Jackson] were able to just continue the legacy of this with Homecoming, I mean, it’s very special. So even though we are coming to an end, I think that we’ve had three strong, amazing seasons that represent so much of this generation and the importance of representation and legacy and culture, so I couldn’t be happier.

Obviously, Homecoming had such a very near and dear place in my heart…whether it was three seasons or, you know, 500 seasons, I think it’s the simple fact that we have the opportunity to make something that’s meant so much and will continue to mean so much. I’m very proud to be a part of that in any way that it comes.

DEADLINE: I’ve been waiting so long for this premiere, because I really needed to know who Simone was going to choose. What was your reaction to finding out that Simone chose Damon?

MAYA: So what’s so funny about NK and Marqui is that they loved this little love triangle so much so that they wanted us to be excited [too]. It was a fun topic to always discuss and to play with, and we know how much the fans are so invested in this love triangle. So when I found out — I had my guesses from seasons ago, when I knew that it was gonna be this love triangle. I was actually very surprised, because I had all of the components to be very clear about what I thought my choice is going to be. But it’s..keeping the show light hearted and being a part of what the fans love the most, which is the drama. I think that whoever ships Damon and Simone, they won. I think it’s gonna be pretty exciting to see how the rest of the season plays out for these characters.

DEADLINE: I really thought it was going to be Lando.

MAYA: I love people who are Team Limone, because it makes sense.

DEADLINE: So, this episode kind of catches us up on everything that we missed during that time jump. The rest of the season takes place during junior year. How did you feel about making that jump to progress the story?

MAYA: I mean, I think just in the in the vein of storytelling, there’s no right or wrong way to tell a story. What’s so captivating about these characters is just the journey that we are able to be a part of, and also sometimes what makes TV and film so amazing to indulge in is just our imaginations. I think it’s the best choice for our circumstance, seeing that this is the end. I think the time jump was necessary.

DEADLINE: Most of the episode is about the fact that sports are getting de-funded at Bringston, so two programs are getting cut. Simone usually makes pretty bold moves, so I wasn’t necessarily surprised by how she handled it, but I’m curious your thoughts on her decision to talk to the press after she was instructed not to?

MAYA: As artists and as actors we are never to judge our characters. So I think, if anything, it allows me to have a sense of identity and a sense of connection with this character, because it allows me to be like, ‘Okay, why did this person do this?’ As humans, we all have reasons why we make certain decisions. We all have intention…experience is the best teacher. I try to go into every character every role, every scene not really judging but more open to the journey and receiving the lessons.

DEADLINE: Simone and Damon have a really rocky episode. Damon is very supportive of Simone’s decision, until he learns that the baseball team is getting cut. How did you and Peyton navigate the highs and lows of the episode together?

MAYA: I mean, these are two characters who come from two different backgrounds coming to a school full of legacy. In reality, certain HBCUs are not funded properly, or don’t really have the support and the backing to continue to believe and encourage and support the dreams and visions of these kids. So I think Damon’s response is absolutely valid, but I think that what makes the glue so important for this level of storytelling with these characters is that the All American universe in general, and specifically Homecoming, our entire foundation was family, support, excellence. It was uplifting one another. So I think that naturally, we have emotions, and we are able to express them how we like. We always seem to find and get back to our center, which is family.

So I think that we play that really well. We both have such an attachment to these characters, and we both have such an attachment to our artistry and our techniques. In moments of acting, you’re counting on each other. It’s a tennis match.

DEADLINE: At the end of the episode, Simone and Damon end things when he gets an offer to play baseball in the Dominican Republic. Did you have any feelings about that?

MAYA: To be quite honest with you, I don’t really go into it in that way. But at the end of the day, I’m a performer. I’m an artist. So I honor and respect every decision, and my goal is just play it truthfully, and honor my role and honor my artistry. I was ready for any decision. I think who we need to be concerned about is the fans. Me, I’m just there to provide a service and to give back to the stories and the character. I love Simone so deeply, and I love the journey that she’s been on. Relationships come and they go, and at the end of the day, I feel like Simone and Damon had served each other’s purposes in each other’s lives. You know what I mean? I think it was the right direction. I think that, like I said before, Peyton and I, we played our part, and we played it well, and we service the story, and I think that the people who love the show will also honor and respect the journey as well.

DEADLINE: As you also mentioned before, the characters on this show are very tight knit, and I love to watch their interactions. This episode, I really laughed out loud at the moment where Simone asks if it would be crazy to try to stay friends with Lando after choosing Damon. Keisha and Nate don’t hesitate.

MAYA: It’s insane [of Simone]. That is one thing I will say, the writers and I, we talked about often because I would always come to them and be like, ‘Simone is just in her own little world. She has her moments of delusion. But what great women in television weren’t delusional. You know what I mean?’ She’s young, and she just figuring it out…If she feels like she can be friends with Lando and have Damon as a lover then, you know what? I support my girl because, again, I don’t judge my character. I tell the story. But I think it’s hilarious. To be real, you need friends like that to let you know when you are completely in a space that doesn’t even make sense for who you are or where you are in your life. That is real.

Our writers do well telling the story of these friendships and also honoring are important it is to have a tribe. To me, as an HBCU grad at Clark Atlanta University, I built such a beautiful community within my time matriculating there and, even to this day, I still have brothers and sisters that I have for a lifetime. It’s really because of my time at an HBCU. I’m grateful for it, and I think that we did an amazing job at capturing that. You don’t really see lots of stories about friends going through trials and tribulations in this particular season of life. That’s a very pivotal time in all of our lives, whether you went to college or not. So I think highlighting what it really means to be a dedicated friends, what it really means to focus on your mental health, what it really means to focus on your health overall, and what it really means to love someone — it’s so layered, and I think that we play with those layers and we honor those layers very truthfully.

DEADLINE: What can you say about the rest of the season?

MAYA: The only thing I will say is that I think people should be prepared for the unexpected. I mentioned before, life is just the most beautiful teacher, and I think that people are going to be very engulfed in our journey this season. I feel really privileged to have been given the opportunity to, again, just complete this journey for her. So I think that everyone should just buckle up and be prepared to end this journey with her.

It’s definitely a special season and a season that is very near and dear to me. It was very near to everyone. It wasn’t just because of my storyline. I strongly believe that this was such a season of beautiful ensemble work. We went through a lot of changes, but I think that we persevered and we created something so special. I’m really excited for everyone to see what their favorite characters and artists really have created this season. So I’m really grateful to leave it in so much love.