Author Spotlight
Maggie Kissick
When I saw the trailer for Netflix’s original docuseries “CHEER” season two on my Instagram feed, I immediately began counting down the days until a new season would be on Netflix. I immediately rushed to my couch and started the first episode as soon as it came out. The flashback to their previous national championship win, followed by a mix of athleticism and drama right of the bat had me hooked.
“CHEER” focuses on the college cheer team, Navarro, located in the small town of Corsicana, Texas. Led by Monica Aldama, this team has gone on to win 14 national championships since 2000.
These athletes have practices every day to perfect partner stunts, jumps, tumbling and more. As I watched the opening scenes of this season, seeing baskets being thrown high in the air and tumblers throwing whip fulls, I was immediately intrigued by their high levels of athleticism and positive attitudes. This new season had me hooked.
What I like most about the show is how it presents the raw athleticism of cheerleading. The strain these athletes put their bodies through and the high-flying stunts they routinely land — without any protective gear — present a greater appreciation and respect for all these athletes endure beyond waving their pom-poms on the sidelines.
What makes their championships even more impressive is that Navarro is a community college. These athletes are only at the college for two years before they leave. Additionally, their division only has one other competitor — Trinity Valley, located in Athens, Texas. So even though both of these teams usually have some of the highest scores of the national competition, they’re only competing against each other.
This strong rivalry between the teams fuels season two. In season one, Trinity Valley was only shown for a short time, the first season was really focused on Navarro. Trinity Valley in the first season seemed more like an afterthought, just to show us who Navarro’s competition was. This season, however, features each team equally.
Seeing both teams allows you to see the high skill level and makes their rivalry more real. Being able to watch Trinity Valley hit difficult stunts and difficult stunting really solidified that Navarro wasn’t as good as I originally thought they were. Being able to see both teams preparations always kept me engaged, and I wasn’t stuck focusing on one routine.
The added focus on Trinity Valley also allowed for a fresh perspective. Their underdog status made me like them more as the season went on. Trinity Valley was working towards having a more hard-hitting routine, so watching their routine come together after struggles with their choreography was rewarding.
The beginning of season two focuses on the 2019-20 season. The perspectives alternate between Navarro and Trinity Valley as they prepare for their national competition.
Adding to the drama, their preparations get interrupted by COVID-19 as the national competition in Daytona, Florida gets canceled — 13 days before it was supposed to happen. As I watched fan favorite cheerleaders like Morgan Simianer and Lexi Brumback’s season abruptly end, I immediately sympathized with their pain of losing everything they had just worked hard for. It was sad to see their hard work go to waste and it was hard to see cheerleaders leave. However, this loss only made me me more excited in anticipation for their comeback after COVID-19.
This new season also tackles the troubles of fame. With the team’s new-found popularity after season one, you see everyone struggle with balancing cheer practice, along with interviews, commercials and more. On top of high amounts of pressure due to being the defending national champions, the team also deals with head coach Aldama missing the first semester to participate in Dancing with the Stars.
The team becomes frustrated in the beginning of the 2020-21 season as they adjust to a new coach, but the season continues on and the team only becomes stronger. Watching returners like Gabi Butler and Ladarius Marshall along with rookies like Maddy Brum makes for an interesting mix of familiarity and new challenges.
There’s so much to love about “CHEER,” especially season two: the hard working athletes, the stories and the constant filming that made the season really come to life. This show is a great reminder of what the sport of cheerleading really involves.
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