The Netflix docu-series “Cheer” was a smash hit.
Avid viewers of the show have anxiously awaited the arrival of season two since the moment we watched the Navarro Community College cheer team win their 14th national championship, and this nine episode collection did not disappoint.
A combination of the bleakness of quarantining in 2020 and our culture’s weird obsession with niche documentaries catapulted the lives—and the town of Corsicana, Texas—into immediate fame.
Season two zoned in on the effects of instant popularity. The first few episodes show the glory of going on Ellen, filming commercials, and traveling around the world to promote the cheerleaders’ organization. Yet, when they get behind closed doors, the stoic but lovable coach Monica Aldama and her cheerleaders admit the overwhelming, terrifying nature of everyone knowing your name.
With the popularity of apps like TikTok and the increased viewership of Netflix original series, this personal dive into the reality of quick and immediate notoriety came at the perfect time. Whether it was from creating a new dance or raising exotic tigers, everyone can name someone who was thrown into the limelight. Giving viewers a glimpse of how fame strains your relationships, increases your stressors, and overruns your life provides a much needed reality check.
Just like he didn’t shy away from consequences of fame, director Greg Whiteley refused to walk on eggshells when addressing former Navarro cheerleader Jerry Harris, the fan-favorite from season one, who faces seven charges relating to child pornography and sexual exploitation.
Not only did “Cheer” show the inner-turmoil of Harris’s best friends and teammates, producers also interviewed the prosecuting attorney, two victims, and their mother. Just like their fame, Harris’s arrest left the Navarro squad in shock and rattled their confidence.
That’s where the Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals come in. The rivals of Navarro, TVCC resides 20 miles down the road in Athens, Texas, and hasn’t won a national championship since 2016. TVCC refuses to refer to themselves as an underdog; however, Netflix began a not-so-subtle redemption arc.
While season one solely focused on the back stories regarding the Navarro squad, season two created emotional bonds between the audience and the members of TVCC. Establishing a connection with both teams, viewers were left conflicted when it came time for the national championship; everyone loves an underdog story, but we’ve been rooting for Navarro since day one.
Providing these behind-the-scenes details, the producers immersed the audience even further into the world of competitive cheer. We were given more technical details about the choreography of routines, the ins and outs of the point systems, and a deeper understanding of cheerleader’s obsession with their sport.
Season one of “Cheer” dipped the audience’s toes into the world of competitive cheerleading, giving us a taste of the high stakes and physical demands the sport requires. But where season one left us guessing about the impacts of fame, the electric rivalry, and the balancing of relationships, season two picked up the slack. The docu-series was raw, engaging, and a true treat for its dedicated fan base.
