Cheer on Netflix. WTAF?

[vivacian]

I'm in awe of the kids' athleticism, but the rest? Monica? Texas? I have no words.

[KTD27]

I can’t stop watching it. It’s fascinating in a WTF way. The kids are amazing - that teacher talking about Texas made me

[vivacian]

It's like a mockumentary. I keep expecting French and Saunders to turn up.

The bullying is crazy.

[covetingthepreciousthings]

Is it worth watching? I was going to give it a go tonight.

[vivacian]

Mostly it's a car crash. Sometimes it's thought-provoking.

Gabi's family. Oh my.

[MWestie]

I know nothing about cheerleading but was absolutely gripped. It's an insight into this whole other alien world...I love documentaries that do this. I thought it captured it in such a compelling way, focusing on individual characters' strengths and how they changed throughout the countdown to the end competition. I'd definitely recommend it.

[Nirvana1979]

I really enjoyed it. My daughter cheers here but its a whole other level in USA.

Those kids were amazing, the are so commited and the last episode was very emotional. Morgan was such a sweet girl, im glad she stayed on.

[TooStressyTooMessy]

Thank you so much for starting this thread. I love shows like this! Just added it to my watch list. Haven’t watched it so can’t actually add anything useful to your thread though, sorry.

Cheer Squad is also great for anyone who likes this sort of thing.

[vivacian]

I've binged on this today. I think it gets worse. It doesn't stop at bullying, I think these kids are exploited and emotionally abused and nobody seems to be taking care of their physical or emotional health. I'm on episode 4 and starting to feel really uncomfortable watching it.

[TooStressyTooMessy]

Oh ok maybe not as nice as it first seemed then .

[EineReiseDurchDieZeit]

I've just watched this and

For all the students saying what a mother she was it really seemed like she only cared about winning and didn't give a shit about any of their physical or psychological welfare. Hoping to put "Sherbs" back in when she had a dislocated elbow for example.

I found it a bit telling that a really high proportion of the kids featured in her squad, were essentially parentless, like it's easy to manipulate and control them and call it love and they'll believe it when they are crying out for a maternal figure. Also were there are no parents or in Gabi's case Pushy Parents, there is no one to ring up and say "my child has had 5 concussions, they will be taking a medical leave from your team without censure or I'll have you investigated"

Morgan was only staying on to please Monica. She was at a point were she had completed all the college could offer her.
The thing with her Dad really shocked me. He should've been charged with neglect.

I still don't really understand "Junior College" they seemed to be doing High School
Level work when they did any.

And it all seemed a bit pointless given that Cheerleaders do any professional career part time during their college years (such as the NFL, I looked it up ) so there literally is no career in it to be pursued for all those hours of work and physical damage after the age of about 23.

[EineReiseDurchDieZeit]

Oh and teacher who basically in not so many words said to a room with several young gay men in

"Texas is a man/woman state"

No it isn't, it's a geographical location, it doesn't have an opinion, you're a homophobe

[Nirvana1979]

The injuries were really worrying.

The guy TT (i think) when he injured his back. Monica couldn't have cared less, she made him carry on even when he was jn tears and he had to throw and catch the flyer. I couldn't watch.

"Sherbs" too, ouch. She was thrown and no one was there to catch it. Not to mention the many concussions.

Couldn't help but worry about Lexi, i hope she finds her way in life.

[StylishMummy]

Watching now and at the muscles on them all!

[vivacian]

The toll on their bodies is worrying. I wonder what the support is around nutrition, sleep, rest and training are. What's with practising when they are most tired??

The photoshoot that Gaby does made me so angry. She hoped to be done by 10-10:30pm, if they "did exactly what they were told". And what time did they finish? Gone 3am, and even then she still had to eat.

Good observation about how vulnerable some of them are. They're practically groomed by Monica.

[vivacian]

(I forgot to say the main thing about the photoshoot, was that it was so exploitative. Was there no chaperone or agent there?).

[AlohaMolly]

Me and DP binge watched the whole thing yesterday. It left me feeling really uncomfortable and I cried over poor Jerry. Those children put up with some HUGE bullshit from Monica!

[Nirvana1979]

@vivacian i thought that. Surely doing those stunts when so physically tired is just plain dangerous...

[vivacian]

Can anyone explain the school system? They appear to be living in, living in dorms. The males all seem to be young men, but some of the women are so petite they seem more like girls. How old are they all? What level of schooling are they doing?

[EineReiseDurchDieZeit]

My very rudimentary understanding of it is that Junior and Community Colleges are for post 18 kids who didn't have a prayer of getting into university to get some more credit, basic qualifications, say NVQ equivalent, improve their grades and move on after 2 years to a "proper" uni, for a BA as we see Jerry do at the end.

I think high school ends at 17 in many states so age range 17-21.

I'm still a bit confused on it though as the system here is so different, but I guess it would be like going to the local college here to do an access course or a vocational course having failed to get A Levels.

I think.

I hope an American turns up to explain.

[smemorata]

Spoiler alert:





What happened to the person who fell at the final performance? Sounded really serious but couldn't work out who it was /what happened?

[vivacian]

Yeah, that is a bit of a spoiler.

[smemorata]

Sorry! It's actually only a small part of the episode.

[Grumbley]

I agree that it was uncomfortable but I couldn't stop watching! There is another series about cheerleaders on netflix as well, I can't remember what it's called but they are treated quite well and although they are successful don't seem to have as much pressure piled on.

[coffeeoclock]

I really enjoyed the series personally, finished it in 2 days. It was so interesting but I couldn't believe the amount of injuries and the way they just kept going when something potentially serious could happen!

I am confused as well about the education- I thought they did the first 2 years of college there then moved on? 🧐

Gabi's parents drove me mad- you could see she was exhausted and didn't care for what they were making her do, they see her as a cash cow and that's it.

[coffeeoclock]

Oh and La'Darius was toxic, such a bully to that girl he was partners with on the stunts. Way too big headed and hypocritical!