“Cheer,” created by Greg Whiteley, returned to the streaming platform “Netflix” for season two on Jan. 12. While season one focused on the cheer team for Navarro College, season two shines a light on both Navarro and the other team in their division, Trinity Valley Community College. Photo fair use of TV Fanatic
Netflix released season two of the binge-worthy docuseries “Cheer” on Jan. 12, featuring the Texas cheerleaders from Navarro College and Trinity Valley Community College.
In 2020, people around the world fell in love with a collegiate cheer team Navarro College in the small town of Corsicana, Texas, through Netflix’s docuseries “Cheer”. On Jan. 12, the beloved Navarro team returned to Netflix for season two, with the addition of some new faces.
Greg Whiteley’s “Cheer” season two spanned nine episodes and pivoted to focus on both Navarro and their rivals from Athens, Texas, Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC).
The inclusion of the TVCC team brings balance and a new point of view, with a cutthroat rivalry for viewers to indulge in. The different styles of the teams are shown through the portrayal of their coaching and performance techniques, but both remain inspirational stories of two of the top cheer teams in the country fighting their way to the top.
The hard work of both teams shines through individuals’ stories and the teams as a whole. Adding more emotional depth, the heart-wrenching backstories of many team members bring the audience closer to the athletes and add a relatable aspect to their portrayals, a notable theme that has continued from season one.
Season two starts off at a slower pace than the first season, eventually picking up several episodes in. This season not only shows the enthralling and addictive energy of the cheer world, but beautifully dives into the not-so-glamorous side of the sport, the downsides of Navarro’s sudden fame, and the impact of COVID-19.
The candid window into the challenges the teams overcame over the past two years to compete at the National Cheerleading Association (NCA) College Nationals competition allows viewers to fall even more in love with them.
Notably, episode five, “Jerry,” focuses on class of 2020 Navarro cheerleader Jerry Harris’s federal charges for the solicitation of sex and explicit photos from minors. The episode takes on the sensitive topic appropriately, devoting time to address the jarring incident with many interviews, including one with a victim of Harris’.
The season culminates into an exciting, nail-biting two-episode finale covering the NCA College Nationals competition, in Daytona, Florida, showing the first time either team has competed since 2019. Whiteley creates a beautiful atmosphere through soundtrack and cinematography that elevate uplifting moments of the competition.
Season one fans and new viewers alike will quickly find a love for both groups of athletes. While season two may not provide the same motivating feeling as was presented in season one, viewers can develop a deeper appreciation for the two cheer teams and sport as a whole.
