In case you haven’t been paying attention, cheerleading is getting the Gen-Z treatment, be it in Cheer, Spinning Out, or Euphoria. But it isn’t all glitters and pom-poms; it also isn’t just about cliquey politics. In 2020 cheerleading has gotten corporeal and extreme with Dare Me, the show which just concluded its first season, and is based on Megan Abbott’s bestselling 2012 novel about a group of teenage cheerleaders and their new coach.If you’ve seen the show or read the book, you kind of know that it’s edgier than most teen murder mysteries.
The 10-episode season was fierce and action-packed and checked a lot of boxes when it comes to a Gen-Z teen thriller. “There’s something about the boredom of teenage girls,” can sound like a line straight out of the Pretty Little Liars handbook, but Abbott’s treatment of teen friendships, psychological warfare, female politics is something that really comes alive on screen. But there are some elements that hold the show back, and fans were a little disappointed with a few plot points. Let’s take a look at how exactly Dare Me fared (spoilers ahead):
It Got Right: Leaner But Not That Meaner
Call it the Pretty Little Liar effect, but it turns out nothing’s too dark when it comes to teenage drama outings in 2020. From 13 Reasons Why and Riverdale to Euphoria and The End of the Fu**ing World, teenage problems got more serious, and so did their shows.
Despite being a cheerleading show, Dare Me is by no means a light watch like a Gossip Girl. The show sets a really gritty tone and stays away from petty, unwarranted subplots, which makes it relevant.
It Failed Expectations: Too many unanswered questions
It’s possible that the show chewed on more than it could handle. Most fans agree that the narrative could have been made simpler and less convoluted. Colette is one of the most intriguing characters, but it’s impossible for fans to know what she’s thinking at any point. What’s her real nature? What exactly is she hiding? She manipulates those who stand in her way, but how long can she play the victim?
The mystery surrounding her is a little too complex and messes with the progression of the show and doesn’t really help Colette’s character find a definite niche.
It Got Right: Befitting For The Post-Cheer Age
The Gen-Z approach to cheerleading is way different and much more cutthroat; think about it. Be it Glee or Bring it On, the tonality and the entire vibe of the sport was cliquey and somewhat glam: something that appealed to youngsters more easily.
But now, cheerleading is visually less performative and pays a lot more attention to the extremities involved, be it the strenuous fitness goals or the diets. In Dare Me, cheerleading has been depicted as more than just a high school sport, it’s in many ways a sisterhood and provides a sense of belonging to the students and the sport actually anchors quite a lot of developments in the narrative.
It Failed Expectations: Another Teen Murder Show?
It’s always exciting to see a bestseller come alive on the screen, but do we really need another teen murder show? To be honest, Euphoria, and The End of the F***ing World - every dark teen drama has a slew of murders and suicides leading the plot.
It’s almost as if the element of death or harm is being normalized, which is kind of extreme. Dare Me too has a murder at the heart of its narrative; yes, the treatment of the trauma is sensitive, and it’s actually well-handled, but it’s just not unique enough.
It Gets Right: The Exploration Of Female Friendships
Dare Me has a refreshing take on female friendships; it feels more organic and naturally comionate. The show is surprisingly evolved from most of the current stream-worthy outings featuring teenagers, the entire tone of the show is a lot more sophisticated. Beth is a cheerleader who feels threatened and side-stepped by the arrival of a new coach and doesn’t agree with the change in balance.
This affects her friendship with Addy, who quickly becomes the coach’s pet. There’s a very nuanced study of the power dynamics which we usually see in female friendships which often ends up shaping our perspectives towards lives
Failed Expectations: The Bizarre Coach Vs. Cheerleader Plot
In the show, Addy feels threatened by the arrival of Coach French, which is quite confusing. “Some fancy new coach thinks she can come and run my squad?” she asks. Things get even tenser when Coach French eliminates the position of cheer captain.
We get that she resents the Coach’s sudden decisions, which upsets the group dynamic, but other than that, fans couldn’t figure out the reasons behind Addy’s animosity towards the Coach. The show could have done a better job explaining her source of feelings, as the novel did.
It Gets Right: The BFFs Fight For the Top Spot
Another one of the show’s important plot points is the friendship between Addy and Beth. While away from the podium, Addy is a loyal lieutenant to Beth, who’s kind of the Queen Bee, but Addy is torn between her love for Beth and her iration towards the Coach.
When Coach French eliminates Beth as the cheer captain, both Addy and Beth are up against each other to come out on top. Interestingly, Addy is not as submissive while the arc lights are on and pushes back against Beth’s tirades. This makes for an amazing build-up where each of their character arcs really shine.
It Failed Expectations: The Lesbian Angle Needed A 2020 Approach
It’s 2020, and same-sex relationships are something people are really keen to see on-screen, especially since the last decade didn’t do enough in that department. And while Dare Me had enough potential to be the next Euphoria, we really wish the relationship between Addy and Beth had been developed more acutely.
“Beth Cassidy, our captain. I, her forever-lieutenant. Her right hand, her fidus Achates. That’s what she calls me, what I am. Everyone bows to Beth and, in so doing, to me,” Beth had quipped in the book. It’s hot, it’s interesting, and we want this to be a much bigger deal than the show allowed it to be. Since the show improvised from the novel quite a bit, fans were hoping the dynamic between Addy and Beth would also be made more relevant for this era.
Gets Right: A Tough Look On a Glammed Up Sport
For the longest time, cheerleading has been depicted as something the "It Girl" of the school would go for because it’s glamorous, prestigious, and makes way for a short-lived but relevant glory. Cheerleading is so much more than that.
Though it’s not a varsity sport, cheerleading is a very real sport that requires an almost impossible level of dedication, physical commitment, and teamwork. After Cheer, Dare Me did the tough job of actually showing what it really takes to sustain as a cheerleader and the daunting physical and mental agility that’s needed.
It Failed Expectations: Heathers Meets Fight Club?
Novelist Tom Perrotta had once touted Abbott’s novel as something akin to Heathers meets Heathers, but we kind of wish it was at least a little more audacious, especially the relationship between Addy and Beth.
Every teen outing in the age of streaming does need an element of provocation and even shock because that’s what it takes to stand out. With Dare Me, the audiences get a well-balanced blend of drama and crime, but it doesn’t add up to something that we’ll if it goes off our Twitter feed.