Holy guacamole: the docuserie Cheer on Netflix is a must-see

I have always found the whole concept of ‘cheerleading’ incredibly interesting. In the Netherlands, it is actually nowhere to be found and not very popular at all. If you are a cheerleader at an American high school, that is an instant guarantee for popularity. I used to find the MTV Made (#throwback) episodes where a plain Jane wanted to become a cheerleader the most entertaining (along with the girls who were going to participate in a beauty pageant). But well, quite a far-from-my-bed show. For me personally, even more so, because I am really a wooden Klaas and have never been able to put my leg behind my head, let alone be on top of the human pyramid.

But I always found cheerleading quite glamorous. Well, since watching the docuseries Cheer on Netflix, I have come back from all my cheerleading prejudices. Because holy guacamole, cheerleading is anything but glamorous. This docuseries has six episodes (each about an hour long) and I was genuinely glued to the screen. So bizarre and what an incredibly intense sport. Really top sport, if you are on a team that actually matters. And those injuries... O. My. God. And I am already in tears if I have a blister from my new shoes. Clearly, I am not made for this sport.

In Cheer, the cheersquad of Navarro College is followed by creator Greg Whitely on their way to the 14th national championship in Daytona, Florida. And if you thought you had seen dedication in The Game Changers; think again. The desire of these boys and girls to win is unbelievable. Falling, getting up, jumping, falling again, injuries, continuing, a little somersault added. Cristiano Ronaldo could learn a thing or two from this. He already sheds tears from a slightly rough tackle. If that were the case here... No, you really have to be made of steel to become a cheerleader.

So respect from me, from my couch where I watched this in sweatpants. Also very sporty then. What is interesting about the series is that the creators also delve deeper into the history of cheerleading. It is also not so glamorous (another prejudice tackled); for many, it was a way to escape their misery at home, such as poverty, drugs, and/or violence. Maybe not the tip if you are looking for something light-hearted, but Cheer is definitely addictive. You can watch Bring It On afterwards for the light-hearted cheerleading vibes. I have added a new bucket list item: I want to see a cheerleading competition in real life. What a spectacle. Safely from the stands, of course, where the clumsy ones sit.