11 hours ago
Can This Netflix Show Continue Its 100% Streak On Rotten Tomatoes?
Netflix is full of surprises. Not only do subscribers receive big-budget blockbusters filled with today's biggest stars, but sometimes the streamer surprises us with deeply felt stories that reveal a less-than-glamorous side of life. And that was certainly the case with one of Netflix's most unexpected documentary hits, America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, which earned a 100% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes after it premiered in June 2024. And now, exactly one year later, Season 2 is back to (hopefully) recreate the magic. Will the new season (which premiered this morning) simply continue the formula, or will it deepen the show's cultural resonance and ambitious storytelling?
I think we can trust the show's creator Greg Whiteley to achieve the latter. His grounded, empathetic lens previously brought him success with hit sport docu-series like Cheer and Last Chance U. We can contrast the depth Whiteley discovered through his projects with similar shows like CMT's Making the Team—where Netflix's version lingered on humanity, vulnerability and day-to-day sacrifice, CMT was most concerned with judgment and spectacle. America's Sweethearts explored themes like body standards, mental health, identity and the pressures of performance—not to mention a much-talked about issue of fairness when it comes to pay.
These topics didn't deter viewers but in fact drew them in, leading to both critical and commercial success: in addition to the show's 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating, it landed on Netflix's Top 10 list in 27 different countries and accrued tons of social media buzz, including TikTok recreations of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders' iconic 'Thunderstruck' routine. In the end, both subscribers and critics were taken by how the show tackled difficult truths hiding beneath the glittering surface of cheer culture, all while celebrating the spectacle that makes the cheerleading team so epochal in our football-obsessed culture.
Season 2 picks up with auditions for the 2024-25 season, and follows our cheerleading stars through training camp, cuts and the full season schedule. This year, just 23 of the 36 veterans return to try and make the lineup, which means there will be a larger rookie class than usual—so you can expect more competition, more risk, more emotional upheaval. Over the course of seven episodes, which all drop on Netflix at once on June 18, 2025, the show will hopefully continue to prioritize the emotional journeys of the cheerleaders and internal conflicts over sensationalism.
We can also look forward to returning figures, as well as some brand new rookie storylines. We'll catch up with Reece (who is now married and exploring a social media career after leaving her job), Jada (in her final season, and known for her fierce dancing and strong personality) and Armani (who is very outspoken about alopecia and uses her platform to raise awareness). We can also look forward to new storylines from the likes of Charly (whose comeback story involves her recovering from pulmonary embolism), Dayton (the daughter of a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleading alum) and Ava (who was previously cut from the squad for her social media image).
Look no further than Reddit to see that people are just as engaged as ever and excited about Season 2 of the popular show. These comments show that fans are very vocal about their expectations for how the show can both recreate the magic and improve its focus: they hope for more dancing (these particular commenters voiced they wanted full routines, behind-the-scenes footage of learning choreography and less filler), expect more solo time with the cheerleaders (they are interested in seeing the artistry and athleticism beyond brief montages) and a deeper focus on character that goes beyond the ingénue archetype.
Season 2 has a huge opportunity to not only continue, but deepen the commentary of Season 1 that won over so many critics. Caroline Siede from the "Girl Culture" Substack praised that the show reveals how the cheerleading profession mixes glamour, tradition and exploitation, and that cheerleaders are expected to maintain a 'Barbie-esque' look while working multiple jobs. Siede also appreciated that Whitely depicted how the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders openly enforces gendered norms (as opposed to dressing them up as empowerment), and that the show ultimately works because it embraces contradiction: 'hot, thin, white, Christian Disney princesses' performing at elite levels, all while being undervalued.
Judy Berman of Time also offered some piercing insights of Season 1, noting how the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, as an institution, unfairly demands physical perfection, sexual appeal, maternal warmth and public grace—all simultaneously. Low pay, body policing, sexual harassment and a lack of institutional support can all be expected for these cheerleaders. There were many powerful moments in Season 1 that explored such strain, like Kelcey being tracked by a stalker or Sophy being groped—issues that are certainly treated with gravity, yet reveal systemic failure. Whiteley allows such obvious and problematic contradictions to sit, ultimately inviting viewers to reflect without offering clear answers.
This docu-series is part of a growing sports lineup on Netflix, including shows like F1: Drive to Survive, Quarterback and Wrestlers. But America's Sweethearts is unique in this lineup as it is the only series centered entirely on women and expectations placed upon them when it comes to performance and identity (the series isn't just about competition or underdog grit). Such an obstinate approach suggests that America's Sweethearts could in fact be Netflix's most subversive sports doc yet, simply by choosing to look at labor and beauty in tandem.
So will Season 2 match the first season's immense success? Or will it fall to the wayside when it comes to the important issues brought to light? Only time will tell—and the time is now. The latest season America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders premiered this morning on Netflix, and we'll be watching as both the fan and critical responses rolls in. Hopefully, Whiteley can continue to turn the often-dismissed role of cheerleading into a microcosm of broader gendered labor issues that persist in this world. America's Sweethearts isn't just entertainment—it's a cultural document. And we should pay attention.
