Cheer Season 2 - What We Know So Far

The jumps, the flips, the heartbreaks, and the triumphs — the Netflix docuseries "Cheer" had it all. The show, which followed the cheerleading team from Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas as they prepared for the 2019 National Championships, won over audiences with its honest and gripping depiction of the physical and emotional journeys undertaken by the group of incredible college athletes in the small Texas town on their path to win it big — thrusting them into the spotlight and skyrocketing them to fame.

The show's first season premiered in January 2020 — just before COVID-19 hit. The virus brought uncertainty for the show's future — the national cheer championship was cancelled, and college campuses shifted to virtual learning. A high-profile scandal involving a cast member made plans for subsequent seasons even more of a question mark. Much is still uncertain when it comes to "Cheer" Season 2, but here's what we know so far.

The show's six-episode run was short but impactful — not unlike the two minute and 15 second-long routines the Navarro Bulldogs prepare all year just for the chance to perform at Nationals. With a mix of intense athletic sequences and deep dives into the personal lives and backgrounds of five cast members, "Cheer" took viewers into the highly specialized and competitive world of college cheerleading, specifically the microcosm of Navarro. The team has won 14 championships since Monica Aldama joined as head coach in 2000, and her blend of tough love and fierce devotion to her "kids" instantly made her a character to watch.

Given that the show is centered on a college campus and a large-scale competition that brings athletes from all over the world to Daytona, Florida, it's understandable that COVID-19 would delay its filming. When it was announced in March 2020 that the championships would be canceled, Aldama spoke to TMZ about her disappointment. "This decision was inevitable as things have progressed and our country is in uncertain times," she said. "My heart, however, is breaking for the lost memories and the lost time with my beautiful team. I was not ready to say goodbye so quickly." She did, however, offer a spark of hope for the team's future. "What I do know is that we will be back better than ever!!!"

According to Monica Aldama's Instagram, the Navarro team has returned to Daytona for the 2021 Championships. While we don't know if Netflix has been chronicling the team as they prepare, fans can at least tune-in here for now.

What made "Cheer" so compelling was the characters — we got to know the personalities of five incredible cheerleaders and the challenges they faced on their road to Navarro. From Morgan Simianer, who was abandoned by her parents and raised by her grandparents, to La'Darius Marshall, who dealt with a mother with addiction and the struggle to express his queerness in a hyper-masculine world, each cast member had a unique experience that motivated them to excel "on the mat."

While Lexi Brumback returned to Navarro after being kicked off the team at the end of season for being caught with illegal substances, and Morgan decided to stay in Corsicana for one more year, it's unclear who else might return. It's safe to assume, however, that one cast member will not be returning if a second season materializes. 

In September 2020, Jerry Harris was arrested on child pornography charges, and currently faces seven additional charges including soliciting sex from a minor at a cheerleading competition in 2018, when he was 18. Jerry had been perhaps the most popular character from the show before the allegations, and his fellow cast members expressed their shock at the allegations. "I feel as though I have had the wind knocked out of me," La'Darius said in a statement. "As a victim of sexual abuse as a child, I know all too well the pain of experiencing this type of abuse and the difficulties it can create for life after such trauma." Gabi Butler posted her reaction on Instagram: "Ever since I heard the news I have gone back and forth between sobbing uncontrollably and trying to wrap my head around why something like this could happen. To be clear, although I have been a close friend and teammate with Jerry, I was never aware of anything like what he has been accused of taking place."

It's impossible to imagine "Cheer" without Coach Monica, and we would bet that if the show returns, she'll be back with it. Aldama is still at Navarro, working while wearing masks and getting tested regularly. She even posted that she got her vaccine recently. Based on her Instagram posts, the team's routines are as audacious and impressive as ever, pushing the boundaries of physical strength and sportsmanship. The team's energy and drive adds to their performances — the smiles and screams emanating from the stage are half of what makes their routines so incredible to watch. 

Of course, the show is about more than the routines — it's about the blood, sweat, and tears that goes into making their performances so pristine. While the goal is perfection, "Cheer" is about the bumps on the road to achieving greatness. While the impeccable routines are jaw-dropping, it's the injuries, the setbacks, and the doubts that make the show so watchable. Hopefully "Cheer" will be back with more high-flying antics soon.