Everyone Is Finally Obsessed With ‘Dare Me’ Now That It’s on Netflix

January 06, 2021 | 08:00am

Make it your next watch. Big Red would be terrified of these girls.

Everyone Is Finally Obsessed With ‘Dare Me’ Now That It’s on Netflix

Dare Me first premiered on USA Network back in 2019 to rave reviews and, unfortunately, dismal ratings. But the cheerleader drama series now lives on Netflix, where it’s finding new life.

A January 6 report from Newsweek places the show at number six on Netflix’s top 10 titles in the U.S. The streaming platform actually coproduced Dare Me and was the show’s international distributor, but the series’ future in the States rested on USA Network, where it underperformed. The show was canceled after one season—but per Newsweek, Netflix now has the power to change that.

And it absolutely should. Dare Me is good. Really good. I reviewed the show back in December 2019, when it was on USA Network, and was blown away by the gritty Bring It On—meets—Spring Breakers storyline. The series centers on a high school cheerleading squad in suburban Ohio that’s rocked when a new coach, Collette French (Willa Fitzgerald), takes over. Collette is no-nonsense and rejects the squad hierarchy set by mean-girl captain Beth (Marlo Kelly). At the center of the story is Addy (Herizen Guardiola), Beth’s best friend, whom Collette takes a liking to. This drives a wedge between Addy and Beth, and their friendship crumbles as the series unfolds. All the while there’s a slow-burn murder mystery that comes to a head during the show’s latter half. It’s ideal binge-watching.

Which is why, perhaps, Dare Me is succeeding on Netflix. We saw a similar phenomenon happen with You, which actually premiered on Lifetime in September 2018 to disappointing ratings. But then Netflix picked the series up and it became a smash.

Only time will tell if the same thing happens with Dare Me. If Netflix execs are on Twitter, though, they know fans are discovering it and want more.