America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

$25k a year to sell your soul and body to a billionaire. Maybe that's what Hollywood has always been too. Being cut for being too short, or smiling the wrong way, or not having the '"it factor". Hollywood. Hip replacement at 25 years old? All for the honour and joy of being part of a sisterhood. But for $25k a year? Netflix owns the global franchise for sports and entertainment exposes and this one is as good as Drive to Survive in its own way. Utterly compelling. The steely inhumanity of The Owner is probably normal for corporate America, But is it acceptable? Slave labour in todays world isn't right.....

I mean I didn't know whether to rate this higher because it exposed the terrible pay, lack of diversity, the impossible standards set on these women...I could go on. Yet at the same time, I don't want to rate it higher for those exact same reasons. Let's start with the pay. Honestly I could not get past the first 20 minutes where they discussed the wages these girls earn (or lack thereof). Grossly inappropriate; I mean not just for how much football players make (although, I do think some players deserve higher wages themselves) but the astronomical amount of money the Dallas Cowboy's organization brings in and large in part to the these ladies is wildly inappropriate. The whole schtick of "well they just feel special because it's an honour to be chosen so you should feel privileged even to make it". In other words, if you come from a wealthy family where you don't have to solely rely on your salary to you know eat, live and stuff, then you have a 99% edge over everyone else. Oh and if you're white and blonde, even better (and this is coming from a blonde, white woman). Optics look terrible. Just no. I mean the drive, perseverance these women face is way more difficult than any football player does. We're talking weight, looks, technical precision, the "it" factor...my god. I feel slightly nauseous writing this. How is this the 21st century.

I think the show did a really good job at capturing the process and the experience of the girls and the management. Personally, I found it fascinating. I'd be happy to watch them make the 2024 season all over again.

I felt sad and moved, even stressed!, for the majority of it - but ultimately it was a fair display of the business and industry. Show biz isn't a pretty biz. Sports is a money making machine and ultimately that's the goal.

Only a few girls are really picked to be the focus - which makes sense in terms of time and storytelling but I feel like we only got glimpses of the personalities on the team.

It shows the hard work, determination, ethics, passion, brutality, stress, commitment, etc.

The question does remain - how do these girls endure so much stress, over work, deterioration of the body. Severe physical and mental health- for so little money/payoff?

I guess I'll never truly understand the sisterhood and community (to the point that's it's their personality and identity) that their life revolves around.

I really liked it, I love dance. It was an interesting insight into their universe. I understand that Texas is a conservative state but for me there was way too much God talk. It was not something I expected to come up so much. Didn't need to see them going to a super church. I watched the first show on Country Music TV and thought that was better.

I felt so sorry for Victora, I wanted to give her a big hug. I really liked that they put focus on mental health and showed that even girls who look perfect can have issues and be insecure.

The focus though on religion would put me off watching next season, I fast forwarded past the church scenes. Its too much.

This 7 part doco is a well funded story that looks good and does well. It has all the structure, flesh and hallmarks of what that old pamphlet "How to make a documentary for Netflix", required.

Thing is though - if this is what America is all about, then geez! We're doomed.

It would have been good if the producers could have shown some of the love and community that apparently they are famous for, but No. It was absent.

Not without content though - In the last reunion episode we had a lady that was an original 70 model, currently battling and surviving from ovarian cancer.

Would have been good to see how the DCC came together and supported this sister.

But no, there is no footage or record of that,...because it didn't and doesn't happen.

America and it's values take centre stage here. We're screwed.