With a new year comes resolutions (green juice, gym time, and kale) and something slightly more exciting — the premiere of new TV shows. Along with the constant content that is available on streaming services, there is one show that people can't stop talking about, and it's called Dare Me.
The series premiered on December 29, 2019 on USA Network and this cheerleader murder-mystery drama definitely has our attention. So what should you know about Dare Me before tuning in? Read on.
The Writers And Producers Are Familiar
Before tuning in, you should know that there are some familiar names working on this drama. TV fans will be happy to know that one of the producers of Dare Me is Friday Night Lights showrunner and executive producer, Peter Berg. Berg also wrote and directed the 2004 Friday Night Lights movie.
Dare Me was co-created by author Megan Abbott and Gina Fattore. Fattore was a co-executive producer of Gilmore Girls. She wrote two episodes for the popular mother/daughter series, and 19 episodes of Dawson's Creek.
It's Based On A Book
Dare Me is based on a novel of the same by Megan Abbott. It was published in 2002 by Little, Brown and Company. The novel won praise from several critics and publications, and in 2012, it made both Entertainment Weekly and Amazon's best of the year lists. Abbott has also written nine other books.
It's interesting to know that the novel was going to be a movie with Abbott writing the script, with Natalie Portman in talks to star. However, plans fell through. Books are often optioned for film, and then fans don't hear anything for years. It's exciting that there's finally a Dare Me adaptation.
It Shows How Tough And Dark High School Cheerleading Can Get
Being a high school cheerleader isn't for the faint of heart as it involves a lot of time, effort, and hard work. What people often forget is that a cheerleader is an athlete who has to train just as much as anyone else. While movies featuring cheerleaders often focus on silly dances and catty behavior, that's not the case here.
Dare Me shows how difficult and dark high school cheerleading can get. The two main characters, Beth Cassidy (Marlo Kelly) and Addy Hanlon (Herizen Guardiola) are best friends, but of course, things get complicated between them.
The Author Worked On The Show
Megan Abbott is one of the co-creators of the TV series and has had a lot of involvement. That's really good news as sometimes, novelists don't have much of a say at all, and it can be frustrating for them to watch their work get adapted in a way that doesn't feel right.
Abbott is no stranger to working in television, as she was a story editor on the series The Deuce, which aired from 2017 until 2019.
People Are Comparing It To Bring It On
All '90s kids remember the cheerleading comedy Bring It On, which has a bitter tone despite its rom-com feel. Two rival squads go up against each other at a huge competition, but things are soured when the long-time champs learn that their former leader enlisted the help of a hack who gives the same routine to everyone.
Many people are comparing Dare Me to Bring It On, which definitely seems par for the course. This is probably what interested a lot of people in finding out more about the show. Of course, Dare Me is much more intense and dark than Bring It On, so that's something to keep in mind before watching the first episode.
It's A Thriller Involving A Character's Death
When you think of high school cheerleading, you don't automatically think of a thriller, which is what makes Dare Me compelling and unique. The show has a juicy mystery plot it as someone is killed and everyone is suddenly on edge, trying to figure out what happened.
One familiar element is the fact that the show is set in the suburbs. But even though there have been countless films and TV shows where something sinister takes place in this kind of location, it's a classic environment for a reason — it always works.
Willa Fitzgerald Was On MTV's Scream
When you watch Dare Me, you'll probably recognize Willa Fitzgerald, who plays Colette French, the coach of the cheerleading team.
Her most famous role was playing the main character, Emma Duval, on the MTV adaptation of the Scream horror movie franchise. There have been three seasons so far, but there isn't a conclusive word on whether there will be another.
There Will Be 10 Episodes This Season
There's nothing worse than finishing the season of a TV show and feeling bummed because it was so well-done. But it's also pretty awful to watch a 22-episode season and feel like half of the episodes were merely filler, and that the story and characters didn't benefit from having so much screen time.
Thankfully, it's good to know that the first season of Dare Me will have 10 episodes. That feels like a perfect amount; it will enable enough story to be told and things won't get boring.
The Author Based The Setting On Where She Grew Up
Megan Abbott has said in interviews that she is from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and it's this Midwest setting that she brought to her story.
Both fictional and real-life teenagers talk about being bored in their hometowns and wanting to graduate and get on with their lives. Besides being about cheerleading, Dare Me examines what it's like to be in high school and wish that you could be an adult already.
This Quote Will Hook You
There are certain lines that really stand out on every TV show, and on Dare Me, it's this one: “There’s something dangerous about the boredom of teenage girls."
Isn't that so brilliant and chilling? It really sets the tone for the series. This quote is from the book and it's also something that one of the characters on the TV show says.
Now that you know everything there is to know about Dare Me, it's time to sit down and watch the pilot (and then watch the rest super fast because chances are, you're going to get into it).