Hellcats
spoilers & speculation

Review Pilot.

It’s the rare pilot that can lay out character and plot for an entire series without being heavyhanded and relying on cliches. Fortunately, despite a few wince-inducing moments and some weak dialogue, it’s hard not to like Marti. Her ambitions are tempered with just enough sweetness to keep the character relatable. Even when she’s dealing with her irresponsible mother, Marti’s exasperation is tempered with love. Her professed dream to become a lawyer so she can “move far, far away” is bittersweet.

Next, meet Savannah. Captain of the Hellcats, Lancer’s nationally competitive cheer squad, she’s all pep and ambition. When Marti, pissed off at the loss of her scholarship, lashes out at Savannah, the petite dynamo defends her sport as the two engage in an all-out shouting match.
Speaking of angst, just as Marti starts feeling secure that she can stay in school, she finds out that if the squad doesn’t earn a spot at Nationals in next week’s Qualifiers (awesome! you get one week to “rehearse”, Marti!), the university is going to pull the plug on the whole program, scholarships and all.

The rest of the cast is rounded out with Hellcats Lewis (Marti’s potential love interest, played by Michael Challenger); Alice (Marti’s nemesis/Lewis’s ex, played by Heather Hemmens); Patty (the one not worried about carbs, played by Elena Elsovolana); and Vanessa (Hellcats’ coach, played by Sharon Leal). We also have Gail O’Grady as Marti’s mom and Matt Barr as Dan, the Townie pining for Marti

Yes, Hellcats plays up to a ton of cliches in the first episode, and it’s a little wobbly on the dismount, but there are sparks of originality and a massively appealing cast, so there’s hope it will stick the landing. Setting it at a university instead of a high school provides opportunities for some more adult storylines, a few of which are hinted at in the pilot, while still allowing it to be fun. .