The TV Chick

The Rock girls are back! Last night’s big premiere of Make It Or Break it did not disappoint. It set up some very interesting drama for the upcoming season and introduced a few new characters who may pose a threat to the Rock girls making the Olympic team. The girls are still holding onto their very strong team mentality but the new coach in town (the one at the training center, rest assured Sasha is still around) wants them to let go of that in order to move towards the future. It seems as if some drama is brewing. And I’m excited!

The episode starts with the girls arriving at the USATC — the USA Olympic Training Center. I get the comparisons to the actual USA Gymnastics system, although the real USATC is for men, not women. However, the women do attend the Karolyi camps to train so I thought this was a cool way to honor that while adding in new good looking guys and other sports into the mix.

The girls meet newcomer Wendy, who is the junior superstar with her nose in everybody’s business. I am sure she means well, and she’s hilarious as a character, but she’s meant to be like that annoying little sister you want to leave you alone. Also enter into the mix Jordan, an amazing talent who has been kicked out of gyms and hasn’t competed in two years. She and Kaylie have some history that we don’t quite know about yet. She also camps out on the USATC grounds with her adorable rabbit in order to get the coach’s attention. The new coach doesn’t want to give her a chance but realizes in the end that he’d be foolish to let someone who can land a triple back dismount just go home. (Side Note: I think in women’s gymnastics this would probably be an impossibility. I have a pretty good knowledge of the sport, and never say never, but this was a little hard to believe).

So, we have some healthy competition at the USATC. And a ranking system that changes every day. But it wouldn’t be Make It Or Break It without boys. Kaylie is still with Austin and their relationship seems to be on a very good path. Max (actor Josh Bowman is now on Revenge) sadly broke up with Payson via a letter. Austin tries to help matters by explaining Max was bisexual but it only complicates things. And Lauren is still up to her mischievous ways — she enlists the girls to help try and steal a statue from the wrestlers (that has significance/history at the USATC). But her scheming ways might not last forever. She has a few dizzy spells in the premiere (we think this is because she skipped breakfast or because of her awful smelling custom made perfume but there’s obviously more there). Cassie Scerbo (who plays Lauren) did say that she is going to be faced with a life threatening illness in our interview, so I’m curious to see what happens.

Overall, I really, really enjoyed the premiere. I didn’t realize how much I missed seeing The Rock girls on my TV but I did. It has been way too long. I am curious to see how the husband/wife nutritionist-coach team plays out. I think Chelsea Tavares was really great as newcomer Jordan and as much as I’m rooting for The Rock girls and against her, I want to see her prove the coach wrong. I also thought Amanda Leighton was hilarious and perfect as quirky, nosy Wendy. I can’t wait to see more gymnastics and the alliances that will inevitably form. But what I’m most looking forward to is seeing The Rock girls win Olympic gold. We all can dream, right?

Make It Or Break It airs Monday nights at 9 PM on ABC Family.