Pilot - Recap

Cue the Gymnastics montage and the music “Let It Rock” which seems to be the requisite TV show music of the summer. Enter the “It” girls of "The Rock" (Lauren, Payson and Kaylie) who sit down to stretch on the mats. Some of the younger girls ask for Payson’s autograph though she didn't notice them until Lauren shoves her.

The three talk about Nationals and how their bodies are on their last legs. Payson's apparently damaged back being one of the most interesting mentions. They discuss their dreams of making the Olympics, as if this is given. Maybe 6 people make it in the country. The odds of 3 from one club going are pretty slim. And afterwards? Kaylie thinks she will get fat and do parades, Lauren will become a jet setter, and Payson wants to think about Nationals rather than consider the end of her career.

Enter the first of many over-involved parents, Lauren’s dad Steve Tanner (rumored to be a lawyer). He starts coaching Lauren while standing next to the actual coach (Marty Walsh) who just says "The Rock" is awesome. Emily Kmetko enters and draws everyone's attention as she is wearing a non-shiny leotard and does a few floor passes that intimidates the other girls (Lauren most notably). We learn that Emily was found “on a playground” (she worked out at the local Y in Fresno). This is supposed to be a throw to Nadia Comaneci discovered by Bela Karolyi at age 6 in a schoolyard. So we’re supposed to know Emily will be GREAT. Some Bradford Cruz tells Carter he thinks Emily’s hot.

Point of fact, Payson is the first to approach Emily and be friendly. Lauren remains cold to the newcomer. Emily says to Payson, “I saw you at the Northern Open…on tv.” Another hint that Payson’s well known in the gymnastics world. Lauren is snarky to Emily. “I see that you don’t have any endorsements. For clothes. Or anything.” The others seem nice enough. They tell her not to be intimidated. We knew Lauren would be the mean one.

Finally the girls actually workout (they watch each other do routines). Payson does basically nothing to write home about, but she doesn’t fall on her simple landing so that’s good. Lauren does a couple things that are more impressive (she’s supposed to be best at beam, so fair enough.) It seems Lauren has the best stunt double of the group. She manages to be good AND give Emily the evil eye throughout her routine, kudos there.

Bathroom scene–Lauren vomits. But it screws with your electrolytes!. Who with bulimia lets everyone know? Kaylie complains that she looks like a butterball and is turning into Mary Lou Retton (the former Olympic Gold Medalist).

Lauren freaks out about Emily taking one of their spots. Payson tells her to focus on herself to which Lauren says she’s awesome so she has nothing to worry about and Kaylie “smiles and pulls it out of her ass.” Kaylie humors her with an “I don’t know what we’ll do” because she’s a bit of a follower. We discover Emily’s fear of the vault. Why? She’s going to compete the next day without a practice run? More hints that Payson is awesome (she’s the only one who stays late, she hasn’t wobbled in months). Lauren ignores Emily and Kaylie follows suit.

No dating is the only rule Coach Marty gives Emily, which seems odd.

Lauren (Steve) and Kaylie’s (Ronnie and Alex) parents won’t leave them alone. Kaylie’s reminded she has a photo shoot, Lauren’s dad taped her routines for review. And GASP Lauren’s dad is dating DJ Tanner! Ok, her name is Summer and it’s a secret. Payson tells her mother, Kim, she has to focus and can’t talk. Her mother, as the only non-pushy parent, tells her she needs to do chores and talk to her family. Lauren actually smiles at Emily waiting for her mother in a “ha my dad is more prompt than your mom kind of way”. Emily walks home and sees Kaylie and supposed to be hottie gymnast Carter kissing in a not well hidden spot right outside the gym.

We meet Emily’s trashy mom (Chloe) who's in trouble with the law, sarcastic wheelchair bound brother (Brian). Her father isn’t around, though we don’t know why. Her mom almost schedules something at the same time as her nationals trials. Dinner consists of something scooped from a can. Emily has to help pay the rent by working at the Pizza Shack.

Carter wants his and Kaylie relationship to be public. Their relationship is the realest thing in Kaylie’s life. So what’s gymnastics? Lauren sees them together. “I don’t mean to get up in your Kool-Aid but watch your butt, Marty will wig if he catches you two.” Kaylie denies it. Lauren complaints to her dad about Emily who promises he is going to “take care of Emily” but they’re still going to give her “the chill”.

Emily gets suckered into a late shift at the Shack. She serves meth heads and flirts with a slightly cheesy guy who tells her she “rocks the shack”. He asks her out, she evades and keeps her gymnastics stuff a secret.

Competition day. Time to find out who will be top three. Payson’s parents talk. Normal parents worrying about their children. Payson’s busy visualizing. Emily’s mother lets her sleep late and they end up, once again, coming late to the gym. Lauren comments on Emily’s mother’s sleaziness and on Emily’s second bad leotard. The gym has an announcer. Rather than sitting in their own corners preparing for their own routines they cheer each other on. They’re in their designated colors though, no worries there. We don’t get to see Payson’s new floor routine even though it’s supposed to be awesome. Kaylie flashes a smile at the judges. Becca, Payson’s little sister, is in twentieth and is all “I just want to have fun.”

And then LAUREN EATS MAT ON BEAM even though no one should be able to do what she can on four inches of wood. Emily has a shot at top three. Payson cheers for her and everyone joins in. Lauren runs to her dad to fix things and he doesn’t even try to console her.

Payson does the hardest vault of the day, but we don’t actually get to see the olympic preview! Instead we see…Lauren changing Emily’s vault setting. And the fall is truly terrifying as Emily smashes into the beam and lands on her neck. Oddly there doesn’t seem to be a medic around. Lauren’s dad, being super sensitive says “wow, I guess she does have vault issues” which makes it sound like he was the one who sabotaged her.

Emily’s mom tries comforting her as she lies on a couch with her neck propped up. After floundering for words, Emily’s mother says she supports her. While no coach would let her compete before she’s at least seen a medic, Marty says he can’t stand in her way. YES, HE CAN! She sets the board herself this time. Mom’s all proud. She does a perfect vault with no hesitation even though she’s supposed to be scared of it or something. It’s enough to let her win (your two vaults are averaged. What did she score on a single vault to make up for the zero it’s averaged with? Especially considering that a fall on beam is only a .8 deduction.) Point of interest, the results are 62.250 Payson, 60.925 Kaylie, 60.8 Emily, 58.05 Lauren. All three of them scored well. Payson tells Emily she was awesome. Lauren spasms. “This is my whole life” and then she rats on Kaylie and Carter. I guess Kay was right to keep it a secret. Emily vouches with a lie saying Kaylie was helping her with home school stuff so Kaylie’s secret is safe for now.

Steve Tanner pays a little visit to Marty’s office to reveal that while investigating Emily (they’re not Little Girls, they’re Big Business!) he uncovered dirt on Marty. The plan: Marty will head to the Denver gym with the 4-7 ranked gymnasts including Lauren, effectively “gutting” the Rock. The gymnasts discover Marty gone the next day. (Payson is wearing a purple shirt! keyuuute) Becca is now 17th and going to Nationals. Unexpectedly, Payson flips out. “I did everything right! I haven’t had a weekend off my whole childhood!” Lauren continues to be mean–Kaylie shouldn’t be top three, Emily blew the gym to pieces, Emily is inconsistent…

Kaylie says “so what do we do now?” and the lights go off. Which I don’t really get seeing as it’s morning, but point made. CHAOS.

Share this article with your friends