Indie Web Series: Step Up: High Water Season 2

The decision to focus on your dream is a path that is hard to follow when surrounded by circumstances that affect individuals directly or indirectly. These particular issues can be influenced by pressures from instructors, family or situations simply out of their control. Step Up: High Water aims to tackle all of these subjects with both great success and insufficiency in their second season.

Step Up: High Water follows the story of the students and faculty of High Water, which is considered Atlanta’s most aggressive performing arts school. Reminiscent of the well-known Fame series, season 2 moves away from all introductions and presents the selected students in preparation for the comeback tour of Sage, played by Ne-Yo, while tackling their different life situations with friends and family. The series also follows the relationships and family struggles of characters that did not have the opportunity to be a part of the big event from High Water.

This is where the series feels like a game of tug and pull since this second storyline does not always work in the show’s favor. The problem is that, when presenting the struggles of the characters of Davis, played by Carlito Olivero, and Rigo, played by Terrence Green, the series starts to feel as though the viewer is watching two separate shows that don’t exactly tie in together with High Water’s storyline. As the only connection between these two characters seems to rely on broken relationships with some of the dancers in the group, the formula is one that does not succeed at full force on its execution.

This does not mean the show should not be recognized in its attempt to showcase the different struggles, especially in the cases of the previously mentioned characters, alongside the character of Odalie, played by Jade Chynoweth. Their situations represent different aspects of how people struggle with society by touching the topics of family peer pressure to continue their legacy, losing a family member due to immigration issues or oppose your family members wishes in order to follow your dreams. It is understandable how relatable to audiences these issues are though the show makes it hard to connect it completely to the main storyline in order to fulfill its purpose.

This could be a result of a mix between problems in the script and in the delivery of the performers. The difficulty lies in the consistency with both, as this season tries to balance out the drama with the entertainment aspect that characterizes the dance industry. Though most cast members succeed to impress in key moments throughout the show, it feels very one-sided as the story unfolds for its audience.

It is safe to say that where the show truly shines is in its artistic expression and choreography. The dance segments showcased in either rehearsals, parties, streets and even the big reveal at the end for Sage’s tour is truly the season's forte. The cinematography adds an element of  spectacle radiance to these performances that truly encompases and enforces the basis of the Step Up franchise, which was created by Duane Adler.

The show counts with a slew of great performers and actors including Eric Graise, Kendra Oyesanya, Marcus Mitchell, Petrice Jones, and Faizon Love, among others. The series also includes the last performance of Naya Rivera as Collette Jones, a teacher who runs the school alongside founder Sage. Rivera tragically passed away on July 8th, 2020 after drowning in Lake Piru, California, and the continuation of her character’s story remains unknown for the creative team. 

The series has also included a list of special guests that range from artists to well-known choreographers in the entertainment industry. These include Rick Ross, Ashley Greene, and Todrick Hall. The season also featured a guest appearance from JaQuel Knight, who is well known for his work with Beyoncé and choreographed episode three titled “Form”. 

The Step Up franchise was launched in 2006 with the first installment under the same name starring Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan, who also serve as the show's executive producers. This spawned four sequels from 2008 to 2014 and a spin-off in 2019 titled Step Up: Year of the Dance, which was largely based in China. The film series has received mixed reviews from critics while grossing a collective total of $650 million.

Youtube announced its plans to develop a tv series based on the franchise in 2016, with this project being the most high budget show for a Youtube original. Season one of Step Up: High Water, created by Holly Soresen, premiered on Youtube Premium on January 31st, 2018 to an overwhelmingly 58 million views and over 2.82 million subscribers. Though the premiere of season 2 set a series record for views, with 11.5 million, Youtube Premium decided to cancel the show, only for Starz to pick up the series, now titled Step Up, for a third season.

Not without its flaws, Step Up: High Water is a good addition to a well known and beloved franchise. It is clear that the art of dance still stands strong and with a new season set on the horizon, the continuation of this series peaks interest after this second installment gave us a taste of the achievements from each student in and out of High Water. The question lies on what will be the focus for the next chapter and how will our characters step up to the challenge.