Coup D'État

**"Coup D'État"** is the first episode of the first season of *Dare Me*, and the first episode of the series overall.

## Synopsis

A small-town cheerleading squad is rocked by disturbing events when a new coach arrives.

Beth takes an immediate dislike to Coach French, sizing her up as a threat to her standing with the squad - and with her BFF Addy.

## Plot

**SPOILERS AHEAD**"There's something dangerous about the boredom of teenage girls. Coach said that once." - Addy

The episode begins on a late night ride around a neighbourhood kind of setting, as Addy drives around, it appears she is looking for something or someone.

The scene cuts to a compilation of clips of the squad living their lives on the team, cheering, in the locker rooms... As the narrator, Addy introduces us to the relationship between the squad and the new coach, Colette French. She describes the way Coach perceived them, beneath everything superficial, as if she felt that they had always been waiting for her. "It was fucking beautiful. Until it went too far.".

Back to Addy in her car, her phone buzzes with messages from Beth, her best friend, that had been trying to get in touch with her. There's blood on Addy's hands. She's parked in front of Colette's house, and the suspens rises as someone else's hand hits the car's window.

Change of scenery - Three months earlier.

Sweet bonding moment between Beth and Addy, enjoying their summer break, stealing liquor from a small gas station, then running back to Beth's car.

They are later joined by Addy's friend Michael and another young man throwing a football at each other in a parking lot, as the marine's recruiters get off of a bus accompanied by Sarge Will. The two young girls show off some cheer skills and Addy talks about how their new 28 years old, coach Colette French, might get them to Regionals. Beth makes a comment about how Coach's name sounds like a porn star's name. She also expresses her fear of loosing 'her' squad, as she is the cheer captain and has been coaching the team so far.

The squad meets up on the field to work out under Beth's lead, where we are first introduced to the fitness and dieting culture perpetuated in the cheerleading world, with body dysmorphia, eating disorders, extreme work outs and more. This topic is discretely explored all along this season, portraying it something 'normal' in this setting.

## Cast

* Herizen Guardiola as Addy Hanlon
* Marlo Kelly as Beth Cassidy
* Rob Heaps as Matt French
* Zach Roerig as Sarge Will Mosley
* Paul Fitzgerald as Bert Cassidy
* Antonio J. Bell as Michael Slocum
* Amanda Brugel as Faith Hanlon
* Tammy Blanchard as Lana Cassidy
* Tamberla Perry as J.J. Curtis

Co-Starring* Taveeta Szymanowicz as RiRi Curtis
* Addyson Douglas as Emily Diaz
* Erika Prevost as Brianna Bradley
* Brittany Raymond as Cori Ross
* Brittany Teo as Tess Lynn
* Adrian Walters as Jimmy Tibbs
* Dylan Colton as Jordy Jones
* Tyssen Smith as Tristan Lewis
* Mika Amonsen as Gregory Prine
* Patric Masurkevitch as Cashier
* Callum Lurie as Catholic Patrick
* Greg White as Patrick's Dad
* Geraldine Ronan as Patrick's Mom
* Bria Grace Mitchell as Cheer Squad #1
* Brittany Spiteri as Cheer Squad #2
* Haley Chau as Cheer Squad #3
* Kaden Hebb as Cheer Squad #4
* Megan Hunter as Cheer Squad #5
* Ella Choi as Cheer Rookie #1
* Hannah Roberts as Cheer Rookie #2
* Hannah Sheppard as Cheer Rookie #3

## Trivia

* USA released the pilot episode online one week prior to its television debut.

## Gallery

* Promotional
* Screencaps