# Make It or Break It (2009)

> A group of teen gymnasts train relentlessly for Olympic glory while navigating rivalry, romance and family pressure.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/16240

## Facts

- Seasons: 3
- Episodes: 48
- Episode runtime: 44 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: drama
- Created by: Holly Sorensen
- Network: ABC Family
- Cast: Rosa Blasi, Jason Manuel Olazabal, Dondré Whitfield, Chelsea Hobbs, Susan Ward, Peri Gilpin, Johnny Pacar, Anthony Starke
- TMDB rating: 7.5/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1332030/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: none
- Tone: earnest, aspirational, emotional, warm, tense

## What critics say

Critics broadly acclaim the series for its earnest portrayal of teen gymnasts and the intensity of their training and personal pressures.

## Synopsis

Make It or Break It (2009-2012) is an American teen sports drama series created by Holly Sorensen for ABC Family. Set in the world of competitive gymnastics, the show follows a group of teen Olympic hopefuls as they train for their day in the spotlight. Ronnie Cruz (Rosa Blasi) and her son Alex Cruz (Jason Manuel Olazabal) anchor the family side of the story, while Coach McIntire (Dondré Whitfield) drives the demanding regimen of the gym. Alongside them, Emily Kmetko (Chelsea Hobbs), Chloe Kmetko (Susan Ward), Kim Keeler (Peri Gilpin), Damon Young (Johnny Pacar), Steve Tanner (Anthony Starke), Kaylie Cruz (Josie Loren) and Payson Keeler (Ayla Kell) form a tight, competitive circle where each athlete wants the same shot at elite honors. The engine of the series is the grind itself: early morning practice sessions, strict coaching, injuries that threaten careers and the constant comparison of scores at meets. Across three seasons and forty-eight episodes, the show moves at a steady, emotionally open pace, with friendships, romances and family strains playing out between routines. Its tone is earnest and aspirational, with a warm pull toward the sweat and nerves of performance. Fans of Friday Night Lights, Dance Academy and One Tree Hill will find resonance in its young ensemble and its sports-as-coming-of-age heart.

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