Critic Reviews

While “On Pointe” forgets some characters from episode to episode, it details the shared experience nicely. Ballet is not easy, we learn.

Despite our objections, On Pointe is still an interesting look at something we usually only see on scripted TV shows, exaggerated to dramatic effect. It shows that the life of a ballet student isn’t nearly as dramatic as what you see on shows like Tiny Pretty Things.

On Pointe doesn’t have the emotional heft of, say, Cheer. Backstories of emotional neglect and physical abuse overcome through athletic prowess and devotion to training were never going to be a mainstay here. But it is uplifting, nevertheless.

There’s certainly enough “reality” programming and phony competition on television, but one does wish there was a little more human anxiety exhibited among the subjects of the series, mostly because its absence feels phony.