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20th Jul 2018

One of the best Netflix sports documentaries returns this week

Dave Hanratty

New town. New team. New drama.

Season one of Last Chance U brought one of the most memorable sporting stories of recent years to the small screen in the form of the trials and tribulations of an East Mississippi community college.

Like any great documentary, the story of the EMCC Lions started one way before an unscripted collision course led to wildly compelling drama.

Season two, admittedly, didn’t boast quite the same level of fireworks and perhaps that was a major factor in the decision to focus on a whole new playing field for the next chapter.

All eight episodes of Last Chance U season three arrive this Friday 20 July on Netflix, and this time the show is hitting up the city of Independence, Kansas.

Clip via Netflix

The action will follow the Pirates and coach Jason Brown, who is described as a “sharp-tongued yet compassionate son of Compton, California” which sounds tailor-made for a fly-on-the-wall barn-burner.

Speaking of, here’s what Brown had to say in a recent interview with SB Nation: “Hate me now, love me later.

“It’s true, though, man. I gotta teach these kids a lot more than just football. The real world’s gonna hit ‘em in the mouth in 18 months when they leave my place.

“And if they’re late, they’re gonna end up at McDonald’s and being late there and getting fired.”

So yeah, money on him to steal the limelight over the course of the eight episodes.

An early review of the season promises a “rise from historical mediocrity,” promising that if you like American football, LCU is still worth your attention.

“All the elements that made seasons one and two great are still here,” promises the SB Nation write-up.

“A junior college program, star players that sometimes break your heart, a fiery head coach, and people trying to build their lives.”

Last Chance U returns to Netflix on Friday 20 July