The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling are back on Netflix. Sadly, this show has flown under the radar and I personally think it’s not getting anywhere near the props it deserves. That’s not to say GLOW isn’t being watched; the drama based on the 80s series of the same name is currently the third most viewed Netflix original of the year. Led by Alison Brie and Marc Maron, the cast is diverse and likeable for so many reasons.
Season one ended with a bit of a cliffhanger after a well-choreographed bout between Zoya the Destroya (Brie) and Liberty Belle (Betty Gilpin). The focus of last season was mostly about character creation and selling the idea of women’s wrestling to the networks. This time around, the crew has to maintain their success (as bleak as it may be). The girls end up bound to awful contracts and still have to deal with their dick-of-a-director, Sam (Maron).
Expect the same kind of drama with a little action thrown in intermittently. It sounds like a niche show if you’re new to GLOW; but don’t be mistaken, you don’t have to like professional wrestling to like GLOW. In fact, being a fan of wrestling probably won’t sway your opinion either way. That’s the best part of this show, it’s all-around entertaining. I think it’s the superb acting that makes this show stand out from some of Netflix’s other experiments. GLOW isn’t conventional, it breaks the mold. You rarely get a happy ending. You almost expect things to go wrong at all times, which makes it so much more triumphant when things do go right.
Alison Brie is a shining star, not that she isn’t already one of the go-to women in Hollywood right now. Seriously, I’m not sure how GLOW would make it without someone of her caliber. Ruth is full of life and ambition, regardless of seemingly every circumstance imaginable that tries to bring her down. Her counterpart, Debbie (Gilpin) also goes through the full array of emotions as she deals with her nasty divorce and new role as producer. Every character in the story brings a special personality and some level of depth to the story.
Generally, the season really showcases the relationships between different characters. The rest of the cast is filled with uniquely funny and captivating individuals. Each simultaneously lifts the other up while secretly tearing them down. They laugh together, fight constantly, and try desperately to cement their insane characters against the odds.
The contributors of That Nerd Show loved GLOW, if you couldn’t already tell. It’s rightfully getting critical acclaim and seems to b around for at least a little while longer. You can do the research yourself to see how the actual show ended up, but that might be spoiling the fun. Every thirty-minute episode is filled with intriguing story lines and clever, funny yet racist, soundbites from the announcer. We give GLOW a 9 for being original and well-executed.
