Written by: Kevin Berge
Lucky WWE started the women's revolution before this came out. Might look bad. (Image Courtesy of: WWE.com)
Quick Take: GLOW Season 1 moves quickly and connects to a host of unique characters while celebrating the foundations of professional wrestling. With solid comedy and strong character development, the story moves quickly and resonates with more than just wrestling fans.
***This is a review of the debut season of GLOW which just released on Netflix, focusing on introducing the series to new viewers. There will not be spoilers in the review beyond the basic set-up of the series in its first episode.***
Professional wrestling has a long history that could stand up against many other sports; however, it has not had the most impressive representation in mainstream media. While basketball has He Got Game and The White Shadow and American football has Remember the Titans and Friday Night Lights, only The Wrestler stands tall among the movies about wrestling.
GLOW may be the TV series that wrestling has needed, giving a new perspective to the sport, looking at how women fit into the sport. The series follows the formation of a syndicated women's wrestling promotion in Los Angeles called the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, inspired by the actual promotion .
The series follows fledgling actress Ruth Wilder (Alison Brie) as she joins the project being directed by hack director Sam Sylvia (Marc Maron). Also involved with the promotion are Ruth's best friend and former soap opera star Debbie Eagan (Betty Gilpin), pro actress Cherry Bang (Sydelle Noel), and Carmen Wade (Britney Young).
Created by Liz Flahive (Adult Beginners) and Carly Mensch (Weeds) with the help of Jenji Kohan (Orange is the New Black), this is a series that looks at women's wrestling in the 1980s, exploring the line between the sport as empowering and exploitative for women with a comedic focus that never overwhelms.
This is not a sitcom with few moments that are truly laugh out loud funny, but it follows the recent trend of dramedy on television. In many ways, it takes a similar role to Orange is the New Black, focusing on the characters and their honest yet somewhat over-the-top interactions.
This is one of the best Netflix original series and is easy viewing. It is short and easily engaging enough to be watched in a single sitting, yet it speaks to a variety of issues that can address any viewer whether you are looking for a feminist perspective, a period piece, or just an early look at wrestling.
Professional wrestling has a long history that could stand up against many other sports; however, it has not had the most impressive representation in mainstream media. While basketball has He Got Game and The White Shadow and American football has Remember the Titans and Friday Night Lights, only The Wrestler stands tall among the movies about wrestling.
GLOW may be the TV series that wrestling has needed, giving a new perspective to the sport, looking at how women fit into the sport. The series follows the formation of a syndicated women's wrestling promotion in Los Angeles called the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, inspired by the actual promotion .
The series follows fledgling actress Ruth Wilder (Alison Brie) as she joins the project being directed by hack director Sam Sylvia (Marc Maron). Also involved with the promotion are Ruth's best friend and former soap opera star Debbie Eagan (Betty Gilpin), pro actress Cherry Bang (Sydelle Noel), and Carmen Wade (Britney Young).
Created by Liz Flahive (Adult Beginners) and Carly Mensch (Weeds) with the help of Jenji Kohan (Orange is the New Black), this is a series that looks at women's wrestling in the 1980s, exploring the line between the sport as empowering and exploitative for women with a comedic focus that never overwhelms.
This is not a sitcom with few moments that are truly laugh out loud funny, but it follows the recent trend of dramedy on television. In many ways, it takes a similar role to Orange is the New Black, focusing on the characters and their honest yet somewhat over-the-top interactions.
This is one of the best Netflix original series and is easy viewing. It is short and easily engaging enough to be watched in a single sitting, yet it speaks to a variety of issues that can address any viewer whether you are looking for a feminist perspective, a period piece, or just an early look at wrestling.
This show gets points for having a character who has deep familial ties to wrestling but loses points for not making her Samoan. (Image Courtesy of: nerdist.com)
The cast of the series is great all around. Allison Brie (Community) helps showcase Ruth's growth as an actress and as a person, making her a likable lead. Betty Gilpin (Nurse Jackie) carries Debbie's severe emotional pain throughout the season with a quiet charm. Marc Maron (The Marc Maron Show) close to steals the show in a sleezy but endearing role.
Jackie Tohn (A Futile & Stupid Gesture), Kia Stevens (Impact Wrestling), and Ellen Wong (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) are among the supporting standouts as the core of the GLOW wrestlers. The chemistry between the dysfunctional group is impressive and helps everyone stand out no matter how much their stories are fully explored.
GLOW has an impressive understanding of wrestling at its core. The tone of the show takes its cue from that understanding, exaggerating its messages and idea without it feeling overwhelming. At its core, pro wrestling has always been focused on amplifying issues that fans can relate to which at this time meant a crude focus on racism.
This can make the message of the series at times less than subtle. There is little subtext or visual cues in the series. It is simply driven by strong writing, and the writing is on point. GLOW takes every opportunity to address its characters and realize them in two forms: as people and personas.
As a fan of wrestling, the series' nostalgia affected me the most. It revels in both its time period and professional wrestling's magic. No scenes are more affecting than the performances where the women finally embrace their characters and the action as teamwork between two individuals attempting to tell a complete story.
However, GLOW is truly at its best in its empowerment of the women at the head. This group of "unconventional women" find a common bond through this promotion and become friends through shared experience. Even as they disparage what they are doing, they are taken in by a magic that can be felt throughout the series.
Jackie Tohn (A Futile & Stupid Gesture), Kia Stevens (Impact Wrestling), and Ellen Wong (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) are among the supporting standouts as the core of the GLOW wrestlers. The chemistry between the dysfunctional group is impressive and helps everyone stand out no matter how much their stories are fully explored.
GLOW has an impressive understanding of wrestling at its core. The tone of the show takes its cue from that understanding, exaggerating its messages and idea without it feeling overwhelming. At its core, pro wrestling has always been focused on amplifying issues that fans can relate to which at this time meant a crude focus on racism.
This can make the message of the series at times less than subtle. There is little subtext or visual cues in the series. It is simply driven by strong writing, and the writing is on point. GLOW takes every opportunity to address its characters and realize them in two forms: as people and personas.
As a fan of wrestling, the series' nostalgia affected me the most. It revels in both its time period and professional wrestling's magic. No scenes are more affecting than the performances where the women finally embrace their characters and the action as teamwork between two individuals attempting to tell a complete story.
However, GLOW is truly at its best in its empowerment of the women at the head. This group of "unconventional women" find a common bond through this promotion and become friends through shared experience. Even as they disparage what they are doing, they are taken in by a magic that can be felt throughout the series.