Netflix’s ‘GLOW’ Is A Bonafide Hit

The 1980’s served as the backdrop for some of the most over the top creations we’ve ever seen. One such creation was the Rock and Wrestling connection forged by the WWF. It was this connection that allowed for some of the biggest personalities of the era to shine through. Following the wave of WWF’s success, there was also a smaller wrestling promotion that would go on to make a splash for being the antithesis of WWF. GLOW, or Glorious Ladies Of Wrestling was born, and made way for a new genre of wrestling. Sporting an all woman talent roster, GLOW challenged the status quo of the professional wrestling world, and amassed quite the following in the process.

The perfect thing about Netflix’s GLOW, is that it perfectly encapsulates the nuance women from the promotion may have faced. The show stars Alison Brie as Ruth, a failing, but not yet failed actress living in LA. After crashing and burning in another audition, Ruth takes one last call, from an agent looking for unconventional women. It’s through this call that we meet the rest of the highly diverse group of women who’ll eventually become the main cast of GLOW. Marc Maron plays Sam, a director that was hired by a rich amateur to produce his vision for GLOW.

There are a ton of moving pieces in play, but the story flows so smooth and fluidly that everything just naturally works. The personal aspects of the story are what happened to draw me in the most. In a show primarily about women’s wrestling, it seemed as if that took a backseat to the drama of the story. 

Ruth and Debbie have a particularly complex relationship, starting off as best friends and becoming bitter enemies midway through the season. Watching them struggle to interact while maintaining a working business relationship has to be my favorite part of the show. Ruth is, at her core, a genuinely nice person who has made some terrible decisions along the way. Debbie on the other hand, has had everything gifted to her (or at least it seems that way) and has to learn to deal with life outside of the spotlight. Sam on the other hand, is tasked with keeping the production from falling apart while also dealing with his own personal demons.

While GLOW draws from a real life wrestling promotion, most of the story is fictionalized. For that very reason, Netflix could’ve went the easy way and told this story without the restraints of authenticity. What they did however was masterfully bridge the gap between the pretend wrestling world, and the real in-ring work we see on TV weekly. They did this by consulting with actual pro wrestlers, and had the actresses train with them. There’s also a few choice cameos by several pro wrestlers, so keep your eyes peeled for those!

I went in to GLOW with high expectations, and the show surpassed them. By the time the fourth episode rolled around, I was fully immersed in the universe of GLOW, and invested in the story. The characters are colorful, the moves are hard-hitting, and the drama ramps up consistently throughout the season. This isn’t just a show about a wrestling promotion, it’s a show about women striving to overcome the status quo of 1980’s Hollywood. A show about the interpersonal relationships they form, and dealing with everyday life while on the verge of a major break through. I would highly recommend this series whether you’re a fan of wrestling or not. GLOW sports a great cast, great visuals, and an extremely engaging story.