The weekend has past and please tell me you have experienced season two of Netflix’s GLOW. For me, it was some of the most exhilarating and enjoyable hours of television I’ve so far this year. It’s definitely one of the best TV seasons this year.
Spoilers ahead! You have been informed.
I really loved the first season of GLOW when I watched it last summer but I really, really love its second season. There are moments that I will remember by the end of this year and the pacing of this season was stomach-churning.
The season begins strong with its first episode “Viking Funeral.” The firing of Vicky the Viking is just brutal and cruel. It’s not fair but it’s a realistic reminder of show business and the unjust patriarchy. I hated Sam after this episode.
The next two episodes slowed things down and were probably my least favorite episodes of the season. They’re still good episodes with meaningful storylines. Breakdancing wrestlers, sex-deprived wrestlers and the return of Cherry Bang are cool moments.
But when compared to the rest of the season, these episodes are okay and necessary.
Things heat back up in episode four “Mother of All Matches.” Tammé aka Welfare Queen is the center of this episode. This show has a great supporting cast and it doesn’t even need to rely on the main stars.
This episode proves it. Sure Debbie has a storyline in this episode but Tammé’s personal and professional collide, despite her efforts of trying to separate them.
The set up is that her son will openly disapprove of her career. She’s playing and benefiting from a cruel Black stereotype. Her son understands though that his mother is doing what she loves (acting) and she’s doing it this way because it’s the best if not only option as a Black woman that she has. Three claps for Welfare Queen!
Episode five, weirdly but accurately titled “Perverts are People, Too” raises the tension of the season. Ruth is sexually harassed and possibly almost raped. This is a meaningful storyline that reflects today’s Me Too movement.
It’s also a reminder that sexual abuse has probably been going on in for decades in Hollywood if not since the beginning. Debbie even tells Ruth that she didn’t handle the situation the right way by just leaving. The title also hints that this sexual abuse can be unexpecting as it was for Ruth. These abusers are people.
Episode six “Work the Leg” might be the best episode of the season but you can say that about several of these episodes. “Work the Leg” is the reaction to episode five.
Ruth tells Sam about the harassment. Unlike Debbie, Sam (the man) is not upset with her. He even breaks the window of the man who almost raped her. The episode then concludes with Debbie sniffing cocaine and intentionally breaking Ruth’s leg.
It’s brutal but the tension between Ruth and Debbie doesn’t reach its peak until episode seven “Nothing Shattered.” Debbie has crippled Ruth for the rest of what it ends up being the show’s final season. Debbie and Ruth then argue in a scene that guarantees these actresses and this show some Emmy nominations for next year.
This moment shows how dramatic GLOW can be, despite the TV series being listed as a comedy.
GLOW then leans back onto its comedy roots with the show within the show episode “The Good Twin.” It’s really hilarious and meta. This might be one of the best episodes of the season. Certainly, it’s the most memorable.
The last two episodes respectively “Rosalie” and “Every Potato Has a Receipt” conclude this season well done. Sam and Ruth almost kiss but instead, things remain professional between them. Ruth instead gets with the cameraman but Sam still slows her to co-direct the final episode. Justine goes back home.
Bash reacts poorly to the death of his “friend” and marries Rhonda so she doesn’t get deported. Everyone on the show prepares for its final episode and what life will be like afterward.
The battle royale including male wrestlers was awesome and the twist that crippled Ruth becomes the champion. The bigger shock is that no the show cannot be picked up by another TV network.
However, the show goes live instead. And not just live anywhere but in Las Vegas. GLOW Goes to Las Vegas!
The wait for season three probably won’t be as brutal as Debbie crippling Ruth but it’s going to be tough. Also, well the other cast members ever find out about Ruth’s sexual harassment. Is it fair that she might not ever get justice? No, but I guess that’s reality.
I really loved this season and will be thinking about its messages well into next year, if not for the rest of my life.
Featured Image via Netflix
