Just when you thought Glow couldn't get any better, season 2 comes along and puts us in a fluorescent '80s style retro headlock that features an awesome soundtrack, decade specific attitude, and excellent costume design straight out of that era. Those of us that grew up during the Reagan presidency can find so much goodness in Glow, it's almost unreal. Hitting on the exploitive nature of low budget old school female wrestling, Glow ups the ante this season and attempts to satirize an entire generation with a sense of nostalgia and great storytelling. And the directors succeed. Like, totally.
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| Blockbuster Video? What is that?!!!! |
This year, the creators do an even better job of showing us the power of dedicated women during their strongest peaks and their weakest lows. Starting off where last season ended, the ladies get a chance to expand on their characters with the amazing Welfare Queen taking a huge part of the spotlight with more development behind her role in Glow. And of course, the adulterous divide between Ruth and Debbie sees new movement, both good and bad. Luckily, Brie and Gilpin have these ladies down pat which in turn makes their personality struggles all the more realistic. They can both be super annoying at times. They're both damaged and flawed in their own ways. That lends to the believability factor behind what they're doing here. Each can be severely unlikable and brash, yet they're each fighting personal demons that seem so tangible. I sympathize with both.
Considering the series is meant to be a comedy, this year digs deep into the dramatic relationships of the already established characters by giving us a natural progression and the high stakes that can come along with doing a physically demanding televised wrestling series. Perfectly produced for a binge watch, the latest 10 episodes are seriously awesome in both comedy and dramatic flair. Only one chapter is slightly misplaced which throws the continuity of the binge off a little but. But, using Alison Brie's full potential this time around, there's a sweet ebb and flow to the way these new parts move from one to the next.
Typically with a second season, you don't know what you're going to get. With Glow, the new episodes are just as good or better than last year because we already know most of the wrestlers. We were introduced during the stellar first round of episodes. So, there's not much more backstory to tell. This year, they're back stronger than before with even more creativity behind their wrestling counterparts.Instead of having them all just sit in place with a repetitious plot, things are changing rapidly for the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling and the personal lives of the more fleshed out support players.
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| Russia is smart, sexy, and sassy. And she doesn't take crap from anyone. |
Honestly, just give Marc Maron an Emmy already. This man can do no wrong. Doing the balancing act between being Glow's lead heel and also being the wild card, he carries the burden of some of the heaviest moments of the show. And when he needs to play the daddy that causes he issues, he has a certain oomph that makes this an even more special series. Watching his Sam Sylvia finally start to redeem himself should put a smile on anyone's face.
Glow is one of the best original series that Netflix has right now. What are you doing? Throw on some spandex and get to it! With a sub-plot that touches on the sexual predator problem in Hollywood, season 2 is a must see!
-CG
