Of all the shows dropping on a streaming-network-near-you this summer, I was most excited about Glow.
Based on a real television show, wacky, wild, and weird (yet still not quite as weird as its source material) Glow is the story of a group of women who come together to create the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, a women’s wrestling television show. While Glow is heavily fictionalized, it has quickly become one of my favorite series, and the second season, which debuted June 29, does not disappoint.
Still need more reasons to get your binge on? Here are five.
1. The Women Are #Badass
I’m the sort of person who watches television for the writing. Yeah, I’m one of those people. Luckily, Glow isn’t just hilarious, synth-pop screen candy… it’s also flush with incredibly well-written, well-acted roles for women.
I’m a big fan of Alison Brie (whose previous credits Mad Men and Community), who stars as down-on-her-luck, aspiring actress Ruth, but I quickly fell in love with Sydelle Noel (Cherry Bang), Sunita Mani (Arthie Premkumar), Britney Young (Carmen Wade), and the rest of the cast. When they’re not dolled up playing their characters in the ring, these women are kicking ass by learning how to wrestle, tackling bullshit stereotypes and expectations, and learning to be a (very weird) family. Go ahead. Try to pick a favorite. I dare you.
2. Soak Up that Sweet, Sweet 80s Nostalgia
I wasn’t born until the 90s, but a steady binge diet of Glow and Stranger Things has got me feeling nostalgic as hell. The soundtrack. The camp. The glitter eyeshadow. The UTI-inducing spandex bodysuits. Workout music videos. Mall crawling. THE HAIR. If you’re not rush shipping legwarmers while watching this show, I question your sanity.
The 80s were also revolutionary for women. This is the era of the first female Supreme Court Justice, Cyndi Lauper’s “She Bop,” Geraldine Ferraro’s groundbreaking vice presidential nomination, Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5, and Sally Ride’s journey to the stars.
3. Glow Packs a Punch... Literally
What I love most about Glow is how it’s not afraid to get gritty. The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling are performers, but they’re also wrestlers and, most importantly, real women. They deal with period cramps, misogyny, sexual harassment, miscarriages, marital problems, and racism.
While I truly hope the show will spotlight some of the more secondary characters (can we get more of Carmen/Machu, please?), Glow so far is not shy about letting women’s experiences be heard.
4. You'll Want to Hit the Gym
HEAR ME OUT. Glow is straight up fitspiration for me. These girls (and the actresses playing them) work to become stunt women. Even the opening credits, with stunning neon animation and Patti Smyth’s headbanger anthem “Warrior," do it for me.
Now tell me you aren’t pumped to lift some weights like a badass.
5. Glow Pays Tribute to #MeToo
In the second season, Glow finally has its #MeToo moment. I won’t spoil it here, but it’s powerful and illustrates the effects abuses of power have on survivors. We need these narratives in culture. Whether we like it or not, we are, at least in part, shaped by stories, and Glow’s got many powerful tales to tell.
Here’s hoping the women of Glow can make it six seasons and a movie.
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