GLOW Season 3 (Review)
GLOW. © 2019 - Netflix/Ali Goldstein
GLOW season three returned triumphantly to Netflix this month. The female-led show following a cast of female pro wrestlers in the '80s kept audiences enraptured each episode, but it also set up season four seamlessly.
The dramedy brought the funny all season long as the girls ride out their Las Vegas residency. The entire cast returns for the season including Ruth, Sam, Bash, and Debbie. This season we see Ruth and Debbie slowly start to mend their wounds, although they don't heal fast enough before new ones are made. Ruth struggles to let go of her acting dreams, while Debbie juggles a career in a man's world and motherhood. Both struggle with time as they begin to realize they're running out of it. That fear is, at times, taken out on each other. Still, the show once again champions female friendship and remains a story about real women and the struggles they face.
The best part about this season is that although Ruth is our main protagonist, each character gets some love and a story arc. Although in past seasons each character received an intro and some background, season three gave us much more. Each storyline is satisfying to viewers, which is quite impressive considering the season is only ten episodes long.
Even better, the show becomes a reflection of both '80s and today's America concerning societal norms and strife. Let's just say the parallels are pretty scary. Everything from homophobia, AIDs, and motherhood to racism and immigration is beautifully woven into the series. One of my favorite storylines followed two of our glamorous wrestlers as they describe the trauma of immigration, asylum, and war. Hard to believe a comedy series could cover such subjects without sacrificing its humor, but that's what GLOW does.
Every script is tight, and somehow finds a way to cover serious topics while remaining true to the comedic nature of the series. Things get heavy, but nothing crosses the line into total drama series darkness. In the end, the idea that these characters from all walks of life could come together to bond and create something beautiful is expanded on deeper levels in meaningful ways.
One major topic covered during the season is something fans have undoubtedly waited for, for the last two seasons; the Sam and Ruth love plot. We've watched these two characters play "will they, won't they" for some time, and this season, we get some relief. Of course, there is no happy ending; there can't be. Still, viewers get some satisfaction in that so much attention is given to their romantic relationship, and it's evident that we have not heard the last of it.
Speaking of the men of GLOW, both Bash and Sam did some growing this season. Bash, now living in fake married bliss with Rhonda, becomes the season's villain when he decides he wants to extend GLOW's residency in Las Vegas. The girls long for Los Angeles, but Bash doesn't give them a real choice in the matter. However, Bash also deals with his own demons this season.
As we all know from seasons past, Bash is Gay, or at least not straight. We see his struggle and watch him go to very dark places as he attempts to fight who he truly is out of fear for his inheritance and safety. Playing the perfect man eats away at him, and it can only get worse.
Sam reconnects with Justine, his long lost daughter who is beginning college. Thanks to her, Sam gets a chance at real directing again. However, it's never rainbows and sunshine for a guy like Sam. Between the debacle with Ruth and a medical emergency, Sam is forced to take a long hard look in the mirror. The downside to this is that we don't get as much Sam as in the past. However, there's nothing to suggest the character leaving for good, so Marc Maron fans, don't fret!
The season ends on a few significant cliffhangers that leave fans excited for a new season rather than upset. The only problem I had with the season was that we didn't get enough Geena Davis! Davis joined the cast as Sandy Devereaux St. Clair, the entertainment director of Las Vegas' Fan-Tan Hotel, where GLOW has a residency. She's an aging showgirl who saw her chance at power in a man's world and took it.
The Oscar winner's performance is flawless as expected, but more importantly, Sandy's character plays a major role in Bash's villainy and Debbie's confidence. She shakes things up, but her guest spot is genuinely a guest spot. The show introduced a few other new characters including Bobby Barnes, a Las Vegas Drag Queen said to be based on the iconic drag queen, Kenny Kerr. Just like Sandy, Bobby adds dynamic to the season. It's because of Bobby that we first see a glimpse of Bash's struggle with his identity, and it's his friendship with Sheila that helps our favorite wolf woman make huge strides of personal growth. (Burn that wig, hunny!)
It's unclear if Sandy and Bobby will somehow return next season, but never say never. Although it would be a small stretch if Sandy returned, the return of Bobby would be more likely. It's hinted that Bobby may finally get to play the "big room" at the Fan-Tan which could mean a growth in his popularity; perhaps leading him to Los Angeles. Still a stretch, but the character has become a fan favorite, and I don't think anyone would mind that T.V. magic.
Netflix has not renewed GLOW for a fourth season. However, considering a new GLOW comic book series just launched, it's hard to imagine the streamer won't. If they don't, we riot and fight for it just like the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling would.
Deanna Gomez is a Cinema and Television Studies lecturer and Editor in Chief of the WODC blog. She helms the Spooky Bitches horror column and is host of The Spooky Bitches Podcast.