After enjoying the first season of Glow, I thought that the second season may water down and not be so good. I was wrong. If anything, it is better and I truly enjoyed it.
In this season, our girls continue to wrestle for the Glow, however, this season is more centred on negotiating their identities and forming relationships, and the show comes as secondary. However, there is still plenty of wrestling for those who enjoy fighting.
Therefore, Ruth (Alison Brie) continues with her attempts to build relationship with Debbie (Betty Gilpin) despite being the cause of her marriage failure, due to her affair with Debbie’s husband. But, it does not work easy and Debbie ends up hurting Ruth and putting her career in the Glow in jeopardy…
However, while the above raises the issue of why attacking the mistress and not the husband, this is not the most memorable moment in terms of relations between women. The most memorable situation is when Ruth refuses to sleep with the big boss of the TV network who then puts show at 2 am and thus clearly signals shutting down of the popular show. Loosing the show clearly means the end of the joint venture and family type of relationship that girls built. It is Debbie that gives Ruth the hard time for not sleeping with the boss or letting him think she will, as she suggests, while it is the male director (Marc Maron as Sam Sylvia) who calls the big boss a dickhead and consoles Ruth, confirming she did the right thing. Indeed, while the viewer can understand Debbie and her disappointment with Ruth, it really becomes too much when she tells her she should have slept with the boss, and thus not expressing any solidarity with women as women. When she then goes on to hurt her, it becomes too much and thus the character of Debbie transforms from the victim to the attacker. This was done really well.
In addition, what is also very memorable is the attempt of Debbie, who managed to become a producer, to fit into the masculine world of production and directing, where women were not taken seriously and especially not the only women trying to run the show. Thus, she has to prove to the men that she is useful and as good as them, which was a few times painful to watch. But, it was educational and I am glad the series showed it so that other girls out there can recognise dismissive behaviour and fight it.
The story continues with attempts to save the show and try to find another network to take them in, and all girls get creative and join in as co-directors in creating a memorable story as well as more tough wrestling. The whole series is a story of women, their identities, careers, ways of bonding and forming friendship as well as a story of women trying to create a successful career in doing what they love without having to compromise anything…
Thank you for reading.