Chris: This is an uneasy episode but a necessary one to have especially in the day we live in today where sexual harassment is becoming an issue that’s being gradually spotlighted and rightfully demonized in comparison to when this show took place, where a blind eye was turned or it was excused for whatever reason. The heartbreaking part was when Ruth talked to Betty about it and Betty responded with anger towards Ruth instead of sympathy and support and it furthers the divide that has been displayed in the previous episodes this year. This episode continues the theme of the second season where the struggle of getting the show started had been conquered but the process of making the show and continuing it is just as much of a struggle if not greater. And yes, wrestling fans are weird and sometimes obsessive just as much as obsessive fans of anything. Just think how bad the fan interactions/obsessions would be if GLOW had the social media of today’s society, that’s what modern wrestlers have to deal with on top being spotted on the street or being stalked at the airport.
Alexa: “GLOW” has given us a behind-the-scenes look at the creative side of wrestling shows and the training side. In this episode, we get a look at the business side, and it’s pretty ugly for everyone involved - especially Ruth. It’s uncomfortable enough watching our trio of producers endure an awkward meeting in the lobby of the network offices. But as soon as the host at the restaurant informs Ruth her dinner with the network president will actually be in said president’s hotel room, it’s a kick in the gut because you know exactly where this encounter is headed. What’s perhaps even more devastating than the network president harassing and humiliating Ruth is Debbie’s reaction to it. Of course she’s upset about the network sending the show to the 2 a.m. time slot to die and of course she has one big legitimate reason to be mad at Ruth. But it’s so upsetting to see a woman as strong as Debbie normalize harassment, to brush it off as “just part of the job.” One of the episode’s only heartwarming moments involved Bash going back to his childhood bedroom and coming across a bunch of old wrestling photos still taped to the wall. When we first met him he came across as such a spoiled rich kid, but he’s grown into a truly lovable character. This scene reveals a real, long-held passion for wrestling and shines a light on his motivation for producing the show.
Joel: It’s a tiny moment in the episode as a whole and obviously not the main plotline of this particular episode, but the part that really stuck with me was watching Bash go back to his old room and looking at his wrestling memorabilia. It’s not exactly uncommon trope, to reveal a character’s motivation or backstory through items and posters in their bedroom, but it still can be a great moment when it’s done well, and in this particular case it’s done very well. Bash has been a very excitable and enteretic character throughout the season and a half of the show. We’ve gotten to see how much he’s been enjoying himself, but his long standing, deep love of wrestling really comes into the light here. It’s a really great character moment. Since his introduction, Bash hasn’t exactly seemed qualified to do anything close to producing a show, with his only real asset being his family’s money. He’s excitement but naivety has been the source of a lot of the jokes so far in this show. But here we get a peek at what really drives Bash’s desire to producing specifically a wrestling show. It’s a really touching moment for the character.
Of course the main storyline in this episode is Ruth’s producer meeting in the hotel room. For the first time in the show it feels like Debbie is truly the one in the wrong in the conflict between these two. Yes she’s had moments before where she wasn’t the kindest or most forgiving or understanding person, or where she didn’t approach a situation in the most reasonable way, but given her history with Ruth, it’s always been hard to fault her reaction to any situation no matter what it was. This was the moment where it feels like it doesn’t matter what Ruth and Debbie have been through. This was not the acceptable response to Ruth and maybe for the first time Debbie is truly in the wrong.
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