The Netflix Lounge Club

[2kt09]

I've been wondering, is Glow a show you can get into if you don't watch wrestling? It looks like an interesting show but I've never been a fan of wrestling itself.

It's more of a dramedy that also happens to poke fun at wrestling among other things.

 

[Kane52630]

I wouldn't say poke fun, it definitely gives you an insight of 80s wrestling and wrestling in general.
I've seen a lot of people who weren't fans of wrestling before finally understanding its appeal after watching the show.

 

[Perfect Cell]

Having an interest or knowledge in wrestling will allow you to pick up on the more subtler references, but it isn't necessary for enjoying the show. Pretty much all of the humour or drama is independent from wrestling. Wrestling is just a backdrop that facilitates it. Compare it to a comic book movie, in that sense. Reading the comics beforehand will allow you to pick up on easter eggs or references, but it isn't necessary to allow you to enjoy the movie itself.

 

[Perfect Cell]

I saw this a while back, but was reminded of it recently. There's something incredibly disingenuous about this article:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/real-world-womens-wrestling-behind-new-netflix-show-glow/

Actual women wrestlers are mentioned by name three times, with two of those times being Sasha Banks. And then the rest of the article... yeah. This does not seem to be the celebration of women's wrestling it thinks it is.

 

[Kane52630]

Did Stephanie McMahon herself write that article?

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Episode Four:

Spoiler

This was a fun episode and it only clocked in at 32 minutes surprisingly. Another female director too. Sam is such a ****in' onion of a character. He abuses and chews out the girl's but he was willing to take a beating from Goliath Jackson when he came for his daughter.

I do think that as of this episode they have kinda lost the thread for Ruth's character. Okay, last episode she was key in getting Sam and Bash to patch things up and keep the ship afloat. Okay... What else? Still, the other characters are getting fleshed out and again, they did it well in under an hour. Onto the next one.

 

[Perfect Cell]

Aside from the [blackout]dating tape[/blackout], I think my favourite part of episode 4 was the quick moment where [blackout]Debbie notices Ruth sleeping by the pool. Debbie seems to realize that Ruth has been suffering for her actions, both by being a pariah from the group and from the effects of guilt. It seemed to be the moment where things start to slightly smooth over[/blackout]. At least I hope that was in episode four.... they all start bleeding together after a while. That scene definitely happened though, I didn't imagine it. I think.

It's all a gradual build, because by episode six [blackout]things have softened to enough degree that Debbie has grown to consider Ruth a necessary evil, and someone she can work with. As opposed to KILL KILL KILL[/blackout].

 

[dude stannis]

The start of Episode 4 tricked me into thinking [BLACKOUT]Sheila the She Wolf[/BLACKOUT] was a legit wrestler who was working everyone because she'd been blacklisted or something.

I was actually shocked [BLACKOUT]Bash[/BLACKOUT] went to bat for [BLACKOUT]Machu Pichu[/BLACKOUT] in front of her family like he did.

Episode 5 would've worked for me more if they'd actually built up the storyline of [BLACKOUT]Debbie not getting wrestling at all[/BLACKOUT] and sucking at it before finally piecing what she needed to together.

 

[Perfect Cell]

The start of Episode 4 tricked me into thinking [BLACKOUT]Sheila the She Wolf[/BLACKOUT] was a legit wrestler who was working everyone because she'd been blacklisted or something.

I was actually shocked [BLACKOUT]Bash[/BLACKOUT] went to bat for [BLACKOUT]Machu Pichu[/BLACKOUT] in front of her family like he did.

Episode 5 would've worked for me more if they'd actually built up the storyline of [BLACKOUT]Debbie not getting wrestling at all[/BLACKOUT] and sucking at it before finally piecing what she needed to together.

Yeah, prior to that point, they didn't show much of [BLACKOUT]Debbie's actual wrestling training at all. It was just "she's here now", and then it would show her glaring at Ruth during practices, but not much else. The way it's framed now, it just seems like she's a wrestling savant who grasps the concept right away. Which I don't think was their intent.[/BLACKOUT]

 

[Guts]

So I binged watched the series. Didn't really share my thoughts after finishing each episode. But I can see possible plot threads that could possibly be explored in season 2.

Spoiler

Ruth getting the abortion, Arthie's reaction to the hate and people throwing stuff at her while in the ring, and Sam and Justine's relationship.

Also I think the first scene of season 2 should be based on this.
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[KRYPTON INC.]

Episode Five:

Spoiler

Another fun character building episode. Sam and Ruth are getting closer base don I think commitment to craft oddly. Sam again has great lines but the star of this story was Debbie and her wrestling epiphany. "This is a soap opera. I can do this". As male fans of stuff like super heroes at some point you have to reckon with that kinda basic truth. I mean, if had someone who watched soaps explain the last two years of their favorite show's story and then had a comic reader do the same for any Marvel or D.C. character's book they'd both sound really similar when stripped of the specifics of their genres.

Also, I don't know why but epic 80's pizza boy with the Tears For Fears background music made me laugh so hard. Next up, episode six.

 

[Perfect Cell]

Episode Five:

Spoiler

Another fun character building episode. Sam and Ruth are getting closer base don I think commitment to craft oddly. Sam again has great lines but the star of this story was Debbie and her wrestling epiphany. "This is a soap opera. I can do this". As male fans of stuff like super heroes at some point you have to reckon with that kinda basic truth. I mean, if had someone who watched soaps explain the last two years of their favorite show's story and then had a comic reader do the same for any Marvel or D.C. character's book they'd both sound really similar when stripped of the specifics of their genres.

Also, I don't know why but epic 80's pizza boy with the Tears For Fears background music made me laugh so hard. Next up, episode six.

Pro wrestling really is the ungodly union of soap operas, comics and sport. It's what makes it amazing.

 

[Perfect Cell]

Episode 7:

Spoiler

Like dude stannis mentioned, the season has been subtly building up to the idea that Bash is all smoke and mirrors, and that his wealth is more of an act than anything else. This episode started with a few more direct references to that. After Sam's camera was stolen last episode, Bash balks at the idea of having to replace it, saying that it would have to come out of Sam's salary. And then, during the setup for the first wrestling show, Bash cheaps out on a number of production items, like lighting and sound. He also puts Sam at commentary, and uses Cherry's husband Keith as referee. Finally it's revealed that Bash's mom foots the bill for GLOW, and has since cut him off due to him spending $600,000 on production. So, that came together nicely. To be honest, this is probably my favourite low-key storyline of the series. They built it up well over the course of a few episodes, and never spelled it out directly until the very end... like a good wrestling storyline.

The fact that Carmen's brothers are Brodus Clay and Carlito is one thing, but to have Carlito eating an apple in this episode was a whole other level of wrestling easter egg. He should have spit in the face of someone he found not to be cool.

This episode felt like a climax in many ways, with the first wrestling show, and prior to that, the first real montage of legitimate wrestling training. Episodes prior to this seemed to gloss over the actual wrestling training, focusing on simple holds and nothing else. But this episode had Ruth and Debbie legitimately work through an entire match sequence, and a finisher. It was a nice touch. Also, this episode finally brought (what seems like) a conclusion to Debbie and Mike's marriage... with the worst timing ever.

This was a pretty excellent episode. But they used Dare from the Transformers animated movie soundtrack during the training montage. That's going to end up being the highlight of the ****ing season.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Episode Six:

Spoiler

Gotta love how much this show packs into such short runtimes. Ruth and Sam... Oil and water as people but a great creative duo linked by commitment and a certain level of delusional pretension. The Russian adult bris did not turn out how I expected. Ruth has an excitement about everything that is kinda a super power. This was the first full on cliffhanger type episode ending with Janice stealing the camera for whatever reason. Seven is up next.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Episode Seven:

Spoiler

This one had it all and tickled the cockles of my heart. From the Stan Bush DARE training montage to the GLOW rap with Exodus background music this hit all the right notes. Marion's commentary during the matches, the KKK tag team match... It all hit the spot. It combined obvious irony and comedy with a heartfelt feeling of real rooting for the characters. Also, may I say, there should be more Keith. He's a good low key character.

 

[Perfect Cell]

Episode Seven:

Spoiler

This one had it all and tickled the cockles of my heart. From the Stan Bush DARE training montage to the GLOW rap with Exodus background music this hit all the right notes. Marion's commentary during the matches, the KKK tag team match... It all hit the spot. It combined obvious irony and comedy with a heartfelt feeling of real rooting for the characters. Also, may I say, there should be more Keith. He's a good low key character.

Spoiler

Keith pulling Ruth aside and asking her if she knew what they were going to do next, all while miming to the crowd that he was admonishing her, was really clever. It was a funny way to explain spot calling in wrestling. That, and his horror at the KKK team.

 

[dude stannis]

I finished the season last night by binging Eps 7 to 10, and I have to admit, it was enjoyable show but ultimately vapour.

The GLOW pilot coming together, really feels earned. Even them getting the original venue and Bash paying for high end costumes and the like would've still felt earned, but when you account for how DIY and scrapped together it all was it just gives it that extra fulfilment.

The awkward/gross way they revealed what Jasmine's real purpose for being a Sam fangirl was made me think the writers have heard the weird [BLACKOUT]Vince and Stephanie McMahon stories[/BLACKOUT] and tipped their hat. Also it's kind apt that Mothers and Lovers would probably been a crappy Asylum version of [BLACKOUT]Back to the Future[/BLACKOUT]. Which really lends credence to how much of a hack Sam really is.

[BLACKOUT]Cherry being cast in a TV show[/BLACKOUT] is probably the most pressing plot line. Makes me think that it will go either one of two ways, either she moonlights as a masked character, or [BLACKOUT]the ladies spend a few episodes trying to find actual female pro wrestlers to hire.[/BLACKOUT]

 

[Perfect Cell]

Episode 8:

Spoiler

Well, that episode kicked up the gravitas a notch. As soon as the episode started to focus on everyone's periods ASIDE from Ruth, you knew what was coming. Considering the entire storyline began and ended within one episode, I think they handled things pretty well, all things considered. It was nice to see Sam being actually considerate and caring, even if it was in his own way. His own way involving talking about pulling out and hating kids. It's also interesting to see how Ruth and his relationship has developed in a short time. She went from being someone he was actively annoyed with, to being the person he would turn to for advice. And vice versa.

"What do you mean I don't like you? I just had period sex with you!" - An all-timer.

 

[Perfect Cell]

The site I follow for wrestling news posts a "Rumour Roundup" each day, and this little nugget about the upcoming WWE women's tournament caught my eye:

"There were reportedly mixed reactions to the Mae Young Classic among WWE officials, with some concerned all the competitors weren’t up to the company’s standards for attractiveness."

https://www.cagesideseats.com/2017/7/18/15981640/rumor-roundup-july-18-2017-mae-young-classic-battleground-talking-smack-taya-aaa

...Goddammit, WWE.

 

[Perfect Cell]

I didn't want to triple-post, but I also can't allow my beloved child to drift off into the wilderness.

Episode 9:

Spoiler

Everything in this episode wrapped up a little too conveniently for my tastes. It felt almost like an 80's sitcom resolution... although that may have been intentional. Bash's prickly and conservative mom looks down on wrestling, until Ruth's heartfelt speech turns her around. Which conveniently solves the crisis GLOW was currently facing with their venue. That being sad, it was a very funny episode. Any time a show includes a shot where someone does lines of cocaine off a picture of the Reagans... at an anti-drug fundraiser... fantastic.

The revelation that Justine is Sam's daughter was not necessarily something I saw coming, although maybe I should have. She clearly wasn't infatuated with him like the other wrestlers thought, since she had the pizza boy toy. I'm interested where that storyline goes moving foward, since Sam has shown flashes of earnest sympathy and compassion.

Line of the episode:

Ruth: <motioning to Bash's mother> You should hug her!
Bash: No... we don't do that...

 

[Perfect Cell]

Quadruple post... yay... This thread may have died a peasant's death. We'll find out now, since...

...VOTING IS NOW OPEN FOR AUGUST'S SELECTION.

Vote for the Netflix property you'd like to see put in the spotlight. The voting ends August 1st at midnight eastern.

Some have already cast their votes. The current vote tally is:

Black Mirror - 3 votes.

Vote now, you sons of *****es.

 

[Kane52630]

I'd vote for Black Mirror even though i've already seen it.

 

[Perfect Cell]

So... gonna assume this one's dead. Either way, one last time... This month's selection is:

BLACK MIRROR
​

This can cover the entire run of Black Mirror, so feel free to discuss any season in particular. If you've already watched it, also feel free to share your thoughts on what you've seen.

We'll see how this goes.

 

[Guts]

I've already seen the series. But episode one.

Spoiler

Penny Dreadful's Frankenstein's monster is the Prime Minister and a princess is being held ransom and will be killed unless he has sex with a pig. Instead of society being worried about the princess or hoping she could be rescued before the deadline, they mainly laugh at the ransom and everyone's eyes are glued to the screen when the PM does have sex with a pig.
Also a fun fact. A few years after this episode was released, it was discovered that David Cameron put his genitals into the mouth of a severed pig's head. Without a kidnapping though.

 

[Guts]

If anyone decides to watch the series out of order then I recommend the first episode to watch would be Nosedive.
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