Remembering GLOW: Netflix's too soon cancelled smash hit
The 80s wrestling romp was one of a kind...and Netflix blew it
Unique. Funny. Memorable. Those are just a few of the words that describe GLOW. Released in 2017, the Netflix original series ran for three spectacular seasons, with each new one better than the last. It was so successful, in fact, Netflix announced a fourth season just a month after season three dropped. But just over a year later, the streaming giant pulled the plug in the midst of production.
It was a shocking, short-sighted move that shook up the streaming world and left fans, cast, and crew flabbergasted, disappointed, and angry. It was a move that, even almost five years later, still has me shaking my head.
Set in 1980s Los Angeles and later Las Vegas, GLOW follows the cast and crew of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling as they try to navigate their professional and personal lives. With stars Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, Marc Maron joined by one of the best supporting casts TV’s ever seen, GLOW is unlike any other show out there. It might sound like a terrible cliche, but it really does have something for everyone.
There’s over-the-top wrestling action, on and off the set hijinx, plenty of laughs, and even some heartfelt moments. Add to that a unique visual style and sharp, jump off the page writing, and it’s no wonder GLOW received multiple Emmy nominations, widespread praise from critics, and impressive Rotten Tomatoes scores from fans.
What really sets it apart, though, is its ensemble cast. Sure, Brie, Gilpin, and Maron are the headliners, but without additions like Chris Lowell, Kate Nash, Sydelle Noel, and Jackie Tohn, the show wouldn’t be the same. And unlike most shows, every last one of GLOW’s characters has a satisfying arc over the course of the series.
You’d think a critically acclaimed, successful, popular, binge-worthy show with a rare blend of comedy, drama, and action having a long run would be a no-brainer. Netflix, apparently, had other ideas. Because in spite of everything, they still cancelled it.
The official reason was a production shutdown because of the COVID pandemic. But I call BS. Yes, it’s true the close quarters nature of the wrestling scenes would’ve presented a challenge. And yes, it’s true that countless shows shut down during the pandemic, but pretty much all of them resumed when it was over.
So why not GLOW?
No one knows for sure, but I’d hazard a guess it had something to do with some cast members speaking up about questionable racially connected storylines. It seems to me Netflix used “COVID reasons” as an excuse to pull the plug to avoid having to deal with any sensitive issues.
That’s just a guess, though. And in the end, GLOW, with its strong, diverse cast, all-too-rare representation of women behind the camera, and cult following came to an unceremonious and unsatisfying conclusion. It was a move that left lots of people frustrated. A move that hurt Netflix’s reputation with creators. A move that resulted in hit shows like The Expanse going to other streamers.
In an endless sea of content, GLOW was truly one of a kind…and Netflix blew it.
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