GLOW - The Dusty Spur

With an ensemble series and freedom (and backing behind those producing it), there is all the potential in the world for developing characters from top to bottom of a casting roll call. And GLOW is gifted with such riches in that regard. I knew going into this show that this was about people not the “art” (*giggle* *snort*) of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. It was about these women, where they come from, who they are, and their commitment to something specific (in this case schlock filmmaker, Sam Sylvia, and his faux wrestling programme). Make fun of the show all you want but those cast in the roles of those wrestling personas are just women trying to make ends meet and give what they have, even if the viewing audience might not realize the efforts, sacrifices, and compromises. Sam Sylvia and Bash arrive at the gym and tell the ladies that they will all be moving to a hotel (the Rusty Spur of the episode’s title). Like a type of sorority, they are in one location, so the training and development of their characters can better be cultivated and nurtured. Debbie is the lone exception to this as she has a baby and is considered the star of the show. That is until the husband returns home after some absence away, with Debbie taking her child and going to the Rusty Spur instead.

With the ensemble, this episode gives some needed exposure to Sheila (Gayle Rankin), completely devoted to her “she wolf” persona. It isn’t that she’s a method acting devotee, though. She explains to Ruth that this is who she is. This Sheila, the She Wolf is her. It isn’t a costume but who she prefers to be. Ruth, to her credit, works hard to get over to Sheila that she wants the two of them to be friends, accepting her for who she is and wishes to be. Being in the same room together has its challenges obviously, particularly considering Sheila prefers to be alone. Having Ruth in the same space will take some getting used to.

Sam provides Tammé Dawson (Kia Stevens) with some video tapes of his movies as “inspiration” when she comes to him with reservations about her persona as “Welfare Queen”, feeling like it is ill-advised and offensive. Sam wants her to look at it from a different perspective…that this is an outlandish and provocative statement their show is making using these stereotypes in an outrageous presentation meant to stir up some attention their way. So Tammé gathers the girls together to watch his “Blood Disco” (sadly I have to admit that if this were legit, I’d probably go out of my way to see it…), startled by a very honest, vulnerable Sam who had recorded a profile for an obvious dating service. He reveals a side they aren’t accustomed to seeing. Cherry’s hubby had joined her in the hotel and makes himself at home much to the ladies’ surprise and somewhat discomfort.

Ruth still doesn’t have a persona, concerned enough to address the problem with Sam. Sam assures her that he’ll come up with something but agrees to pair her with Sheila as a team until a creative solution can be reached. It isn’t for a lack of trying as Ruth tries out various gimmicks with no success to both Sam and Sheila. Meanwhile Ruth takes a sleep on a pool lounge chair as Debbie lays back with her baby, noticing her with this look of confusion on her face. It is a small scene but reflective of the show’s continued foreshadowing of their repairing a damaged friendship. With Sheila opening up to her also, Ruth has began to gain some trust with others, but being that she was having an affair with her best friend’s husband, it will take some time before her “image” is clean of its tarnish.

Sunita Mani and Ellen Wong—as Indian and Asian respectively—also get itty bitty moments to shine as ladies dealing with having to portray stereotypes themselves. I do think the show will give them similar time as Sheila and Tammé. If anything, GLOW has the ensemble mentality in place where individual scenes are dedicated to everyone even one certain characters are highlighted with a degree of special treatment. I can only assume Mani and Wong will have their spotlight eventually as well.

Can’t forget to mention Britney Young’s Carmen. Her pro wrestling legend father and equally plus-sized sons pay a visit to the gym to fetch Carmen from this gig. Goliath Jackson (Winston James Francis) just wants his daughter to meet a respectable husband, get a decent job, and raise a family while Carmen desires to perform as a lady wrestler. Goliath feels strongly she’ll be disrespected and held in low regard. George Murdoch (Tyrus is his pro wrestling name in real life) and Carlos Colón Jr. (he was Carlito in the WWE) are Carmen’s brothers. She states her case and makes a stand, reminding him that if he doesn’t support her she’d leave him…as mother did. Ouch.