GLOW - Maybe It's All the Disco

 

Ruth realizes she might be pregnant due to missing her period. She “takes the test” (there’s a nice montage of boredom setting in while she waits in the bathroom) and it comes back positive. After some agonizing over this all happening to her, she requests Sam to take her to an abortion clinic. While this is going on, Mark attempts to reconcile with Debbie and she clearly appears less interested. He wants to make it work, seeing a therapist (if a development comes up that he’s fucking her, I won’t be shocked), and offering to cook for her. Just the previous episode he presented Debbie with divorce papers and she signs them, having sent a copy to her lawyer, despite his ripping apart the ones brought to him.

Ruth and Sam are developing a budding friendship. And quite frankly the two could use a good friend. Ruth accompanies Sam to a venue that might be perfect for GLOW. It was a stripper club with an Aztec motif, and Ruth, despite her passing comments about the place in good humor, is favorable of the establishment…especially when Sam starts communicating to her his vision for the whole set up of the production and how to shoot the show. Sam is also considering ending his sexual relationship with Rhonda. But Rhonda actually breaks it off with him…after period sex with Sam no less! Sam, after realizing Rhonda actually liked him, tries to keep their fling going but Rhonda’s done. Rhonda tells Sam he just wants to remain in their whatever because he’s lonely.

It is Sheila, the She-Wolf’s birthday and the girls are going to make damn sure she attends a party at the skating rink under the disco lights. Ruth is consumed by her pregnancy and a bit nauseous so she can’t stick around at the party. Amusingly Sheila really loves to skate! She’s just out there, so free and happy. Jenny (Ellen Wong) persists in putting together this party, despite Sheila’s reservations. Although she doesn’t get Sheila off the skating rink floor to eat her cake (set up on wolf years!), the girls assure her she did good. It is a small but nicely orchestrated piece for Jenny, one of the ensemble who really hasn’t been given much time or focus. The show, if picked up for a second season, could offer more provided time to the Jennys and Arthies (Arthie’s pad serves as a source of amusement and sight gags for the girls in the locker room) of the cast. Even Melrose has been somewhat reduced. But with only ten episodes in the first season, time is precious in these 30 minute formats. An ensemble benefits from prolonged series. So perhaps this show will have the same following as Orange is the New Black, afforded a nice shelf life to develop the supporting cast.

The entire episode centers significantly on Ruth and her agony. The episode opens with her carefully sitting next to a training Debbie, quite confident since the first show, and by the end she’s staring at a ceiling as her abortion is about to get underway. It’s a roller coaster but Ruth knows quite certainly that this isn’t her time to be a mother…and especially giving birth to Mark’s child. Should she hurt Debbie any more than she already has with her bad decision to have an affair with Mark? Mark does get Debbie to hug him although it looks as if she is just not sure this is what she wants. Debbie’s marriage and life has been turned upside down. She has every right to be angry and hurt. And she should have her time to deal with all of this. Mark can make every concerted effort to repair what he undermined, but she deserves and has a right to take her time to determine if she wants to return to him or not.