GLOW - Rosalie

Bash learns of Florian's death by "pneumonia"

Ruth seemingly commits to cameraman, Russell

Sam gets an unexpected visit from Justine's mother, Rosalie

Bash and Debbie commit to trying to spread word to other potential buyers for their doomed show, coordinating a "whisper" campaign around producers fishing for a show for their station Bash learned from the Muppets. They actually get along quite well, but even as it appears their campaign is effective, getting wasted while the phone rings over and over, Bash receives word from a hospital that Florian, his long-time assistant (who left), has died. He doesn't know how to process this.

Sam now must face the woman he got pregnant with Justine while Ruth awakens to Rosalie (guest-starring Annabella Sciorra) pounding on his door. Sam doesn't want to lose Justine, admitting that he wants to make up for lost time (17 years), but Rosalie insists she returns with her. Attending a dance at her school (featuring 80s hits those my age will know all too well), Justine and her beau, rocker Billy, plot to leave for New York, interrupted by Sam who tries to talk sense to her while Rosalie is impressed by his handling of the situation, convincing their daughter to not flee.

The other ladies prepare to leave their hotel, packing their clothes. The dread of separating is part of the conversation as is Rhonda’s “stalker”, “Cupcake” (Patrick Renna; “The Sandlot”), proposing to her alter ego, “Brittania”. The ladies learn Rhonda has no social security number because she’s in the States illegally, proposing the idea of marrying Cupcake, with Carmen coming up with a storyline that has them wedding in the middle of the wrestling ring! There is a very interesting scene (romantic?) where Yolanda and Arthie talk about continuing to live together after the last GLOW show because the two of them enjoy sharing residence. Sheila even wants to accompany Tammé to acting school while agreeing to help her cloth her own created dolls. These bits and pieces (coinciding with the group smoking a bong) serve as diversions from the main A & B plots of Sam and Ruth realizing developing feelings (at the dance they almost kiss but Ruth flees out of this immediately into the arms of Russell) while Justine states her case for staying with dad because she doesn’t like Rosalie’s step-family & Bash and Debbie hoping to get fresh eyes on their product in the hopes of rescuing GLOW. Again, I love this little show because all of the characters have their moments and receive shine by the writer’s room. The distinct personalities (such as simple as Melanie and Jenny fighting over a jacket while a little later hugging as Melanie mourns losing the GLOW gig) are each very elaborated, with the humor and vulgar language quite parsed and peppered to give the show a charm and appeal (the 80s aesthetic certainly helps) all its own.

Maron and Brie in all their awkwardness and debating feels is fun to watch. But Maron’s discomfort, trying to figure out how to be a father and just a decent human being after a life of selfishness and alternating sex partners, and evolution as Sam, is especially noteworthy. But Brie is my whole heart…I adore seeing her work. Gilpin, also, continues to shine. We are really the benefactors of one hell of a cast. Sciorra, as foul-mouthed Rosalie, admitting to Ruth that her current fiance is uncomplicated, provides the reason Ruth abandons Sam for Russell...good, good stuff.

4/5