GLOW Review: 7 Ups And 2 Downs

6. All Kinds Of 80s Weirdness

GLOW cast
Netflix

In order to properly do justice to the story of GLOW, the series isn't set in the modern day, but rather takes place in Los Angeles, 1985. And boy, does it nail those period details.

The appearances of the characters are the obvious starting point: the personalities are bold, the colours bolder, and the hair even more so than both of them combined. The director is a schlocky, coke-snorting B-movie director. At one Malibu party, there's a robot roving around, offering up weed, condoms, and cocaine - it is a joy to behold. One glorious training montage is set to Dare by Stan Bush, a song from Transformers: The Movie, and it's a series highlight.

It plays up to the various tensions of the time too: it clearly references Reagan-era politics, with one character called 'Welfare Queen'; the main rivalry between Liberty Bell and Zoya the Destroyer entertainingly plays up to the Cold War anxiety.

It grounds the series in its time, adding a period layer to the story which helps enhance the campy fun and sell the story its telling. It's wonderfully weird, and delightfully 80s.

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Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.