10 Best New TV Shows Of 2017

8. GLOW

GLOW Netflix Alison Brie
Netflix

Could a TV show based on Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, a promotion that ran in the late-80s out of Las Vegas, really work? The original became known for its over-the-top characters and even more OTT storylines, but somehow the series took those elements and crafted something wholly satisfying.

Coming from a number of Orange is the New Black's writers and producers (including that series' creator, Jenji Kohan), GLOW owes as much to OITNB as it does wrestling, and indeed had a much better year than the prison drama.

Given the source material, it had all of the moments of weirdness and comedy you'd expect. The show was bizarrely funny, thanks to the wrestling personas on display but even more-so the world-weary performance of Marc Maron as manager Sam, and with a runtime of just over 30 minutes per episode was able to work more overtly as a comedy.

However, that runtime didn't hinder it from exploring more dramatic avenues either, especially in the relationship between Alison Brie's Ruth and Betty Gilpin's Debbie, which serves as the heart of the show. The characters are whacky, but it also really makes you care for them and provides a strong emotional core to the series, with moments of poignancy and surprising twists.

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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.