10 Striking Similarities Between GLOW And Orange Is The New Black
4. The Humor
Both series are dramedies, so they should combine seriousness with humor, which both do really well.
It's actually quite surprising that Orange is the New Black's more recent seasons are so dark, but still, there's enough humor to make up for the grim, violent, and serious moments. And it's not like GLOW is all fun either - Ruth gets an abortion, Sam learns he has a daughter, etc. Still, the humor is what makes both shows stand out.
The reason for that is both shows are character-driven comedy-dramas. Each episode doesn't go from joke to joke, nor settle for easy laughs. Rather, the jokes are something that just happen. They are natural, an element of the plot. This is all thanks to great character creation, which gives in-show conversations a sense of intimacy needed for an otherwise offensive or controversial joke to land.
Also, the humor is found in the most unlikely moments and places. It comes out of nowhere, in a situation that would otherwise be very serious and tense.