💫🤼‍♀️Let it Glow, Let it Glow: Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling Rev Up For Round Two 💫🤼‍♀️

 Puberty initiated one of the most macabre horror flicks of all time.  Yes, as unsettling as it sounds, Carrie's entrance into womanhood kickstarted the chilling Stephen King tale of unbridled female rage and bloody revenge.  However unpleasant to consider, this curious piece of trivia begs the question:  Is there a mocking negativity associated with the coupling of femininity and the release of power?   Princess Elsa unleashed the "Frozen" powers she had been forced to harness with terrifying results - and we have the song running through our heads to prove it.  Hmmm....Carrie, Elsa....probable arch enemies in wrestling, the one sports spectacle where stereotypes are not only permitted, but fuel the game?  "GLOW," the summer's deliciously entertaining new Netflix watch, not only proudly rides this wave, but also laughingly takes these stereotypes in a playful headlock before promptly flipping them over on their backs, all before they know what hits them.  With the official announcement of a Season Two, fans can bask in the "glow" of anticipation for the riotous fun yet to come.
  GLOW.  A word that brings to mind a plethora of generally unintentional yet somewhat archaically sexist connotations..... a new bride....an expectant mother....a brand of dish soap.  The most prophetic "GLOW" for the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling is the blissfully eighties neon fest that's the opening sequence to the series pilot.  A fluorescent comic strip for children of the decade of excess, this animated intro rather foreshadows the pageantry which "GLOW" simultaneously lampoons and celebrates.  Electric cartoon figures applying lipstick and hairspray in the anticipation of an acrobatic body slam....trash-talk banter between opponents acted out with broad gesture.....caricatures of characters playing out the showdown the panting audience demands.  Wouldn't this be enough voyeuristic fodder to cause a die-hard feminist to gag on her granola, you ask?  Well, before Gloria Steinham has a chance to get her sports bra in a twist, consider what may be an unspoken preconception about wrestling: Expect the unexpected.
   Let's be candid. If Trevor from Homeroom revs up "GLOW" on his Netflix queue, there's a healthy chance it's not for the dramatic denouement - at least not initially.  "GLOW" serves up a generous helping of eye candy.  With enough spandex to wardrobe a Jane Fonda Workout video and enough Aqua-Net to sponsor the 1962 Miss America Pageant, glitz and gloss are abundant, while clothing can be sparse. What sets apart this window dressing, however, is the heartfelt substance behind the glitter.  Each Gorgeous Lady of Wrestling struggles with a hindrance, keeping them pinned down, out of control.  The very crux of the pilot storyline revolves around an industry which renders the artist completely powerless, at the mercy of casting directors and agents.  Throw into the mix being a woman, its accompanying double standards, and enough pent up resentment to rival the Tasmanian Devil.  Wrestling brings a sense of power, control, catharsis, and camaraderie for each of the GLOW ladies respectively.  One unlikely character confides that wrestling is the first activity that makes her feel comfortable in her body, a sentiment that manifests itself in some way or another through each gal.  
  While all audiences may not feel as warm and fuzzy to tune in and celebrate "I am woman, watch me wrestle," a genius aspect of "GLOW" shines through.   Like the predator draws in its prey before she pounces, viewers of all types are lured in to watch the glossy extravaganza before finding themselves sucked into the social aspects addressed.   Don't tell Trevor, but compare the technique to putting some sugar on the spoon with the medicine.  He may not be aware of it, but he's supporting a celebration of the power of femininity, and probably having a grand old time doing it.  Yes, the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, adorned in spangles and sequins for the spectacle in the ring, may be the fantasy of every 7th grade boy, but also the secret wish of every 30-something woman.
  Jesse Ventura has said that "wrestling is ballet with violence."  A representation of the sport as an art form is indeed apt and relevant.  After all, as Chris Jericho articulates reflectively, "if Shakespeare was alive today he would be writing wrestling shows."  The struggling actress protagonist of "GLOW" rigorously explores this notion with relish and pride, joyously embracing control, as the scene becomes set for the series to take off flying.  Now this "glowing" review could spill all those juicy secrets of Season One, but shall stop here as not to spoil all the fun and twisty turns, which are plenty.  In the meantime, enjoy watching the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling give the proverbial middle finger to all who have wronged the underdog.  No need to feel guilty about it.  Just be thankful that the Incredible Hulk never gets PMS.