--- title: "GLOW: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/glow/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/glow" critics_score: 76 critics_reviews: 13 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # GLOW (2017): what the critics said Critics' score 76 from 13 reviews: 11 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics like GLOW, and the praise lands in the same places. The ensemble of women is the thing nearly everyone singles out, with Alison Brie’s lead performance picked out repeatedly for its impersonations, vulnerability and lack of vanity. Reviews describe the series as fun and easy to keep watching, and several credit it with treating both the wrestling and its characters seriously rather than as a joke. The 1980s setting, the training sequences and the matches are noted as highlights. The reservations gather around the early episodes. Several reviews find the first hours uneven in tone, with characters hard to warm to, and say the show only settles once the wrestling personas take shape. Empire thinks it overstuffed with characters and only partly delivers on its premise. The i Paper is the coolest voice, calling it unremarkable even after it improves. The spread is fairly narrow: no outright pans, and most reviews sit in the positive range. ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 22 June 2017. The critic calls GLOW a riot of hairspray, Spandex and pure joy, praising its smart, grimy and ludicrous take on 1980s women's wrestling. The review singles out the diverse cast of women expressing themselves powerfully on screen as a standout element. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2017/jun/22/glow-review-a-riotous-portrayal-of-the-piledriving-world-of-womens-wrestling) ## IndieWire — Ben Travers Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 23 June 2017. The critic calls it addictive, fun, and the best way to beat the 2017 heat, with substantive staying power. They single out the vibrant 1980s ensemble comedy and the women's performances in the wrestling world. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/glow-review-netflix-alison-brie-show-of-the-summer-1201846356/) ## Variety — Sonia Saraiya Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 15 June 2017. GLOW is a smart, intimate half-hour series that turns the creation of a synthetic wrestling show into a story of empowerment without self-aggrandizement or nostalgia. Strong lead performances and textured relationships make it a gem that observes its characters pursuing their own agency. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2017/tv/uncategorized/tv-review-glow-netflix-alison-brie-1202466608/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Daniel Fienberg Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 13 June 2017. Netflix's dramedy has shades of Orange Is the New Black in its female ensemble exploring gender roles, anchored by Alison Brie's strong, ego-free performance. It mixes funny and emotional moments while using the wrestling space to examine individuality beyond stereotypes. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/glow-review-1011767/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 20 June 2017. The critic finds it a mostly enjoyable underdog story about women seizing opportunities in a sexist industry. They single out Alison Brie's performance, especially her impersonations and vulnerability. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2017/06/netflix-glow-review.html) ## Empire — Ian Freer Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 15 June 2017. The show delivers an entertaining romp through 1980s female wrestling with strong performances and timely feminist themes wrapped in nostalgic style, but it feels overstuffed with characters and only partly lives up to its promising premise. It ends on a note of winning energy despite some predictability. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/glow-season-1-review/) ## The Times — Hugo Rifkind Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 30 June 2017. The critic describes GLOW as a drama that pretends to condemn but ultimately revels in its subject, comparing it to Boogie Nights, while noting it is better than similar shows from the same stable. The review highlights the focus on Lycra, hair and feminism but questions its overall quality. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/tv-review-hugo-rifkind-on-glow-p5v0fwps3) ## The i Paper — Alex Nelson Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 23 June 2017. The series struggles with tonal confusion and unlikeable characters in early episodes, making it hard to engage with the central story of actresses entering wrestling. It improves later with entertaining matches and an interesting ensemble, though it remains unremarkable overall. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/glow-review-netflix-comedy-drama-74031) ## Paste — David Bixenspan Rating 8.5. 23 June 2017. After initial hesitation, the critic praises how the show respects wrestling and its characters, delivering a bingeable series with an incredible cast and authentic fandom elements that make it some of the best TV of the year. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/wrestling/glow/netflixs-glow-respects-its-characters-and-pro-wres) ## Den of Geek — Catherine Pearson Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 26 June 2017. The critic praises it as hugely fun 80s nostalgia with a strong cast and vibrant characters. They single out Alison Brie's pitch-perfect lead performance and the rousing training and wrestling sequences. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/netflixs-glow-review-2/) ## /Film — Candice Frederick Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 3 July 2017. The critic finds the series empowering and surprising, praising how it centers women and gives them agency in a wrestling narrative, contrasting with typical tropes. The ensemble and 80s soundtrack are highlights. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/551870/glow-review-netflixs-lady-wrestling-drama-is-empowering-and-surprising/) ## The Ringer — Alison Herman Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 23 June 2017. The critic praises GLOW for using its wrestling premise and meta TV-within-a-TV structure to explore unlikable female characters and gender performance in a fresh, comedic way. She singles out the central dynamic between Ruth and Debbie, and Ruth’s embrace of her villainous persona, as particularly rewarding. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2017/06/23/tv/glow-netflix-about-way-more-than-womens-wrestling-515f2dc41983) ## Collider — Allison Keene Rating ★★★ Good — Proceed with cautious optimism. 20 June 2017. The early episodes are rough and uneven with an uneven tone, but the show finds charm as the characters develop their personas, leading to visceral wrestling scenes and emotional moments. [Read the review](https://collider.com/glow-review-netflix/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/glow.md