GLOW Final Season Canceled by Netflix

Television

In another blow to the entertainment industry, Netflix has decided to cancel TV series GLOW in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Deadline exclusive report. The show – about the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling league during its inception in the 1980s – had been renewed for a fourth and final season and had filmed its first episode and part of the second before having to shut down production. Since then, Netflix has been trying to find ways to work around the pandemic restrictions, but it ultimately proved unworkable, as GLOW requires things such as “physical contact, heavy breathing and exertion.” Continuing production was also highly expensive, and for a show that already came with a hefty price tag. On top of that, GLOW wouldn’t be able to release on Netflix until 2022, pushing it further out of viewers’ minds. So, season 3 will have to be the swan song for the kooky wrestlers and their rise to stardom.

That’s a shame. I loved the first season of GLOW; it was hilarious and human, with a great stable of characters and a heroine whom the series refused to let off the hook for her bad deeds. Season 2 was a step down; the tone took a sharp shift in favor of drama, with even Marc Maron – who stole the show in season 1 – losing a lot of his bite and humor. Season 3 marked a big comeback, and until it got into annoying identity politics nonsense in the last few episodes, GLOW was its old self again. Unfortunately, we won’t see a proper denouement for the evolving story and growing characters, yet another sacrifice to the altar of freaking out over a virus with a 97% survival rate. This isn’t Netflix’s fault; I understand their reasoning, and thanks to the corona curveball they’ve been thrown, it doesn’t make financial sense for them to continue. These are the guys who gave Martin Scorsese the money and resources to realize his vision for The Irishman, so I think they deserve the benefit of the doubt on this one. But it sucks just the same, and I feel bad for everyone involved with the show. GLOW deserved better.

Are you bummed that GLOW won’t have a fourth season? What will be the next show on the chopping block? Does the last season of House of Cards make you feel better about it? Let us know in the comments and stick around Geeks + Gamers for more TV news!