'GLOW' season 3 will continue to tackle serious women's issues relevant even today in its own 'unapologetic' way, shares actor Britt Baron
Netflix's 'GLOW' has never shied away from tackling serious issues within the confines of its comedic tone, and it is not going to start any time soon. The show, which tackled polarizing and important issues such as abortion and addiction in the first two seasons, will talk about depression and other mental health issues, in the upcoming season three.
"What sets the show apart and makes it resonate with so many people is its ability to also tackle some serious issues that were not only present in the 1980s but are still being experienced today," Britt Baron, who plays Justine on the show, tells MEA WorldWide (MEAWW).
"I do think that the cast as a whole is always excited about the opportunity to get to take on the serious subject matter. It's a gift in a way because there are so many over-the-top clown-like opportunities on this show for us as actors, where we are in massive hair and makeup screaming to the back row in the wrestling ring, which is bigger than life," she elaborates, adding how that is what makes acting on 'GLOW' a dream job, especially in an industry that often tells women to "just say the lines" or to "do less".
"We are encouraged as actresses to be as big and bold as possible in the ring, but then we are also given these opportunities to tackle some serious grounded gritty issues which help give weight to all of the silliness. It's just the best of both worlds," Baron adds, revealing the show is so good that, regardless of whether she was in it or not, she would have watched it.
She appreciates the show's "unapologetic, campy, yet heartfelt smart, creative tone". It is not only entertaining but also has something to say, which is not all that common for comedy shows.
"GLOW being a comedy does not restrict its willingness to address the real issues that women face. Art provides a special space to reflect, comment, address, and challenge difficult issues within our lives and I am proud to be a part of a show that has bravely and boldly taken its opportunity to move the needle forward. Our show doesn't shy away from whatever challenge it is tackling, whether it be suplexs or sexual harassment," she says.
You cannot help but admire the writers on the show, for getting inspired by a real story with a lot of heart and real wrestling characters in the 1980s. They try to address every one of these women's day-to-day problems from racism to pay inequality in the show.
"It would have felt inauthentic to gloss over or not address the very blatant racial inequality or stereotypes that were not only very much a part of society but very much a part of wrestling characters and storylines which oftentimes were based on stereotypes," she says.
Baron reflects that "at the same time I think 'GLOW' does a great job of not exploiting that. As we have grown as a show, we have been able to dive deeper into these characters' backstories and see them struggle with things like race inequality as well as motherhood, sexuality, and pay inequality."
"Because 'GLOW' takes place in the 1980s, it provides a unique opportunity to address issues like race and gender in a way that reflects problems in today's world but without feeling as polarizing or divisive as a show based in today's world. In a time where our country is so divided, I feel lucky to be a part of a show that, maybe in some way, is helping bridge the gap," says Baron.
Don’t forget to catch up on seasons one and two of 'GLOW' before season three premieres on Netflix on August 9.