Debbie in GLOW is the Friend I'd Never Want

An appreciation post for Betty Gilpin's character on GLOW, Debbie Eagan.

Minor spoilers? Maybe some screenshots from season three in addition to vague references. Oh wait, I talk about her relationship in this season a bit.

Oh, hello! I just finished GLOW's third season. Between the Sheila, Carmen and Bobby of it all, I'd like to express appreciation for the female character currently on television with whom I'd never want to be friends but who I can't help but admire.

This bitch.

Debbie is a former soap star turned sports entertainer (re: wrestling with a pre-planned storyline) turned producer. She is beautiful; when she gets dressed it looks like she had three Kardashian stylists to help her; and she doesn't have an ounce of sympathy anywhere in her toned post-baby body.

​By any account, Debbie's grievances far outweigh her ambitions. Because of this, she takes power, even if she doesn't know what to do with it. She's surrounded by idiots and uses their stupid reactions to her good looks and status to get MORE out of them. She unabashedly steals people's ideas - from her wrestling character to her producing aspirations - and then proceeds to milk them for all they're worth. 

Liberty Belle giving the ole American salute

Also ... might play a better Zoya??

The worst thing you can do to Debbie is underestimate her. Her husband (Rich Sommer) underestimated her, so she turned their house into a flea market. Bash (Chris Lowell), the man-child who bankrolls GLOW, underestimated her and so she became a producer herself to put them on equal footing. Her boyfriend this season (Toby Huss) underestimated her so she scooped him on a big deal she knew he was low-balling. 

Look like an angel, strategize like a demon

So no, Debbie is not a nice person. It's possible that after Ruth (Alison Brie) betrayed her in the first season that she's forgotten how to have friends. Even in the deep, heartwarming conversations she has with coworkers like Cherry (Sydelle Noel) and Tammé (Kia Stevens), they're only really talking about one thing: being a mother. 

But in the midst of watching every good-looking female Democrat in this country trying to kick start a presidential campaign - in the midst of watching all of them doing their darndest to look as friendly and nonthreatening as possible - in the midst of watching them all try to present as unHillary as possible - in the midst of watching women trying to be submissive to prove that they can dominate - it feels really good to watch a female character who doesn't care what it looks like when she takes what she wants.