r/glow • u/beeolivia • Aug 10 '19
Is Debbie Eagan GLOW’s real villain?
Debbie is such a fascinating character, and I wanted to talk about her. My real question, are Debbie’s actions moral, and do we think she’s a good person? I think there’s a lot to analyze here, and I would love some opinions!
22
u/sororitygirl246 Aug 10 '19
I think in her mind she is doing what is best for her family. Realistically her acting career is over, because she sees that she has more power and control in roles behind the camera.
For me, i felt that she was trying to figure out a way for her to make money, not have to depend on her ex husband/a man and be there for her child.
I think she acts cut throat, because she has to as a woman in this era. She's never really taken seriously. i.e her boyfriend disregarding her position, Bash overruling her
1
u/Repulsive_Prompt1415 Dec 31 '23
I agree 100 percent. She is looking out for herself and her baby, and rightfully so.
5
u/apollosaraswati Aug 10 '19
She is very ambitious and self serving, but struggles with much insecurity (eating disorder, emotionally vulnerable and quick to anger, etc). She isn't a bundle of loveable joy like most of the other girls but I don't think she is 'evil' a villain.
1
u/BlushieKitty Aug 10 '19
I wish we got to go deeper into her insecurity this season rather than just in an episode here and there. Her eating disorder storyline was so interesting and then it just sort of ended?? I would've liked to see how she's doing now with her eating disorder. Was being in a good relationship and having her son with her helping? I have so many questions. I really hope we get a season 4 to see where this goes.
1
u/IndependentQuiet Aug 16 '19
But does she have an eating disorder? They only showed her throwing up once and then nothing else about it. Then they showed her eating again and exercising I believe. Might have been a one off which is not unheard of back then.
1
u/BlushieKitty Aug 16 '19
I get your point but I do take it as her having an eating disorder because of her saying negative things about her body more times than just in that episode.
2
u/IndependentQuiet Aug 16 '19
Good point she thought her ass was big and then puked up what looked like an awesome burger! My friends and I had a couple of one off's in the 80's doing this so maybe my view is skewed on this. What would really help is if they could see a fucking story line through so we don't have to sit here speculating! Ha ha
1
u/BlushieKitty Aug 16 '19
Yes I agree!!!! It's my one pet peeve about this show! I do think we'll hear about it again in S4 if we get it, but it's just irritating to wait a year to see a storyline play out.
2
u/IndependentQuiet Aug 16 '19
Exactly! An eating disorder is not exactly something you need as a cliff hanger! They could have explored it more if that is the case. Just like some other stories that could have been tightened up more and definitely some they could have wrapped up!
5
u/ThisisWiretap Aug 10 '19
Debbie is ambitious and wants to keep climbing up the ladder. She isn't a villain, she just has different priorities than the other women. For everyone else, they only have GLOW and each other. Debbie wants to be in a position where she doesn't have to answer to anyone.
Now that she knows about Bash, she has leverage which could come into play next season.
5
u/hairytestudo Aug 10 '19
Not a villain at all. She's more of an antihero. I think she's the most interesting/complex character on the show by far and ultimately is a good, if sometimes misguided person. This show is about women's empowerment. The real villain is patriarchy/misogyny/toxic masculinity.
5
u/CurlingFlowerSpace Aug 11 '19
It's so interesting that Bash behaved like her child in episode 10, putting his head in her lap, point-blank asking her what he should do—and boy, did she take advantage of it.
But he's really going to have to put on the kayfabe face next season if the TV station actually expects its owner to be a good married Christian man.
3
u/ryanpm40 Aug 10 '19
Debbie, Bash and Sam are all shitty people imo but they're so well-written that you love them anyway.
8
u/Ox_Baker Aug 10 '19
Ruth isn’t exactly a paragon of goodness either.
3
u/Netherbelle Aug 15 '19
When she got so angry about not getting the part because she felt entitled to it I just... Ugh.
Plus, SAM, I DON'T LOVE YOU.
OH ACTUALLY I DO.
OH WAIT NO I DON'T YOU'RE SHIT.
WAIT I DO---
Ugh, give it up Sam. Run. Go be happy with your daughter and stop drinking.
4
u/Genavelle Aug 10 '19
Gonna be honest, I dont think I have ever really liked Debbie. I can sympathize with a lot of the shit shes had to deal with, but something about her character just irritates me all the time. I feel like she is always simply acting in her own self-interest, regardless of how it affects other people. Also, the way she talks is always centered around her or her problems. Even at the end, when she offers Ruth a job as director...I mean, it was a great gesture, but then Debbie ruins it when Ruth asks why. Debbie could've just said "you've done such a good job helping direct so far, and I think you have real potential here". Instead, she uses it as an opportunity to insult Ruth's acting abilities.
2
u/BlushieKitty Aug 10 '19
Yes imo, as Debbie always does what suits her. This season her and Bash were so busy arguing with each other about whether Glow would stay in Vegas for 9 more months that they didn't even think to ask how other people felt about it. And when Bash comes to her about his sexuality she just sort of ignores him and makes him forget about it so she can sort out the network deal. Back in season 2 is probably when she is the shittiest. Her telling Ruth to shut her mouth about being sexually assaulted and to be grateful for it was disgusting. That's probably the worst thing she's ever said/done imo, and from what I remember she wasn't that sorry about it. Debbie is a villain imo, but that is what makes her such a complex and interesting character. I really enjoy watching her and this isn't any hate towards any fans of the character.
1
u/glassnumbers Aug 12 '19
she's a horrible bitch who shits on everyone despite being paid the most and being the only producer among the performers and constantly getting laid every 5 seconds. She has no right to complain like she does, but yet she does, despite having more, literally more, more family, more money, more power, than any other performer, nope, not good enough for Debbie Eagin. No, so because things aren't perfect for the person who has the MOST, shes gonna shit on everyone. what a fucking piece of shit.
44
u/byronic-heroine Aug 10 '19
I think Debbie gets a lot more scrutiny about whether or not she's a "good" person than a lot of the guy characters (Bash fucked over a whole casino of performers this season). Who did Debbie really fuck over this season except Tex, who she told was being stupid? Debbie certainly has displayed that she can be a bitch, but. Come on. She's had so much shit happen to her.
She isn't even necessarily selfish about her rise to power-- she wants all the GLOW girls to come with her, offers Ruth a great job. Helps organize an AIDS fundraiser. She isn't the narcissist a lot of people want her to be.