Heels is solid drama, and a heartfelt love letter to pro wrestling
Michael Waldron follows up Disney+’s Loki with this wrestling drama starring Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig
TV Reviews Heels
When you first dive into Starz’s latest drama, the small town indie wrestling drama Heels starring Stephen Amell, you’re probably going to get some Friday Night Lights vibes. The show takes a lot of cues from that Jason Katims smash hit. There’s the lived-in feel of Duffy, Georgia, where Amell’s Jack Spade runs the Duffy Wrestling League; the entertaining ensemble of wrestlers, all trying to find their spot in the DWL while hoping for things bigger and better outside of their hometown; the web of secrets and various relationship threads that are amplified by living somewhere where everyone knows who you are; even the score is clearly inspired by Explosions In The Sky. Heels isn’t nearly as assured as the show it shares a wavelength with, but across the four episodes screened for review, it certainly builds itself into a compelling portrait of small town wrestling and relationships.
The series premiere drops us right into the heart of a DWL show. Every week a rowdy crowd piles into “The Dome,” a grimy warehouse that looks like it’s on its last legs, to give themselves over to the fantastical fiction of pro wrestling. It doesn’t matter that they know Jack and his younger brother Ace (Alexander Ludwig) from around town, what matters is that they see a heel and a face (a bad guy and a good guy) and they all believe in the power of this kind of storytelling.
The premiere is a little shaky because, like so many pilots these days, it spends too much time trying to convey every little bit of information about these characters and this town rather than just letting the plot and action do the talking. It’s a rather plodding first hour, though not without its moments. We’re introduced to Jack, who’s desperately trying to keep DWL, which he inherited from his father, from going under. His younger brother Ace is a rising star, putting butts in seats, but he’s also egotistical and a typical “loose cannon,” which means he’s difficult to control. Plus, DWL has some competition now in FWD, a promotion whose ECW-esque blood and violence runs contrary to the family-friendly show the Spades pride themselves on.
Not only is The Dome falling apart, with smoke machines breaking and ceilings in need of repairs, but Jack’s home life is in a state of constant strain. Finances are tight, wrestling doesn’t pay the bills, and Jack’s wife Staci (Alison Luff) is desperately trying to support her husband’s vision while also imagining a life for herself outside of raising kids and going to wrestling shows. The Spades’ marriage isn’t quite the central relationship in the show because there’s a lot going on with the whole ensemble, but it’s great to see Heels treat Staci and Jack like a living and breathing married couple. The problems they face are certainly well-worn tropes when it comes to dramas set in a small town, but the show refuses to go down the road of endless bickering and stubbornness. Jack and Staci discuss their problems, their hopes and dreams, and they support each other while disagreeing with each other. That relationship grounds a lot of the more melodramatic moments that pop up in the early episodes, acting as a nice anchor so that the other storylines can more freely play up the comedy or the pro wrestling ridiculousness.
Even though the pilot doesn’t fully pull you in, together, the first four episodes do a great job of filling in everyone’s stories while complicating and challenging the rather stereotypical characters introduced in the first episode. Heels finds its legs by engaging fruitfully with backstory and motivation and the way the past influences the present. We quickly learn that Jack and Ace’s father died by suicide less than a year ago, but the full impact of his death on the family, the business, and the town is still being understood four episodes in. Similar attention is paid to the rest of the characters, no matter how small—from Bobby, a new wrestler who’s traveled from Texas in the hopes of getting his shot in DWL, to Crystal, Ace’s valet who’s itching to show that she can wrestle and not just be a piece of arm candy. We might have certain assumptions about them, or the show might be presenting them in a way that’s rather one-dimensional, but over time Heels peels back layer after layer to give us something more substantial. These character revelations and its emotional beats aren’t always subtle, but for the most part, they do feel honest and come from a place that’s organic.
But while there’s plenty of drama, Heels might work best as a workplace comedy. DWL’s cast of wrestlers, and the people portraying them, have a wonderful chemistry that brings every scene in the shady Dome to life, and there’s even a wonderfully hilarious cameo from a former superstar of the industry (and potential new AEW signing?) that’ll leave you wanting to spend a lot more time in this particular locker room. Heels doesn’t always expertly portray the world of professional wrestling, but it does a wonderful job of capturing what makes it so special. In its own way, the series operates a lot like professional wrestling. From a distance you can see the stereotypical characters, the good vs. evil dichotomy, and larger-than-life drama. But give it time, and dig a little deeper, and soon you’ll find yourself emotionally invested in a bunch of misfit weirdos throwing fake punches while dressed in spandex.
33 Comments
I just want GLOW back.
Heels, or as it will be known, “You know, the show that’s not Glow.”
obligatory:
Punk’s involvement makes me think this will be worth it. Not “subscribe to Starz” worth it, but worth it.
I wonder if doing this show gave him the itch to get back in.
August 20th, AEW Rampage is being advertised as “The First Dance.” They sold out the United Center for it (even WWE doesn’t run that building), in Punk’s hometown, and Darby Allin gave a promo last week saying that he’ll face anyone, even if you’re “the Best in the World.” I like the odds.
I’m just gonna binge them when P-Valley drops as well.
Ugh, I hate him. I genuinely hope Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan arrives and succeeds in AEW, but Punk and his cult of fanboy neckbeards suuuuuck.
I used to really love Punk until the Colt Cabana business and his utter lack of humbling by his embarrassing stint in UFC made me realize that he’s so good at playing a smug, self-righteous jackass because he simply is one.Although he still gets points for dunking on Joey Ryan. What a fucking disappointment that guy turned out to be.
Punk is in no way shape or form as loathsome as Joey Ryan, Patrick Clark or the myriad of other sexual abusers in wrestling. But he still sucks.
If this can be as good as GLOW was I’m game. I know Amell’s a big wrestling fan so it’ll be curious to see how wrestling is treated on the show.
I am still incredibly salty the bastards at Netflix cancelled GLOW even after approving the final season. At least give us finale movie! You got money, I know you can afford it!
Alison Brie is in it?
I really enjoyed GLOW, but it stopped being a wrestling show pretty early in season 2. Would have liked them to spend a little more time there.
From what I read that’s because of the toll the wrestling was taking on the actors’ bodies.
I imagine Amell wouldn’t sign on unless it was treated as respectfully and insightfully as it appears to be, given that he’s not only a fan, but has actually wrestled legitimately solid matches on national shows
YOU HAVE FAILED THIS CITY+Wrestling= I’m in
In case this would be of interest to anyone, here’s a low budget mockumentary that covers similar ground:
This sequel to GLOW looks cool
Hey, it’s Mary McCormack!
I’m sure this show is fine but it just reminded me that GLOW is cancelled and now I’m sad.
It’ll be interesting to see if they can pull off a wrestling show that isn’t (like G.L.O.W. about a bunch of newbies to the sport/form. Amell is a good choice, he’s has solid matches in both WWE and AEW.
Shoulda been called Friday Night Tights
I dunno as a lapsed wrestling fan the trailer looked cringe and schlocky as hell
So this is what Valhalla is to Bjorn? Interesting…Glad this series is getting a positive review. Always liked Amell.
The way the promotion was described reminds me of the old Texas promotion World Class Championship Wrestling in its last days. The old Sportatorium was pretty decrepit at the end. It was the promotion that Stone Cold Steve Austin got his start.
Is it just me, or is the AV Club barely putting out any new material these days? I’m seeing like one or two reviews per day when it used to be five or six.I, for one, would love to see some Tuca and Bertie coverage, a show that is KILLING it right now.
So, Mary McCormack is in the picture, and has been promoting it on Twitter, but I have no idea what kind of character she is playing, and no one seems to be mentioning her in the reviews. If I am going to give this show a shot, it will be largely because she’s in it. She’s a well-known name, so I am not sure why no one is talking about her role on the show, unless she’s a tertiary or less character.
From reviews I’ve read and cast/crew interviews I’ve seen, I believe Mrs. McCormack is playing a behind the scenes the producer that keeps things flowing backstage. I guess the pro wrestling equivalent of an assistant director?
After watched the first episode. She is definitely more important than a tertiary character.
But is the salmon ladder a face or a heel?
Yes
The picture at the top highlight’s Stephen Amell’s secret superpower. His default “sad puppy” expression makes it impossible to get annoyed at him, no matter how awful the material he is working with. Hence we got 7 seasons of Arrow but only 3 good ones.