On the peak of my wrestling and boy band obsession, I wrote a crossover fan fic during which *NSYNC’s Justin Timberlake dated a WWE wrestler who was greatest associates with the Hardy Boyz and Lita. It was not good.
Alternatively, Starz’s upcoming drama Heels (premiering Sunday, Aug. 15 at 9/8c; I’ve seen the primary seven episodes) — created by fellow wrestling fan Michael Waldron (Loki, Physician Unusual within the Multiverse of Insanity) and executive-produced by Mike O’Malley (Survivor’s Regret) — is very good.
Very like NBC’s beloved Friday Night time Lights, which captivated soccer followers and non-fans alike, wrestling information isn’t a prerequisite to grasp and even take pleasure in Heels. The present is a compelling household drama about two brothers simply attempting to maintain the household enterprise — the Duffy Wrestling League — afloat whereas navigating a strained relationship within the wake of their father’s loss of life. Due to its wrestling setting, trade phrases are sprinkled all through however shortly defined, and the viewers is rarely left at nighttime about what any of these unusual phrases (i.e., kayfabe) imply.
Arrow‘s Stephen Amell leads the solid as Jack Spade, a loving father and husband who takes up the function of the heel, or villain, in entrance of the DWL’s stay crowds. Amell, after all, slides into the function naturally — his earlier wrestling expertise is useful right here — and he actually shines within the present’s gorgeous in-ring segments.
In the meantime, Jack’s youthful brother Ace Spade (Vikings’ Alexander Ludwig) is the face, or good man, regardless of his drunken, messy behind-the-scenes antics. You’d by no means inform that Ludwig by no means wrestled earlier than; he oozes charisma and pure athleticism because the cavalier small-town star with huge league goals. Amell and Ludwig educated with legendary wrestler Chavo Guerrero Jr. (stunt coordinator for Netflix’s GLOW and NBC’s Younger Rock) together with native indie wrestlers, and it’s enjoyable to see them in motion all through the collection.
Heels is a superbly shot and well-written love letter to unbiased wrestling, elevated by an ultra-talented appearing ensemble. Chris Bauer (True Blood, The Deuce) is a scene stealer as “Wild Invoice” Hancock, a flamboyant Ric Aptitude/Jake “The Snake” Roberts sort who’s grappling with the unsettling actuality that his greatest wrestling days are far behind him. Shoutout to costume designer Laura Cunningham Bauer for dressing Bauer in flashy matching fits, like a vibrant snakeskin ensemble you’ll want you had in your closet.
Plus, Alison Luff is a refreshing presence as Jack’s supportive however assertive spouse Staci Spade; Mary McCormack is humorous and sardonic as Jack’s enterprise companion Willie; O’Malley is a enjoyable rival as Gully, the hedonistic head of the DWL’s huge league rival promotion Florida Wrestling Dystopia; and Kelli Berglund is an unsung hero as Crystal, Ace’s valet and an aspiring wrestler with an excellent artistic thoughts. I’m ashamed to confess that it took me an entire 5 minutes to acknowledge real-life wrestler CM Punk, who’s unforgettable in his temporary look as native wrestling legend Ricky Rabies. (Bonnie Somerville can be a delight as Ricky’s valet Vicky Rabies!)
A few of my favourite scenes are with Robby Ramos, Allen Maldonado and James Harrison, who’re criminally underused as in-ring vets Diego, Rooster and Apocalypse. They provide a glimpse on the locker room camaraderie that exists inside the wrestling world, and of their restricted display time, seem like far more attention-grabbing and complicated personalities than the present lets on. One of many extra irritating elements of the present is the way in which during which it handles these BIPOC characters, significantly Rooster and the way his legitimate considerations about how Jack books him for matches are regularly disregarded. Rooster is portrayed as boastful and “making it about race,” regardless of all indicators pointing to some type of unconscious bias. The present squanders a giant alternative to have a nuanced dialog about this urgent concern inside the wrestling group and as a substitute focuses on making Jack appear to be the great man in that situation.
With that mentioned, Heels is an entertaining and worthwhile look ahead to wrestling followers and non-wrestling followers alike. Whereas the present’s in-ring segments are fairly cool, the present’s largest promote is the prickly however tight-knit relationship between the Spade brothers, who’ve very completely different goals however stay entwined due to the household enterprise.
Honest warning to wrestling followers: Waldron does take some inventive liberties along with his in-ring segments, particularly with a giant twist you’ll see later within the season, which makes for nice drama even when it isn’t utterly correct, and those that are used to seeing their favorites defy gravity with mind-blowing aerial assaults could also be upset with the extra simplistic strikes supplied within the collection. Nonetheless, the present will get to the guts of wrestling in all of its backbreaking glory whereas delivering a traditional sibling rivalry that serves because the present’s beating coronary heart.
THE TVLINE BOTTOM LINE: Heels is an engrossing wrestling drama backed by complicated characters, dysfunctional household dynamics and common attraction.