Heels Preview: a Suplex to the Heart & Soul

Ring bell. Lock up. Headlock. Drop down. Leapfrog… Still with me?

For most these can just be some random words in a random order. For others, it can be the five most common first steps in telling a story. It’s the usual beginning of a scripted, physical dialogue between two (or more) performers sharing a squared theater stage surrounded by a set of ropes rather than curtains.

That’s what pro-wrestling is, much like our favorite TV shows in Breaking Bad, Lost, or Avatar: TLA, it is a set of continuous (and yes, scripted) stories told by an ensemble of diverse characters on a (usually) weekly basis. And no one does a better job at representing how these stories unfold then the cast and crew behind Starz’ drama series Heels, whether it’s in the ring, in the locker room backstage, or beyond that if you’re breaking one of the business’ most important rules (“Don’t take this s**t home with you”).

First premiering in August 2021, out of a script Rick and Morty’s and Loki’s Michael Waldron has been sitting on since 2017, and with a stellar cast led by Arrowverse’s lead actor Stephen Amell and Viking’s breakout star Alexander Ludwig, the show certainly serves as a love-hate letter to wrestling, but at its core Heels is a family drama. Packed with hard-hitting emotion, grappling power dynamics, and just enough off-beat comedy, the series brings themes and messages to its forefront that could be reminiscent of a wide range of classics, from Friday Night Lights and Shameless, to even more recent standouts in Yellowstone and The Bear.

Taking place in a small Georgia town, Heels follows pro-wrestling brothers Jack and Ace Spade (played by Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig, respectively), as they butt each other’s heads and hold each other’s hands when trying to maintain their late father’s legacy and manage his independent wrestling promotion, all the while being its star performers. Struggles follow them out of the ring too, as Jack finds difficulty balancing his life between wrestling, his real job, and family, while Ace faces his own inner demons when blurring the lines between reality and wrestling. The show doesn’t stop at the Spade brothers, as it also follows the trials and tribulations of the family and friends surrounding the small town wrestling league, including Jack's business partner Willie Day (In Plain Sight’s Mary McCormack), who's tasked with babysitting managing Jack's entire roster while still trying to maintain her rocky and strenuous friendship with series loose cannon Wild Bill Hancock (True Bloods’ Chris Bauer), a washed up wrestling vet who refuses to let go of the spotlight.

Being a wrestling fan since childhood, series writer Michael Waldron brings a level of authenticity when breaking down the good, the bad, and the insane of the wrestling landscape, shining a bright light on the art and joy of creating matches and connecting with an audience, while also having a relentless touch when it comes to displaying the deeper and darker side of wrestling, ranging from the light hearted backstage hazing, to the radical and sometimes criminal tactics one would take for personal gain in the business. But the strength in the show lies in the emotion and depth Waldron creates for his characters and their arcs, with some earning our hearts straight out of the pilot episode, while others constantly have us flipping on whether to cheer or boo, all culminating in a ridiculously epic climax in the finale's last 20 minutes, wrapping everything into a nice bow just waiting to be undone with the next season.

All of this couldn't be achieved, however, without the cast behind this show who can sometimes be seen putting their literal blood, sweat, and tears into bringing their separate characters to life. Already having a fair share of experience both in and around the ring, Amell finds a perfect groove when playing Jack, displaying genuine tenacity when trying to prove himself a great wrestler, husband, and father. Ludwig, on the other hand, puts his talent range on full display as Ace, showing that his previous Vikings performance wasn't a one hit wonder. Other standout performances include Alison Luff (Broadway’s Waitress) as Jack’s wife Staci Spade, proving to be the grounded and realistic glue keeping the Spades together while still getting a chance to use her vocal talents on a microphone, Allen Maldonado (Black-ish, The Last O.G.) who shows off raw and ambitious energy as the wrestling workhorse Rooster Robbins, and series breakout Kelli Bergland (Disney’s Lab Rats), having some of the best scenes and chemistry as Ace’s aspiring valet, Crystal. Even showrunner Mike O'Malley puts his acting chops to use as the outlandish (and perhaps meta) rival wrestling promoter Charlie Gully, who may or may not be based off some real-life crazies from wrestling history.

With the show set to return with it’s second season on July 28th, and with season 1 now entirely free on YouTube, now’s a good of a time as any, wrestling fan or not, to see why Heels deserves its time in the ring on the screen.