‘Heels’ Recap: ‘Heavy Heads’

8/20/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Chris Bauer as Wild Bill Hancock in Episode 204 of ‘Heels’ – ‘Heavy Heads’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 204 of ‘Heels’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

There are a great many reasons why people tune in to enjoy the hit STARZ series, Heels. For some it is about the sheer fact that at long last, a television show is on the airwaves that presents wrestling in an honest light. Since the sport receives deep respect here and that has allowed for this series to become the definitive wrestling series on television. For others it is about enjoying the deeper themes this show presents to the world. Since it does indeed ponder deeply upon the pursuit of our dreams and what that actually looks like in the real world. But of the many reasons that motivate people to tune into this series, there is one in particular that everyone is eager to experience when they settle in, specifically… the journey that the characters go upon.

For this show features deeply developed characters that experience all the ups and downs that we the audience go through. Giving rise to a powerful sense of relatability and connection with these characters, since we’ve been in their shoes now and again and well… the wonder of the characters, and their realism and their plight is top of mind today… simply because the next episode of this magnificent series put them front and center once again. For ‘Heavy Heads’ was a story that offered up grand reflections for a lot of the characters. The kind that really did feel real and powerful since some of the journeys here offered up perspective on how hard it can be to find a sense of purpose in this life, how scary success can be when you want it so badly… and how sometimes we wonder if we’ve wasted our lives in the pursuit of our dreams.

Feats this story accomplished through three key character journeys in this tale. One of which, involved Crystal Tyler. Because while the Duffy Wrestling League was about to launch its Women’s League at last, Crystal was anything but joyous about it. For it meant that the DWL needed to bring in a ringer, and that made Crystal nervous. For it might expose her inexperience and make her look the fool on stage, but thankfully the arrival of Elle Dorado, did nothing but help Crystal. Since it pushed her to be more and be better, but that didn’t keep the fear of losing the women’s belt and losing her standing as a success story out of her heart. Because we all know there is little in this life that Crystal wants more than to be seen as worthy and wondrous, and it was fascinating to see her experience such fear. But more importantly it did remind us on a fundamental level, that success can be scary, especially when we want it so badly… and hopefully Crystal can find peace or at least balance regarding her standing as champion in the weeks to come.

As for the other characters that offered up some fascinating and relatable life examinations, one of them was Wild Bill Hancock. Simply because he and Diego hit the road to visit a wrestling convention and spread the word about the DWL, and while out there… Bill ran into some old friends from his glory days in the ring. Who were quick to speak ill of wrestling because of the lasting physical and emotional pain it left them with, and well… that deeply unsettled Bill. Since these men spoke to there being more to life than just wrestling and what it has to offer and that pushed Bill into a deeply reflective place. Wherein he began to wonder if the sacrifices he had made in creating his wild image and in rising to the top and sticking to the sport… had forced him to waste precious years and forced him to not experience what life truly might offer, and this was powerful to see. Since there are folks like Bill out there, who have oft pondered upon what the pursuit has done to their lives.

Alexander Ludwig as Ace ‘The Condamned’ Spade in Episode 204 of ‘Heels’ – ‘Heavy Heads’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Regarding the whole concept of pondering upon where we stand in this life, well that was handled by Ace Spade. Who was trying to keep a low profile in town, while he worked to sort his mind out. Because despite being home and feeling loved by his brother through and through… he still didn’t understand his purpose or what he should be doing, he was just convinced that he needed to be away from wrestling, and a day off for Willie allowed for him to spend the afternoon with his nephew and just live for a bit and gain some perspective. In that, wrestling had been good to him, and that… he had put too much stock into what his father wanted versus what he wanted. Which allowed for him realize, he didn’t hate wrestling, he hated how everyone had their own expectations of what kind of wrestler he should be. Which helped him to understand, he could find purpose and freedom and meaning through wrestling, if he did things his way. But more on that in a moment. Because what matters more here, was that Ace’s journey was supremely relatable, since we’ve all been in his shoes, or will be… where we just don’t know where we belong, and a little down time and honesty with ourselves… can help us find that.

But while that made for some amazing and powerful moments, where this episode also impressed, was from a wrestling standpoint and through Jack’s journey. Which tied together since Jack finally found some humility in this particular tale and tried to offer an actual apology to Gully to try and avoid the inevitable. A move inspired by Staci of course, but one that he embraced, only to have it fail. For Gully wasn’t that kind of fellow and expected cross promotion to hit and well, that meant Jack had to begrudgingly write lines for Rooster again and welcome FWD into the house of the DWL. That allowed for Jack’s creativity to shine and for Rooster to finally get some ugliness off of his chest since Jack basically let Rooster speak from the heart via the page, and that also brought about… some epic and amazing matches for certain.

The kind that saw Crystal hold her own in the ring despite her worries, and we finally were able to see exactly how Ricky Rabies earned his unsettling nickname, through an equally as unsettling act. But where the wrestling truly impressed, was by bringing Ace Spade’s journey in this story about full circle. For in the midst of Rooster’s attempts to seal a DWL belt, a mysterious cloaked stranger flew into the ring from the stands above and beat the living hell out of Rooster and his compatriot. A move that drove the crowd wild, as did the theatrics to follow. For this mysterious stranger identified himself as ‘The Condamned’, a dark knight eager for redemption, and it just so happened… that the stranger in question was none other than Ace Spade in disguise. Giving rise to a new chapter in Ace’s journey as a wrestler, and this move also opened up a whole new world of theatrics for the Duffy Wrestling League.

Because just like that… the league is telling stories now and offering up the incredible show that Jack Spade has had in mind for ages, and it’s hitting right with the audience and growing the business. But importantly, the characters are beginning to grow and experience all of life’s little nuances as the dream continues to thrive, and that… made for one compelling and amazing episode. One that kept our attention from beginning to end, and undoubtedly had so many of us cheering when the Condamned dropped into the ring. Because the writing in this episode was simply top-notch, and it offered what we love the most about the show. Time with the people that we relate to and are rooting for and that epic ending, leaves us hungry for more of what is undoubtedly one the finest shows on television right now. So, we can see what comes next for Ace’s attempt at redemption, and for this league as it continues to grow into a force to be reckoned with. Until next time.

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