‘Heels’ Recap: ‘Who the Hell is the Condamned?’

8/26/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Stephen Amell as Jack Spade in Episode 205 of ‘Heels’ – ‘Who the Hell is the Condamned?’ (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 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.

Respect is something that each and every one of us believes will accompany our rise to the top of our respective career field. After all, we’re at the peak, we are the best and we are doing what we love, and the work that went into obtaining that and the work we put forth in present day… speaks to someone that has earned respect. Because that’s what the best command from the rest of us, and well… it doesn’t take long for us to learn when we’ve obtained our dream… that immediate respect isn’t universal once we’ve settled in. Simply because… there are some who aren’t happy about our rise, and they think we don’t deserve it and need to earn their respect and that means… new and unique fights awaits us.

One where we must creatively earn the respect of some or be direct and point out why we’ve earned our keep and our spot and those particular battles are top of mind today, simply because just about everyone had to deal with them in the next episode of Heels on STARZ. For ‘Who the Hell is the Condamned?’ was a story that picked up shortly after Ace Spade revealed his new character to the world and the joy that the crowd produced over his arrival, brought forth some issues regarding respect. For the Condamned’s arrival was in fact, a Jack Spade writing masterpiece, a kayfabe for the ages, and that… combined with the state fair success should have brought about a great deal of respect from Charlie Gully and his FWD buddies. But alas, it most certainly did not.

Instead, it brought forth ire, since Gully loved to be in the spotlight, and couldn’t stand that Jack Spade figured out how to rob him of that accolade and out write and outwit him on this night, and that led… to a whole lot of disrespect. The kind that involved threats, and enough F-bombs to shock an angry and surly sailor, and the expectation that respect be paid only to Charlie Gully. A move that helped Jack to quickly learn how much the DWL’s outright and meteoric success threatened Charlie Gully and everything he had worked for and if Jack wanted this to go smooth and find a measure of respect from his foe… he would have to earn it in the most unique way imaginable, and that prompted him to start pondering on how best to make that happen.

While Jack worked on that, other folks in the league pondered upon how best to earn respect in this life when we are due it, and it just so happened that Diego Cottonmouth made it clear that sometimes… we need to point out that we are due it in a direct and honest manner. Because Wild Bill continued to make Diego his errand boy in this episode, to the point where Diego was frustrated to no end, because he had paid his dues with Bill, shown his worth and shown that he was an equal, not a Valet. Which prompted him to be direct with Bill about this disrespect, in the only way that Bill understands… with a dash of drama. But it worked and it allowed for Diego to receive his due, hammering home how being honest and asking for what we deserve, will absolutely pay off in spades.

Mike O’Malley and Kelli Berglund as Charlie Gully and Crystal Tyler in Episode 205 of ‘Heels’ – ‘Who the Hell is the Condamned?’ (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

However, it was Crystal’s journey that pointed out that sometimes… we will genuinely need to demand respect from others. Which can be related sometimes… to being too close to someone that hasn’t objectively seen what we’ve accomplished, and that was the scenario that prompted Crystal’s demand here. Because Willie continued to snap at her and pay her accomplishments no mind, and same went for the now burgeoning women’s league and the opportunities that could bring Crystal, and that motivated Crystal to stand up for herself. Wherein she dished some tough talk back at Willie and made clear how far she had come in this journey and how she needed to maintain momentum and have every opportunity to showcase her ability in this male-dominated sport, and well… that earned her some hard respect.

The kind that prompted Willie to come to Jack with one hell of an idea for a script. Because Gully wanted an appearance from the Condamned at the FWD/DWL cross promotion, and what better way to do that, since Ace wasn’t keen on wrestling in Gully’s ring once again, then with an epic storyline for the ages? One that allowed for Crystal Tyler to wrestle in a flagship match and show off her acting skills. Courtesy of a carefully woven script from Jack that saw her turn against the Duffy Wrestling League and sign with Florida Wrestling Dystopia in a manner so epic and so harrowing, that the Condamned had to soar into the ring to save Jack Spade. Who stepped into the ring to sell the story, and while that storyline made Gully quite happy… since he got the drama and attention he wanted, a cameo from the Condamned, and was able to slug Jack Spade in the process, it didn’t earn the DWL the respect Jack was hoping for.

Which also brough forth a powerful lesson, in that… you can’t please them all… and sometimes you won’t earn that respect. But this was also an opportunity to remind us, that hard work and being the best will garner respect, the kind that can be life-changing, as evidenced by the shocker at the end of this story. For in the House of Gully on this night, was a talent scout of sorts. A man named Brooks Rizzo, who was from a budding streamer known as Continuum, and he was there to scout FWD and see what they were all about. But Jack’s writing, Crystal’s performance and the sheer explosion that generated from the crowd, allowed for Brooks to understand the real talent in the ring, and he made contact with Willie. Out of pure respect for their craft and well, that may change everything for the Duffy Wrestling League.

For Brooks and his boss, Jen Lussier, want the next hot thing to stream. Something to build a streaming empire upon, and a down home pro wrestling league might be just that. But the endless and incredible possibilities regarding that aside, this was… another brilliant episode from an outright brilliant series. For this story once again looked at a corner of the human condition that we don’t talk about enough, and how much respect means to us and how hard it can be to grab hold of it when we deserve it. Since we confuse respect with ego and brashness, when in fact… we are owed what we are due, and there are ways to do it that aren’t so Gully-esque, and the show deserves a round of applause for offering up a magnificent life lesson, and for setting the stage for something big. For Continuum has come calling, and that might help fix some of the ugly truths Staci found in this tale and bring peace and stability to the DWL at last. Until next time

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