‘Heels’ Rewatch: Barbarians at the Gate

10/22/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

How ‘The Big Bad Fish Man’ Showcases the Fight Dreamers Sometimes Take Part in When They’re Close to the Finish Line

‘Don’t come for my shit, boy.’

- Jack Spade and Tom Spade

Mike O’Malley as Charlie Gully in Episode 107 of ‘Heels’ – ‘The Big Bad Fish Man’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ/Netflix.)

It really is quite amazing; how many different and fantastical misconceptions are out there when it comes to chasing our dreams. Because one would think, with so many people chasing them on the regular, that we wouldn’t have such nonsense. That people would know that chasing your dreams is a difficult venture, and that you will fail along the way and struggle as well for that matter. But nope, we just keep plugging away with the thought that this will be a breeze. Maybe because deep down we know that it won’t be easy and this somehow helps us square that, or maybe ignorance is bliss, truly applies. But thankfully, the tide is changing regarding such perceptions, so that people can chase their dreams in a healthier manner, and the magnificent series Heels, will undoubtedly be remembered for leading the charge on that.

For it has from the very beginning looked at aspects of chasing one’s dream that no story has. Courtesy of moments that echo real life, and through commentary and lessons that showcase this difficult journey, and the next episode of the show excelled at that once again. For ‘The Big Bad Fish Man’ pondered deeply upon the fight that dreamers can very well experience when they get close to achieving it. Because there are so many others out there that want what that dreamer has, and they’re willing to sabotage to have it instead or ensure that someone doesn’t get there before them, and yes… to keep it, one must fight, one must fight hard in fact, by any means necessary. A truth that this episode brought forth, courtesy of Charlie Gully.

Because despite landing Rooster on his roster and of course, enjoying his usual accolades, Gully had concerns. Because he knew full well the weight that Wild Bill threw around, and he knew full well a great match at the State Fair would put his revenue stream in jeopardy. So, he did what any man with access to money and a helicopter would do… he worked to bring down the DWL through humiliation. All by plastering the front of the Duffy Dome with propaganda, the kind to embarrass. Which Jack of course, cared little about. Because he understood what was happening, but Ace… who wanted this match to go well, wasn’t good with it. So… he bought into Charlie’s nonsense and drove himself down to Gully’s mansion to try and do right by the DWL, but really, he walked into a trap.

Stephen Amell, Alexander Ludwig, and Chris Bauer as Jack Spade, Ace Space, and Wild Bill Hancock in Episode 107 of ‘Heels’ – ‘The Big Bad Fish Man’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ/Netflix.)

For this is what Gully wanted. He absolutely wanted to rattle the cage of one of Jack’s biggest stars and get them in his stead. To work that sales pitch, to break things apart, and stay atop the indie wrestling world and therein, came the lesson. Because just like that, the DWL hung in the balance and Jack had a hard call to make when Crystal told him of what was going to happen. For Ace was lured in and ready to jump, and he called Crystal to ask her to come along. Which meant, Jack either had to risk it all to save the league and save its future or let what lie ahead play out and hope for the best. Which is the conundrum a dreamer is faced with when someone tries to muscle in and Jack… decided to fight for what he had built and fight hard.

Which brought him to Florida Dystopia Wrestling as well, where he was able to lay low for a bit until the moment was right, and he could stand on stage and teach Charlie Gully a lesson. All of which, spoke to the reality that if we really want the dream, and everything it can offer… we have to fight for it. We have to be ready to give a Charlie Gully the business and stand tall and make people understand, this is our dream, this is what we want and no one, and I mean no one… is gonna come for our shit, as Tom and Jack so perfectly put it. All of which of served as a powerful way to explore the lesson at hand. Because we don’t think about the parasites that come along or the jealous. But they exist, they are a problem, and they will be near when we are close, and that’s the best part of this episode.

The fact that Jack, and the DWL… are so close. They’re right there, the dream on the horizon and that is beautiful in its own right. But in the here and the now, it was all about the fight, of standing tall when adversity strikes, something Crystal did here as well by going after her shot at wrestling. A move that has its own depth we will break down in the finale rewatch. Because right now, we need to celebrate one of the show’s finest episodes. Courtesy of an amazing script and because of the performances, especially from Mike O’Malley, who plays Gully. Since he basically created a Bond Villain that loves to do blow and drink beers, and he really sold the depth of the character in an episode, that really did offer up a message that few discuss. In that, we can overcome this too when we really believe in what we are doing.

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