‘Heels’ Rewatch: The Juggling Act

10/15/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

How ‘House Show’ Explores the Juggling Act Dreamers Take Part In

‘Jack, do what you gotta do. Just remember, for the people who love you, all you really gotta do is show up on their big days.’

- Staci Spade

Stephen Amell as Jack Spade in Episode 106 of ‘Heels’ – ‘House Show’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ/Netflix.)

There are a great many benefits that accompany rewatching the shows we love. For instance, it takes us back to a special time in our lives, when we felt the awe and wonder that watching an amazing new show provides us with. Not to mention, we get to enjoy every single stellar moment once again, something we simply cannot do in real life since moments never come again. But above all, we discover new lessons when we go back through our favorite shows, and that is why this rewatch of Heels we are all currently enjoying, is so worthwhile. Because we are quickly learning how layered this show is, and how many amazing lessons it buried within its framework, as evidenced by the next chapter in this story.

For ‘House Show’ is far more than a transitional tale, designed to showcase the characters’ lives and tender moments, as it first appears to be. Instead, it is a powerful think piece regarding another aspect of chasing our dreams that we don’t give much thought to. In that, every dreamer out there, regardless of where they are at in the pursuit of their dream… have to juggle so much. They have to be marketers’ full time; they have to pay the bills and above all… they have to figure out how the hell to keep their loved ones happy. Since there are dreamers that go home to a partner and children and that is no easy task. Because how on earth does one get all of that done? And for that matter, keep their partner happy and give their kids the time and love they need? Well, that’s the other incredible aspect of this episode. In that, it doesn’t answer those questions.

Instead, it just showcases the struggle, and it accomplished that feat by taking us into the maelstrom surrounding Jack Spade. For when we caught up with him in this tale, he was trying to juggle recording a podcast with one of the biggest wrestling podcasters out there, Dickie Valentine, while figuring out how to boost ticket sales for the Fair since they weren’t where they needed to be. Oh, and he had to still make sure to be at the baptism happening in town so he could hear Staci sing, and he needed to spend time with Thomas. Not to mention, he still had to figure out if Wild Bill would feature into any of his plans for the match and the promotional work and well, that alone is a great way to explore what a dreamer has to juggle, because that’s the dreamer’s life right there. Plenty to do, but not enough hours in the day.

Mike O’Malley and Allen Maldonaldo as Charlie Gully and Rooster Robbins in Episode 106 of ‘Heels’ – ‘House Show’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ/Netflix.)

But since this series looks at everything carefully… it showcased how hard this is, and how dreamers often struggle and stumble to make magic happen. Because there aren’t enough hours in the day, and there isn’t enough energy inside of any one person to do all of that and that led to a lot of disasters for Jack. The kind that saw the podcast go nowhere because he went in unprepared to talk about heaver stuff on a podcast known for hitting hard and he missed the baptism and Staci’s song. Which meant, he paid the same price that all dreamers pay somewhere down the line. In that, he was in the doghouse. Because it was impossible for him to juggle all of those tasks and something had to give and this was, a powerful examination of the central theme of this episode.

Because it perfectly put on display the stressful juggling act dreamers take part in, and how they simply cannot juggle it all whether they like it or not. But alas, this is where they thrive, and this is where they survive until they’re at a point where they can enjoy time to do all the things. Which made for a powerful and thoughtful episode, one that was further enhanced by more fallout from Jack’s inability to be everywhere at once, since Rooster took his feathers to Charlie Gully’s Florida Wrestling Dystopia to be heard, and through another exploration in this tale regarding what the dreamer juggles. In that, they will also say and do some ‘stupid shit’ as Wild Bill put it, as they lose themselves within the chase, and it is important for a dreamer… to offer grace to themselves and offer apologies as need. Because that doesn’t make the dumb moment, right, and we saw that happen here through Ace, Crystal, and even Bill. Since they took the time to speak to their shortsightedness.

All of which made, for another brilliant episode of this stunningly brilliant show. Because this is the kind of stuff that no other show about dreams and life has bothered to tackle and who knows if another one ever will. But that aside, it was just powerful to see so many relatable moments on display here and feel seen and heard. Because we either have been in Jack’s shoes or we will be, and it is nice to know that there is a show that can offer catharsis when we go on the hunt for what we want, and it was also beautiful, to see so many people grow here. Because it takes guts to apologize as so many did here, especially for transgressions done in your youth, but it was here, and it was glorious and it once again, leaves us eager to enjoy more of this rewatch. To see what other beauty, lessons, and majestic moments from everyday life, we will enjoy courtesy of one of the smartest shows on television. Until next time.

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