Heels is a show that follows a pair of brothers as they book and star in their local independent wrestling company. Throughout the course of the show, there are a few story arcs that capture the viewer’s attention while also giving glimpses behind the curtain of what it’s like to keep a wrestling promotion going.
Throughout the eight episodes of this Starz series’ debut season, we are treated to several memorable scenes. Here we are going to single out the best scene from each episode. Some of these may be emotional, and some of them may be action-packed. But regardless, they all carry an impact on the episode and the series as a whole.
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8 Jack Shoots on Ace
Paramount Media Networks
Throughout the course of episode one, it is established that Ace is the star babyface of the promotion, but in reality, he is a total jerk to everyone he meets. Despite his brother Jack’s warning to shape up, Ace grows more arrogant after learning a larger company is scouting him.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
Jack initially writes that Ace is set to win the championship, but after learning that Ace plans to leave the company shortly after, there is tension between the brothers leading up to their clash in the ring. When the time came, Jack decided to legitimately attack Ace, locking him in a submission and refusing to let go until Ace tapped out, changing the match’s finish on the fly and humiliating his younger brother.
7 Ace & Jack Stand Together
Paramount Media Networks
Ace would proceed to spiral. Attempting to continue his act, the crowd would turn on him, throwing tissues at him and calling him a crybaby. Shaken by these events, Ace would go on an alcoholic binge, worrying his family and causing a commotion at the local bar’s karaoke night.
Jack and Crystal would find Ace, and while attempting to escort him out, a fight would begin to break out after a patron accused Ace of being a fake. The following fight scene would prove vital to establishing that while the brothers’ relationship may be flawed, they were ready to fight for one another when push came to shove.
6 Ace Turns Heel
During episode three, Jack urges his brother to turn heel and embrace the audience’s hatred. While Ace wishes to be a well-liked person, his attempts at winning the crowd back have failed miserably, and he finds himself without much choice.
After a special guest appearance from CM Punk as Rick Rabies, Ace is featured in the show’s main event and would finally begin to show a darker personality. Being paired with an up-and-coming babyface competitor, Ace would allow the taunts from the crowd to get to him. Showing unsportsmanlike conduct, Ace would brutally attack his opponent and deliver a far more aggressive attitude than he is known for. This dark turn of events would be met with a brief celebration from the boys in the back before the end of the scene glimpses the possibility that Ace may have difficulty separating his character from his real life.
5 The DWL Promo Video
Paramount Media Network
Sometimes, the best scenes to come out of a dramatic show are ones where the cast enjoys a moment of happiness. During episode four, the crew of DWL are struggling to find a way to drum up interest in their product. Jack is distracted by multiple personal events, unable to focus on drawing a script for a promo video.
Ace would begin to take the lead here, helping his brother as inspiration would strike, and the pair would shoot a video where Ace and Crystal would attack Bobby Pin in a convenience gas market. This brawl would take them through the market, outside at the gas pumps, and even finding the pair driving through a car wash. Jack would arrive in character with several roster members to hold the men at bay and promote a match for their next show. Seeing the camaraderie among the men and women that helped make the video come together was a warm glimpse into the magic of the professional wrestling world and a welcome break from the drama.
4 Ace Vs. Bobby Goes Off The Rails
The match between Ace and Bobby inside a steel cage is the big highlight of the episode, but multiple controversial moments lead up to it. Ace is jealous of the attention Crystal has been receiving from the fans, and Bobby requests that she be dumped as his manager and replaced with a new girl. When Jack acquiesces to this demand, Crystal is furious and proceeds to go into business for herself.
During the live show, Ace prepares to fire Crystal when Crystal grabs the mic and verbally fires back at Ace, thus leading to the crowd adoring her even more. This angers Ace to the point that he begins to shoot on Bobby, with Jack unable to stop it without breaking character. Ace would put Bobby in a similar submission that Jack had put Ace in earlier, but this time he wouldn’t stop at merely applying pressure. Ace would brutally break Bobby’s leg, shocking and disgusting the live crowd.
3 Ace Speaks at the Baptism
Close friend, Big Jim’s baby, is having a baptism, and the majority of the DWL roster is present to take part in this important moment. Ace and Jack were hesitant to be present for this occasion for different reasons. Episode six had a strong contender for the best moment in Jack’s interview with Mick Foley, but the best scene in this episode goes to Ace’s touching speech during the ceremony.
Ace would speak of how baptism is a life-long journey and not just a mere moment in a young infant’s life. Ace speaks of his personal life and the demons he’s had to face along the way. Ace would then begin to talk directly to Shelby about how making a mistake doesn’t mean they can’t continue with their lives and that he is more than happy to allow this child into the Duffy family as his godchild. A small touching moment that shows Ace still can redeem himself.
2 Crystal’s Tryout
Throughout the course of the series, Crystal is constantly trying to prove herself as capable in the ring. Aspiring to be a professional wrestler, Crystal asks to join the roster but is turned away by Jack at every turn. Crystal begins to see a real opportunity when open tryouts are being held for potential recruits to the DWL. Citing that anyone is allowed to try, she convinces the team to let her get in the ring.
Wild Bill Hancock would get in the ring, and despite his boisterous and uninvited presence, Crystal had found herself on Bill’s good side, and Bill was willing to work with her and help her look great in front of the team. This made it impossible for Willie to deny Crystal’s place in the ring as later she would vouch for Crystal’s talent, stating she was the best wrestler to attend the tryouts.
1 The Main Event
One of the longer matches featured in the show, the season finale, would see Jack, Ace, and Wild Bill competing for the DWL Heavyweight title in a ladder match. Multiple moments would take place here, with the finish ultimately changing due to controversial events. First, Wild Bill, suffering the effects of heavy drugs, would have to lay down for the remainder of the match after defecating himself. Then a rival promoter, wishing to sabotage the match, would begin throwing tissues at Ace, sparking the crowd to revolt against him once again.
Ace would incredulously accuse his brother of setting this up, and Jack would choose that moment, on top of a ladder, to inform his brother that while this wasn’t his idea now, it was he that orchestrated the original events in episode two. Ace would go into a blind rage, forgetting the match and beginning to shoot on his brother, mercilessly beating him. Crystal would enter the match to calm Ace and save the main event by winning the championship. This would close out the season on a high note, with many wondering what the series’ future may hold for our stars.
