Heels Season 2 Episode 1 Review: Ten-Bell Salute
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.
Heels Season 2 Episode 1, “Ten-Bell Salute,” is a gut-wrenching, heartfelt episode highlighting the dynamics between struggling relationships, the importance of family, and inner turmoil.
Picking up right where the Season 1 finale left off, Ace is reeling from Jack’s tissue reveal, Crystal is living it up as the new DWL champion, and Gully is doing what he does best: talking trash.
Through the lens of Jack’s memory, the audience is transported back to the most tragic day for the Spade family after he realizes Ace’s departure from the arena.
We spend the majority of the episode within the flashback as Jack reflects on the families’ actions following Tom’s suicide. It’s an internal battle for Jack as he picks apart his memories one by one, reminiscing on his interactions with Ace and their dynamic before their strained relationship.
After hearing about it in passing moments in Season 1, “Ten-Bell Salute” lays everything on the table and illustrates the determining factors that led to Ace joining the world of wrestling. Despite his father’s ultimate wish for Ace to steer clear of the family business, Tom’s death is the catalyst that drives Ace to the sport.
Witnessing those integral moments broken down on screen is a crucial part of the narrative and an excellent way to fill in missing plot holes while providing a clear overall picture.
Plus, it’s fun to watch Ace and Jack enjoy being around one another without a major conflict.
Jack: I have not missed my dad one day since he shot himself. Not one day.
As the episode progresses, it’s revealed through Tom’s suicide note to Jack that his dying wish was for Ace to be taken care of. It’s an irrefutably rough moment to sit through as it comes at the tail-end of the episode, right after Jack has spent the majority of the hour kicking himself for not being more upset at his father’s death.
Outside of the familial aspect, “Ten-Bell Salute” is enjoyable on many other levels, primarily the revelation of how Crystal became part of the DWL family.
The episode emphasizes Crystal’s love and admiration for the league and how special it means to her to be part of its continued legacy. Like many others in the town, she fell in love with the DWL over the years, forming a deeper connection to the ring as a fan before joining the family.
Seeing those moments in the very beginning allows the audience to have a more profound respect for where she’s at in the current timeline and how far she has come. It further solidifies that she always has the league’s best interest in mind and doesn’t take being a wheel in the machine for granted.
With brotherly bonding, revelations into Tom’s death, and the origin story of Jack’s reign at the DWL, “Ten-Bell Salute” is a terrific opener to the season that encapsulates the real heart of the series: family — both biological and chosen.
That doesn’t, however, change the current situation for Ace and Jack, as the two still have a long way to go before being on common ground again.
Stray Thoughts:
- This episode is a real eye-opener into the many facets of why the DWL is the way it is in the present day. Had Ace not been adamant about joining the going away fight, Jack would’ve never had the idea to keep the league going. Ace’s determination to be part of the family wrestling legacy in any way, shape, or form single-handily saved the DWL from being torn down.
- Ace’s retreat at the end poses the question: how long will he be gone? With only an eight-episode run, it’s unlikely he will stay away for a large portion of the season. But gauging the situation, there’s no telling when we’ll see him enter the ring again.
- It’s lovely to learn through the flashbacks that Willie has been looking out for Crystal way before she even knew who she was. Willie has always been about female empowerment, and I can’t wait to see where her journey takes her this season.
What did you think of this episode of Heels? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Heels airs Fridays at 10/9c on Starz.
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Cade Taylor
Cade Taylor is a television and film critic living in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV. His love for television developed at a young age, with a concentration on queer stories, sitcoms, teen dramas, and science fiction thrillers. In addition, he works full-time as a news producer, telling the stories of Missourians and helming "Produced in the Bi-State," a segment spotlighting actors, musicians, and entertainers from the St. Louis area. He can be reached by email at cade@telltaletv.com.