Heels Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Heavy Heads

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 4, “Heavy Heads,” is an amusing hour as the series propels the world of wrestling at the DWL forward with their brand-new women’s division.

This episode touches on multiple storylines but focuses on expanding Crystal’s talents while appeasing Gully by giving in to his threats and preparing for their cross-promotion.

Cross-Promotion or Bust

As much as I dislike Gully, it’s wildly entertaining to see Jack have to own up to his actions. Jack lives in a world where he believes his toxic masculinity shouldn’t matter and consequences for his actions should be minimal.

While the two wrestling leagues have varying styles and principals, it’s hard to argue that the cross-promotion won’t be fun. One facet this allows the series to explore more in-depth is Rooster’s departure from the DWL.

It’s easy to write Rooster off as a traitor for switching to the FWD, but Jack has failed to look back at his own actions. Being a family-grown league, Jack and Ace received a majority of the spotlight, despite Rooster giving his time and energy for years before Ace’s presence.

When a good employee leaves after years of loyal service, nine times out of ten, there’s a valid reason. Roosters was his inability to progress within the DWL and his drive to become a champion. Had he not sat down with Jack before writing the DWL and FWD promotion, it’s clear he would’ve been pushed to the side just like he was during his time under Jack.

Rooster: You’re Yertle, Jack. King Turtle sitting on a throne held up by a stack of other turtles, but instead of realizing that he’s standing on the back of 157 people, he’s pissed ’cause there’s still birds and shit still higher up.

It’s genuinely such a joy that viewers are getting to see more of Rooster within the wrestling world and outside of it. I hope by the end of the season, we either get a moment of clarity from Jack, and he invites Rooster back with a leading role, or we see him genuinely apologize to Rooster for his actions while they worked with one another.

Who is the Condamned?

While it’s clear that Ace would always return to wrestling, it feels a bit premature for it to happen at the end of “Heavy Heads.”

We’re nearing the halfway point of the season, and it feels like Ace has done the minimum in his self-reflecting or attempting to find a spark outside of wrestling.

The series is taking a step back by having Ace return to the ring prematurely. His return to town should have been in episodes six or seven after he’s spent adequate time trying to find himself. Ace needs more than a few days to find his position in life without the sport before being thrown back in, but being around Jack, that will never happen.

The only memorable thing about Ace’s presence in “Heavy Heads” are the moments between him and Thomas. Since his father’s death, he’s made wrestling the forefront of his life and upheld King Spade’s legacy as something to be revered and worth attempting to achieve.

When Thomas drops King Spade’s crown into the crowded highway, it’s the only moment it feels Ace could finally get past that sentiment. Playing with Thomas and goofing off is genuinely the happiest the audience has seen him in a long time. I hope the series doesn’t speed past that simply in an attempt to get Ace back in the ring.

Willie’s Problematic Tendencies

One of the most intriguing facets of “Heavy Heads” is Willie’s ongoing alcoholism and how it’s beginning to affect both her personal and professional life.

Her inability to control her alcohol intake forces Staci to step in at the DWL, a dynamic change that will surely bite her in the butt. While AWOL, a mysterious woman shows up looking for Willie, failing to indicate in the slightest who she is. Knowing Willie and how hard she’s worked to keep the DWL afloat, it’s likely some shady business she doesn’t want others to know about.

Unlucky for her, Staci isn’t the type to see something and sit idly by. And based on her stalking Willie upon her return for the match at the end, she’ll likely be the one to uncover the truth behind Willie’s shadiness.

Based on the current trajectory of her actions, we’ve only seen a glimpse of the darkness we’ll see Willie experience this season.

Women in the Spotlight

One thing Heels continues to get right is their use of Crystal’s character. Coming into the season, it didn’t seem she’d get the rightful spotlight she deserves, but each episode has proven that thought process incorrect.

Elle Dorado is a superb addition to the DWL family as they work to build the women’s league from the ground up, giving Crystal adequate competition. Crystal’s anxiety to better her skills and achieve Elle Dorado’s level of expertise will be the catalyst that leads her into becoming the best wrestler she can be.

Being around another female wrestler is also a genuine eye-opener for Crystal. It allows her to communicate with someone from the same playing field and gives her the necessary insight on how she’ll have to conduct business if she ever leaves the DWL to go solo.

Destroying Jack’s hesitations about the league, the inaugural women’s league match pulls in some of the loudest cheers and most engaging audience reactions, as it should be.

Stray Thoughts:

• I’m a firm believer in sex scenes only being used to further a storyline, but I can’t help to feel like Staci and Jack’s is unwarranted.
• One of the funniest moments this season so far is, by far, a fan asking to compare junk side-by-side with Wild Bill. It’s an accurate depiction of the insane requests celebrities get from fans and has not failed to make me laugh each time I’ve re-watched it.
• I’m looking forward to the day Diego gets tired of putting up with Wild Bill’s disrespect and rightfully tells him off.
• Staci yelling “traitor” at Rooster shouldn’t be as funny as it is.

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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