We’re back with episode two of Heels: “Dusty Finish”. This episode continues to the dissent between the Spade brothers while properly introducing the Duffy Wrestling League’s competition.
Life Away from the Ring
In the opening scenes, we get a glimpse at Jack Spade’s day job as a lawnmower and lawnmower accessories salesman. At the DWL Dome, the guys—Rooster, Apocalypse, and Diego—are working out.
Young Bobby Pin is still trying to find his gimmick and had a movie shoot. They all shoot down his suggestion of “Turquoise”. While Willie is there tending to a smoke alarm that none of them bothered to fix, she tells them that there will be another show that week.
Diego is upset that the shoot potentially killed the house. Apocalypse, a large veteran wrestler, believes in Jack full-heartedly while Rooster—who is having second thoughts about his place in DWL—shares Diego’s sentiment.
He’s apparently had this job for years but butts head with the new owner who doesn’t seem to respect Jack, his wrestling career, or his selling acumen which has worked for years. Admittedly, the potential buyer was buying a mower for his teenage son.
Jack and the owner—the grandson of the previous owner—butt heads on this. At home, there is a squirrel in the attic. Jack will need to deal with that. While it seems like an aside, it ties into everything at the end.
Ace is still hoping to hear back from Wild Bill who just disappeared after the fiasco in the ring. There are issues between his valet Crystal and his mother who feels that Crystal is a jezebel and a harlot. The two youngsters have been in her house doing the horizontal hustle which intensifies her dislike of the young valet.
Willie Day goes to speak with Florida Wrestling Dystopia’s owner Charlie Gully. She thinks that Gully wants to buy into DWL but actually, he dislikes Jack Spade after he made some unfavorable comments about him.
No, Gully wants to purchase the DWL Dome. Of course, Willie shoots that notion down and tells him about why his company sucks and why people still show up to DWL shows even after its best decades are behind it.
As an actual aside, Willie is Maverick cigarettes woman. Don’t ask me how I know. After watching a podcast that goes into the DWL shoot ending, Jack gets a call from Willie about Gully’s offer. Money is tight for the Spade household but at first, he says “F*** him” before asking for how much.
Willie wants all the smoke and echoes Jack’s initial sentiment. She asks about his and Ace’s relationship but there hasn’t been any movement on that front.
Ace Is Missing
The young Spade brother manages to call Wild Bill Hancock who is with a lot lizard at a seedy motel. When Bill tells him that things have changed after his crying fit, Ace hits the bottle.
Jack’s wife Staci questions him about why he did what he did. He merely tells her that he did it for the show. She doesn’t understand and doesn’t like that he won’t discuss it more. Staci wants Jack to cancel the next show and talk to Ace which he really doesn’t care to do. She goes to sleep on the couch.
Back at Mama Spade’s house, she goes to tell Ace some news about Big Jim Kitchen’s wife having the baby but he’s left out of the window some time ago. Ace has to be in his 20s and he snuck out like there’s a party on a school night. She calls Jack who heads over and finds Crystal there waiting with his mother.
Jack has an inkling about where he might go and heads off, Crystal comes with him out of concern. Ace is actually out on a wino’s stroll and is probably going to need more booze, obviously.
Crystal and Jack have a distant, boss-employee relationship but seeing that she’s actually concerned about Ace’s well-being he begins to open up about their childhood and where he might have gone.
The Tag Team Bar Brawl
Ace has arrived at a karaoke bar in Duffy where fellow wrestler Rooster works as a host. The younger Spade brother aims to have a few more drinks and sing on stage.
Seeing that Ace is already wasted, Rooster calls Jack to give him a heads up. Also, he wants to keep his job and not have a drunk Ace ruin it.
Ace bickers with a local who goads him about crying in the ring. Once that’s over, he begins drunkenly singing a sad country song. Those are three things that just don’t mix: drinking, singing, and sad country songs.
Everyone in the bar isn’t with his singing including Jack and Crystal. Personally, I didn’t think it was too bad…it was just depressing as hell.
Eventually, the same local from earlier provokes Ace about being a weak wrestler. This even gets “Whaaaat???” look from Rooster who really just wants to keep his job and the peace by this point.
After the guy insults the younger Spade brother, Jack gives the guy a Rock Bottom on the karaoke stage and a brawl breaks out with the Spade boys really cleaning house.
Once they are thrown outside and Rooster is upset that Ace would do that at his job. The locals head outside for more and say something cross about their father.
Before the Spades can run their fade again, Crystal gives the guy her patented flying head scissors and knocks him out. Rooster and Spades are surprised that happened.
Cain and Abel Call a Truce
Jack just wants to take Ace home but changes his mind when he finds out that Mama Spade made a casserole. Now they can get Krystal’s–yes, I know the restaurant is Krystal but we say “Krystal’s” down this way.
Now Ace is a happy drunk…until he asks a bad trip-stoned question on the ride back. Once home, Ace is clear-headed enough to tell Jack that he hates him.
Outside, Jack and Crystal bond over their concern for Ace. It’s revealed that Ace didn’t even want to be a wrestler but Jack pushed him to it.
Crystal says that what Jack did was an asshole move but Ace makes a great heel. The next day, the DWL family is at the hospital but Ace is outside. Mama Spade is insistent that Jack talks to Ace about it.
Before his wife and double down on the issue, he heads outside and hashes things out with Ace. Jack admits he hates his job and that there’s nothing happening in Duffy. He also reminds Ace that he is unemployed, a failed college quarterback, and couldn’t hold on to a simple job—but that all of that is who they are and that he’ll shoot for more.
Ace tells Jack that he’ll take the next opportunity when scouted and that he doesn’t want to be ridden by Jack again. The elder Spade brother agrees and they join the DWL family in welcoming the new baby to the world.
Later that day Jack returns to his day job while Staci practices her guitar at home. Early in the episode, she told Jack that she wanted him at home more and to spend more time with Thomas.
Now, hearing the squirrel is still in the attic she takes care of it. She then notices their son playing soccer alone in an overgrown lawn and breaks out the riding mower, basically doing everything that Jack hasn’t done since he’s been consumed with the DWL.
Heels S1E2 Verdict: Gold Medal (4/5)
This was a slightly better episode as there was more character building with the other DWL wrestlers and Staci. While the Jack-Ace drama is the anchor of the show so far, Crystal is looking to be the eventual breakout character.
Her bonding with Jack over a shared concern about Ace’s behavior and career was that needed second wind for the episode when it started to lose steam.
The seeds for more about DWL wrestler Rooster have been sewn. He knows he’s talented, charismatic, and the fans dig him but he’s still waiting his turn. It’ll become an issue soon.
Apocalypse is the rock of the locker room and tries to keep everything steady. A good veteran and a steady hand who cares about his DWL family.
He and Diego Cottonmouth give sage advice to both the experienced but impatient Rooster and the loveable, white meat babyface Bobby Pin.
So far, my least favorite character is Mama Spade. She is soooo annoying and country mama in the extreme. Think Bobby Boucher’s mother from Waterboy only toned down for a dramatic series.
“Dusty Finish” is a strong follow up that keeps the ball rolling positively.
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