Heels Review: 10 Ups & 1 Down For Episode 1: 'Kayfabe'

3. Kayfabe Feels Like A Mini Movie

Heels Stephen Amell
Starz

As it stands, Heels is set for an eight-episode first season. But to be honest, this Kayfabe offering would work just as well as a mini movie spotlighting the wrestling world as it does as a first look into the world of the Duffy Wrestling League.

To clarify, Kayfabe is a phenomenal debut episode that nicely establishes the show's key players and the world which they inhabit. As a starting point, this outing is the perfect way to set the table for a series.

So yeah, Kayfabe is great. Heels is so far great. And now, audiences are chomping at the bit to see where the show goes from here.

For Kayfabe as an hour's worth of dramatic entertainment, though, this also serves as a great standalone showcase for the wrestling business, for the traditions of the industry, and for the trials and tribulations those involved in pro wrestling have had to - and continue to - experience on a daily basis in order to try and keep their head above water.

This isn't the glossy, glamorous, billion dollar world of WWE. This isn't the cool, buzzworthy world of AEW. This isn't the prestigious world of New Japan Pro Wrestling. No, Kayfabe is a fantastic look at those small independent wrestling promotions that have a daily fight to stay in business.

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Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks/Saints, Jamie Hayter, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.