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

2. The Muddied Waters

While Alexander Ludwig's Ace Spade is set up as a largely dislikeable douchebag in Kayfabe, the waters are also somewhat muddied when it comes to his brother Jack.

In a traditional pro wrestling sense, Jack's heart seems to be in the right place. Continuing the legacy of his father, Stephen Amell's character is obsessive about how to steer the Duffy Wrestling League ship, and this obsession drives his day-to-day existence.

Due to how DWL is a 24/7 job for Jack, though, we've already seen in his first episode how that means his family often has to take a backseat, with him forever thinking of the past, present and future of DWL in everything he does.

Wrestling fans have long heard stories of bookers whose entire existence revolved around wrestling - whether that was Vince McMahon, Bill Watts, Fritz Von Erich, Eric Bischoff or whoever - and Heels has already dipped its toe in the water in how such laser-focussed obsession can take its toll on the 'regular' things in life.

Throw in the shocking finale of Kayfabe, and Jack Spade is a fascinating, hugely intriguing character who is far from the all-out hero of the show. And on the opposite side of the fence, one has to feel that there are at least some redeemable features (somewhere!) to Ace Spade from here on out.

In just one episode, Heels has established itself as a show that is far from black and white when it comes to its characters.