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

8. The Impressive Athleticism And Physicality

For wrestling fans, it's common knowledge that Stephen Amell is a major wrestling nerd.

Not just is he a big fan of the business, Amell himself has actually competed in three genuine matches on large stages; tagging with Neville (PAC) to face Wade Barrett and Stardust (Cody Rhodes) at WWE SummerSlam 2015, competing as part of the Bullet Club for a five-on-four match at Ring of Honor's Survival of the Fittest 2017, and then battling Christopher Daniels in singles action at the huge All In event in 2018.

The point being, the Arrow favourite has never been afraid to get physical and step inside the ring. And for Stephen Amell, Alexander Ludwig and their supporting Starz cast, the action seen in this Kayfabe episode is impressively athletic and physical from all involved.

As Kayfabe opens up, we see Amell's Jack Spade perform a Coast-to-Coast move, ala Rob Van Dam (or, err, Shane McMahon), and later we get a crisp, smooth backflip off the top rope from Ludwig's Ace Spade. It's not just the series' two leads who get to showcase their skills, though, for there are plenty of solid, sometimes spectacular moves on display throughout this debut episode - with Allen Maldonado' Rooster Robbins and James Harrison's Apocalypse two others who get some welcome time in the spotlight.

There's very much a sense of realism - well, in the sense of professional wrestling, that is - to all of the in-ring work done in Heels, and all involved deserve huge praise for how they depicted the squared circle action spotlighted here.