Heels

What It’s About:

This drama follows two brothers and rival wrestlers as they war over their late father's wrestling league and vie for national attention in small-town Georgia.

Why You Should Watch:

You would be correct to say that a melodrama about small-town wrestling sounds a little goofy. But if you’ve been looking to fill the giant Friday Night Lights hole in your heart with more big-feelings-in-a-small-town schmaltz, Heels is the show for you. Criminally underpromoted by Starz (ironic for a show primarily about show-biz razzle-dazzle), Heels is riding a wave of positive buzz as its second season comes to a close, and it’s clear why. The show’s sometimes clunky plotting and dialogue have smoothed out over time, allowing surprisingly great supporting characters like the vet Wild Bill and valet-turned-wrestler Crystal more time in the literal (and figurative) ring. You won’t need to know what a hammerlock is to enjoy this mushy, genuinely entertaining soft-watch all the way to the final bell.

Who’s In It, and Where You Probably Know Them From

Stephen Amell - Unless you are familiar with the Arrowverse (or the $400 million it reaped for its steward Greg Berlanti), you probably don’t recognize this guy.

Alexander Ludwig - After the former Abercrombie model got his big break in The Hunger Games, this guy has made a career of playing essentially the same empty-headed, temperamental, violent brute in shows like Vikings, Lone Survivor, and The Covenant.

Kelli Berglund - She’s spent most of her career as a Disney star, and this clearly is her “look, I’m all grown up now” role.

Allen Maldonado - The Last O.G., Black-ish, and most recently, that Wonder Years remake I don’t think anyone watched (Winnie Cooper forever).

Chris Bauer - The Wire, True Blood, and Third Watch.

Who Made It, and What Else Have They Done:

Michael Waldron created the show and has written on Rick and Morty and Loki.

Where You Can Watch:

This show is a Starz Original, so you must pony up for that streaming service if you don’t already have it through your cable package. If you have it, you can also watch it as an add-on through Amazon channels on Prime Video.

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