WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Heels Episode 6, "House Show," which aired on Starz Sept. 19
Heels has, across the first season, delved into the psychology and histories of the at first seemingly straightforward stars of the Duffy Wrestling League. The family-owned wrestling organization has been in dire straights for some time, and even the chance that it could be on the rebound is being jeopardized by someone not even there anymore. "House Show" reveals just how careless and cruel of a person Tom Spade could be and how, in the present-day, his influence still has a toxic effect on his sons Jack and Ace as they try to navigate the shadow of his professional and personal life.
The backstory of the DWL and its founder, Tom Spade, has slowly been revealed across the course of Heels' first season. Dying by his own hand before the events of the series proper, it's Tom's legacy that Jack tries to overcome, leading him to put so much of himself into the DWL and their success. However, as revelations and flashbacks have revealed, Tom was a poor figure for his sons to emulate, often pitting them against each other and throwing out snide remarks that only escalated the rivalry between them. He met defeat and setbacks with anger and resentment -- something he's passed down to Ace, and something Jack recognizes with a bitter tone in his voice.
Tom was cavalier not just with his family, but his friends and co-workers as well. A long-overdue confrontation between Wild Bill and Willie reveals that in their youth the pair had been in a relationship similar to what Ace and Crystal had previously shared -- with Bill in love with Willie. Despite their connection, Tom poached Willie as his valet when it appeared he had a chance to go on to better things, breaking Bill's heart and playing a part in the dissolution of their relationship, as well Bill's connections to the DWL as a whole. Tom's inability to drum up more business for the DWL didn't do him or anyone else in his orbit any favors, and all that pressure spiraled out onto those around him, giving many of Ace and Jack's present-day hang-ups and problems a source.
Even when he's gone, Tom's influence has a negative impact on his sons. Jack's attempts to make the DWL bigger and better than anything Tom could have dreamed of has run into roadblocks, increasingly forcing him to put all his hope into an upcoming show at the South Georgia State Fair with Bill. His drive has also blinded him to the needs of his friends and co-workers -- prompting Rooster to seemingly decide to take up the offer from rival wrestling promoter Charlie Gully -- as well as those of his family. Jack's wife Staci grows unhappy in their relationship, as Jack's desire to be like his father pushes her away.
Even in death, Tom Spade proves to be the lingering trauma on the principal players in Heels. The show explores the way wrestling can unite the small town of Duffy while the actual act of putting on the show can drive people apart. Ace at least seems to recognize how poorly his actions have affected those around him, coming to terms with his actions during the Baptism of Jim's baby and trying to apologize for his actions. However if Jack doesn't learn a similar lesson, he may lose more than he's prepared to.