Apple TV+’s Feel-GOOD GOLF DRAMEDY IS SAFE, DERIVATIVE & MY NEW FAVORITE COMFORT SHOW – ryan

Warning: Ahead Spoilers for Stick Season 1, Episodes 1-3.

The First Three Episodes of Owen Wilson’s New Golf Dramehedy Series Stick Make for a charming, Easy Viewing Experience that May Be A Bit Thin to Sustain A 10-Episode Season. Wilson Stars As Pryce Cahill, an Avid Golf Lover Who Shot at Coaching A Young Phenom, Santi Wheeler (Played by Peter Dager), to Greatness. Pryce’s best friend is his Caddie, Mitts, Played by Comedian and Podcaster Marc Maron. Sant’s mom, Elena (Mariana Trevińo), and Lilli Kay’s Zero, A Friend Santi Makes at A Golf Tournament, Round Out the Main Cast of StickWith Timothy Olyphant Set to Appear in Future Episodes.

Pryce had a great pga career unil he had a public meltdown on live television, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO RETURN TO PROFESSIONAL GOLF. He had a great marriage with amber-linn, played by an infectious Judy great, before that Fell apart. Home videos at the End of the Pilot Episode Revealed they had a Kid Together, Jett, who is tragically out of the picture in the present-day timeline.

VIEWERS DON’T HAVE TO UNDERSTAND A LICK OF GOLF CULTURE OR STRATEGY TO DIVE INTO Stickas it is Marely the background for a family and friend-oriented formulaic show. In StickGood People Face Tragedy, Show Resiliance, and Bank on Hope to see THROUGH against a radio-lightly soundtrack. Characters Mistakes and Live With Regret, but offen End up Facing Their Flaws and Learning for the Greater Good.

Stick Plays in the Same League as Apple’s FEEL-GOOD SHOWS LIKE LASSO & SHRRINING

Stick is much more focused on themes of hope & morality than it is about golf

Stick is fueled by Hope, optimism, and the power of a great attitude. IT’S TONALLY Bright and Endearing, Which SOMESTEMES INTO BEING OVERLY CUTE AND CHEESY. Stick is almost annoyingly watchable, Becuses it’s so safe, so derivatives, yet so eay and plainly enjoyable to consumes. Watching the first three episodes of Stick is acin to ordering a classic cheeseburger at a restaurant. You may have had it 100 times before, but it is always been good, Making it Simple, Familiar, and Reliable. IT’S HARD TO HATE, but it’s easy to get bored with after a while.

IT’s impossible not to think of Ted lasso and Shrinking, Apple’s Other Popular Feel-Good Shows, while Sinking your teeth intoo Stick. They’re essentally three different songs with the same chord progressions. Break Gilmore nods in Stick Are Also Glaring, As Pryce’s Business Card Reads “The pryce is right“, Reference to Adam Sandler’s Classic Fight Schene with Bob Barker During A Pro-AM. Additionally, pryce tells Santi to go to his”HAPPY PLACE“In Episode 3. It Feels Like No Coincidence That Stick’s Season Final Airs JUST DAYS DIFT THE RELEASE OF HAPPY GILMORE 2 IN LATE JULY.

Every aspect of Stick is essentally spell out: laugh here, cry there. This approach Certainly has the potential to Lose Viewers who are looking for more conflict and full. Still, It ‘s tough to be craf and innovative we’ you’re selling wholesomeWHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT Stick is doing. The Show Clearly Establishes in Its First Three episodes that it is not trying to be anything groundbreaking. If the train’s motion Too Slowly, it’s best to get off. If you’re look for a more caarefree ride, Stick has what you’re looking for.

Like Jason Sudeikis, Owen Wilson is perfect for this brand of family-Fryently comedy

Wilson’s Charm Brings a Lot to a Show That Heavily Relations on Personality & Spirit

Owen Wilson, Known Best for HIS ROES IN CLASSIC COMEDIES LIKE Wedding crashers and Wes Anderson Films Like The Royal Tenenbaumsis a Pitch-Perfect Casting Choice for A Show Like Stick. He Completely Exists in the Same Vein As Jason Sudeikis in Ted lasso and jason segel in Shrinkingand Has Has a Little Bit of An EDGE AKIN to Vince Vaughn in Apple’s Other Popular Comedy Series, Bad Monkey. The Minds Bebind Stick Also Did A Great Job of Putting A GREAT ENSEMBLE AROUND WILSON, EACH DISTINCT But Lacking Complexity.

Stick is a show that has hats to say, more About Life, Adversity, and Communication Skills Than Golf ITSELF. It may be a tough sell to a golf fan or regular playeras it hardly scratches the surface of topics that golfers may actually care about.

Santi has a bit of a disney channel original sports Movie Character Feel, where he swings the club, and the ball magically ends a feet from the pin. You have to buy it good for the Sake of the story, so it is obivious that the show Uses stand-ins for the actual golf elements. Golfers May Be Tuned off by Small Yet Frequent Athletic ContrivancesKnowing just how hard the sport actually is.

While there’s not a lot of “Inside Baseball” talc going on here, there are rather thughtful portrayals of Healthy Conflict Resolution Tactics. Characters overcome past traumas like abusives parenting and confront societal issing like toxic masculinity. Stick Wisely Avoids Feeling Preachy, but it does offen rest on a moral High GroundWhere Character Development EQUALS LIFE LESSONS Learned. Episode 3, for Example, Ends with Two Separate Apologies for Words that Were RegretFully Said.

Ultimately, the first three episodes of Stick prove it is a solid comfort show. IT HAS ENOUGH Charism From Its Engaging ENSEMBLE CAST TO INVITE VIEWERS BACK WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A WEEKLY SLICE OF WHOLESOMENES AND Inspectorate.

Stick releassed it first three episodes on june 4, and Will air weeks Episodes every wednesday on Apple TV+.

Stick Season 1, Episodes 1-3

7/10

Release Date

June 4, 2025

NETWORKS

Apple TV+

Pros & Cons

• Owen Wilson Leads a Charming Cast
• Stick Has a Familiar Feel-Good Formula
• Golf Makes for A Nice Background to this Dramehedy

• Stick is More About Life & Relationships than Actual Golf
• Stick RESTS ON SAFE COMEDY & A MORAL HIGH GROUND