Common Apple TV+ sports activities comedy Stick simply accomplished its first season and obtained its inexperienced gentle for season two. So whereas comparisons to feel-good soccer phenom Ted Lasso appear inevitable, this Owen Lasso-led golf collection carves out its personal distinctive identification. Fairly than attempting to duplicate the healthful optimism and wildly unbelievable story that made Ted Lasso a cultural phenomenon, Stick takes viewers barely additional into considerably darker territory and right into a barely extra plausible story with suburban grift, sardonic humor and sophisticated characters navigating grief and redemption.
Hey, I mentioned considerably darker, barely additional and barely extra plausible, OK?
In a nutshell, Stick, like Lasso, is danged healthful and all about redemption. And each collection are feel-good exhibits individuals need to watch proper now, given the societal circumstances. However listed below are three compelling explanation why Stick deserves your consideration, no matter how you’re feeling about its extra well-known predecessor.
3 causes to observe Stick on Apple TV+
Hit Apple TV+ comedy Stick, simply greenlit for season 2 as smash-hit Ted Lasso heads for season 4, follows Wilson as Pryce “Stick” Cahill, a washed-up former skilled golfer with prodigious skills who blew out his profession with one mega-tantrum on nationwide TV. Now, after years of Wilson-esque soul-seeking and start-and-stop failure, he seeks redemption by teaching proficient younger beginner Santi Wheeler (Peter Dager). Screenwriter and showrunner Jason Keller mentioned his relationship along with his father, a golfer, partly apparently impressed the story.
The collection weaves in well-wrought-tiresome suburban parts as characters navigate the prosperous world of nation membership life. The storylines weave right into a narrative that’s considerate in its exploration of psychological well being and private struggles. In fact it makes use of golf as a metaphor for the way individuals navigate troubling occasions. On this present, a 4 iron may be extremely aggressive, smothering the voice of the lowly sand wedge. That’s life.
1. Owen Wilson delivers his most susceptible efficiency
Coach Pryce and participant Santi have a second. One among many.
Photograph: Apple TV+
Wilson’s casting as “Stick” Cahill turns into one among Stick‘s strongest property. It showcases a extra emotionally complicated facet of the actor than audiences usually see. Recognized for his laid-back comedic persona, Wilson brings real vulnerability to this former golfer who’s nonetheless grieving his younger son’s demise whereas navigating a divorce from his spouse (Judy Greer).
What makes Wilson’s efficiency notably partaking is how he balances his pure attraction with uncooked emotional ache. Not like Ted Lasso‘s persistently upbeat protagonist, Pryce is a personality coping with profound loss in a sloppier approach as he tries to seek out objective by mentoring younger Santi Wheeler. Wilson facilities on Zen however continuously loses it.
The supporting ensemble creates compelling dynamics round Wilson’s central efficiency. Dager performs proficient teen Wheeler, whereas Mariana Treviño brings depth as his protecting mom Elena. Marc Maron seems as Mitts, Pryce’s former caddy and buddy, including his signature sardonic, curmudgeonly wit to the combo. And Lilli Kay rounds out the core forged as Zero, a non-binary nation membership employee who turns into Santi’s love curiosity.
The present incorporates actual golf professionals like Collin Morikawa, Keegan Bradley, Max Homa and Wyndham Clark, alongside broadcasters Jim Nantz and Trevor Immelman. That grounds the fictional narrative in genuine sports activities tradition.
Most notably, Timothy Olyphant delivers a stellar visitor efficiency throughout 5 episodes as Clark Ross. He’s the profitable golfer partly accountable for Pryce’s downfall. His character’s story provides layers of pressure and complexity to Wilson’s character arc. Olyphant, an enormous star from Justified and extra, just about chews the surroundings along with his oily attraction.
2. A refreshingly darkish tackle discovered household and redemption
This isn’t simply harmless flirtation. Might or not it’s love? That’s Lilli Kay as Zero and Peter Dager as golf phemon Santi Wheeler.
Photograph: Apple TV+
The place Ted Lasso radiates sunshine and folksy knowledge, Stick intentionally ventures into murkier emotional territory. The present’s exploration of grief, psychological well being and private failure feels extra jagged and sensible than Lasso‘s inspirational messaging. This isn’t a criticism of both strategy. Fairly, it highlights how Stick serves a unique viewers looking for extra complicated emotional narrative to go together with its sports activities and its laughs.
The golf setting works effectively as a metaphor for all times’s collected errors. As one critic famousgolf is a sport “the place all of your errors can compound.” That displays how Pryce, Santi and their associates transfer by their respective crises. Not like soccer’s team-oriented message in Ted Lasso, golf’s particular person nature emphasizes private accountability and the horrible weight of previous choices.
Stick‘s seventh episode acquired explicit vital popularity of its emotional rawness. It contains a dream sequence the place Pryce imagines moments he missed along with his deceased son. Critics known as it “completely stunning” and “emotionally uncooked,” with one noting that this single episode “made watching the primary six episodes value it.” These moments of real vulnerability elevate the present past easy comedy into one thing a bit extra profound. It takes you abruptly in a great way.
The collection doesn’t draw back from heavy themes — playing issues, divorce, demise and suburban ennui all issue into the narrative. But reasonably than wallowing in distress, Stick finds humor within the absurdity of middle-aged males attempting to rebuild their lives whereas making more and more poor decisions. It’s the form of present that appeals to viewers who admire character research with sharp edges and ethical ambiguity.
3. Golf brings insufferable strain
The caddy should calm and refocus the participant or danger catastrophe.
Photograph: Apple TV+
Maybe most significantly, Stick distinguishes itself by style mixing that feels each sudden and pure. The golf course dramedy creates a singular viewing expertise that stands other than typical sports-centered narratives.
Not like Ted Lasso‘s simple inspirational arc, Stick operates extra like a character-driven dramedy. The pacing strikes in a different way, with pressure constructing by private relationships reasonably than sports activities achievements. Ted Lasso makes use of soccer as a backdrop for classes about teamwork and positivity. Stick makes use of golf to discover themes of isolation, precision below strain and the psychological weight of particular person efficiency.
Like Lasso, Stick’s usually 30-minute episode format retains issues shifting at a brisk tempo. It by no means overstays its welcome but permits time for character growth. If something, many episodes really feel too brief. With 10 episodes in its first season, Stick appears like an easy watch that rewards viewers searching for one thing extra refined than typical community comedy however lighter than status drama.
Critics have famous that whereas Stick could not at all times match the emotional resonance or writing depth of Ted Lasso, it succeeds as an pleasant character examine that provides real moments of perception and humor. The present earned a 82% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics (71% from followers) and a “Typically Favorable” rating of 62 on Metacritic — a strong if not spectacular reception.
The Verdict: No Ted Lasso, nevertheless it doesn’t have to be
Stick works greatest when seen by itself phrases reasonably than as Ted Lasso‘s non secular successor. Whereas each exhibits share Apple TV+’s dedication to high quality manufacturing and character-driven storytelling, they occupy totally different emotional territories. Ted Lasso bathed viewers in sunshine and optimism; Stick navigates shadows with occasional bursts of sunshine.
For anybody fascinated with Owen Wilson’s most emotionally complicated efficiency, darkish comedy with real emotional stakes, or just one thing totally different, Stick provides a compelling various. It could not grow to be the cultural phenomenon that Ted Lasso achieved, nevertheless it carves out its personal worthy house in Apple TV+’s rising catalog of authentic content material.
Watch Stick on Apple TV+
When you anticipate Stick season two, you may watch season one on Apple TV+. Get the service by subscription for $9.99 with a seven-day free trial. You can too get it by way of any tier of the Apple One subscription bundle. Clients who purchase a brand new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod contact can take pleasure in three months of Apple TV+ without cost.
After launching in November 2019, “Apple TV+ turned the primary all-original streaming service to launch around the globe, and has premiered extra authentic hits and acquired extra award recognitions sooner than some other streaming service. Up to now, Apple Unique movies, documentaries and collection have been honored with 471 wins and a couple of,090 award nominations and counting,” the service mentioned.
Greater than 200 unique films and TV exhibits name Apple TV+ residence (together with breakout soccer comedy Ted Lasso). The service additionally provides documentaries, dramas, comedies, youngsters exhibits and extra.
