In style Apple TV+ sports activities comedy Stick simply accomplished its first season and bought 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. Relatively than attempting to copy 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 stated 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 here are three compelling the explanation why Stick deserves your consideration, no matter how you’re feeling about its extra well-known predecessor.
3 causes to look at 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 gifted younger newbie Santi Wheeler (Peter Dager). Screenwriter and showrunner Jason Keller stated 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. After all it makes use of golf as a metaphor for a way individuals navigate troubling instances. On this present, a 4 iron could be extremely aggressive, smothering the voice of the lowly sand wedge. That’s life.
1. Owen Wilson delivers his most susceptible efficiency
Picture: Apple TV+
Wilson’s casting as “Stick” Cahill turns into considered one of Stick‘s strongest belongings. It showcases a extra emotionally complicated facet of the actor than audiences sometimes see. Identified for his laid-back comedic persona, Wilson brings real vulnerability to this former golfer who’s nonetheless grieving his younger son’s dying whereas navigating a divorce from his spouse (Judy Greer).
What makes Wilson’s efficiency significantly partaking is how he balances his pure appeal with uncooked emotional ache. Not like Ted Lasso‘s persistently upbeat protagonist, Pryce is a personality coping with profound loss in a sloppier means as he tries to search out function 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 gifted 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 combination. And Lilli Kay rounds out the core solid 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 liable 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 appeal.
2. A refreshingly darkish tackle discovered household and redemption
Picture: 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 practical than Lasso‘s inspirational messaging. This isn’t a criticism of both strategy. Relatively, it highlights how Stick serves a special viewers looking for extra complicated emotional narrative to go together with its sports activities and its laughs.
The golf setting works properly as a metaphor for all times’s collected errors. As one critic famous, golf is a sport “the place all of your errors can compound.” That displays how Pryce, Santi and their mates 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 incorporates a dream sequence the place Pryce imagines moments he missed along with his deceased son. Critics known as it “completely lovely” 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 without warning in a great way.
The collection doesn’t draw back from heavy themes — playing issues, divorce, dying and suburban ennui all issue into the narrative. But fairly 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 selections. It’s the sort of present that appeals to viewers who recognize character research with sharp edges and ethical ambiguity.
3. Golf brings insufferable stress
Picture: Apple TV+
Maybe most significantly, Stick distinguishes itself by style mixing that feels each surprising 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 fairly 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 underneath stress and the psychological weight of particular person efficiency.
Like Lasso, Stick’s sometimes 30-minute episode format retains issues transferring at a brisk tempo. It by no means overstays its welcome but permits time for character improvement. If something, many episodes really feel too quick. With 10 episodes in its first season, Stick looks 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 all the time match the emotional resonance or writing depth of Ted Lasso, it succeeds as an gratifying character research that provides real moments of perception and humor. The present earned a 82% approval ranking on Rotten Tomatoes from critics (71% from followers) and a “Usually Favorable” rating of 62 on Metacritic — a strong if not spectacular reception.
The Verdict: No Ted Lasso, nevertheless it doesn’t should be
Stick works finest when seen by itself phrases fairly than as Ted Lasso‘s religious 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 thinking about Owen Wilson’s most emotionally complicated efficiency, darkish comedy with real emotional stakes, or just one thing totally different, Stick presents a compelling different. It might not grow to be the cultural phenomenon that Ted Lasso achieved, nevertheless it carves out its personal worthy area in Apple TV+’s rising catalog of authentic content material.
Watch Stick on Apple TV+
Whilst you watch for Stick season two, you’ll be able to watch season one on Apple TV+. Get the service by subscription for $9.99 with a seven-day free trial. You too can get it by way of any tier of the Apple One subscription bundle. Prospects who purchase a brand new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod contact can take pleasure in three months of Apple TV+ without cost.
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Greater than 200 unique films and TV exhibits name Apple TV+ house (together with breakout soccer comedy Ted Lasso). The service additionally presents documentaries, dramas, comedies, youngsters exhibits and extra.
