Stick‘s three-episode series premiere introduces an ensemble that gives Apple TV+’s latest sports comedy a promising first swing. Understandably, the streamer markets Stick with Owen Wilson, who stars as ex-pro golfer Pryce Cahill. There’s no denying Wilson knows how to carry the weight of a lead in a comedy, and Stick is a sharp one because of the strength on the page coming through the ensemble’s chemistry. This cast makes every joke sharper and every ounce of sincerity better. They even make the golf more interesting. The sports comedy succeeds at creating characters to care about and root for by the end of Stick Season 1, Episode 3, “Daddy Issues,” and that’s its biggest win.
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Pryce Cahill’s Next Chapter
Expectedly, Pryce Cahill’s second act becomes the catalyst for Stick, putting Owen Wilson’s titular character at the heart of the show. The first three episodes don’t rely on flashbacks to fill in the gaps of Pryce’s foiled career as a professional athlete. Instead, Stick Season 1, Episode 1, “Pilot,” has Pryce sell the dream (at his day job at a sports supply store) that he once lived, only to profit on its demise at a bar. In doing so, the sports comedy creatively delivers that critical exposition and captures a cynicism and sadness in Pryce.
Though he does his best to project otherwise, Pryce continually catches himself mirroring the exact portrait that his ex-wife Amber-Linn paints for him. That truth makes it all the more disappointing that Judy Greer’s character isn’t in these first three episodes. The show’s premise suggests that Pryce won’t be back in Indiana anytime soon, creating even more distance between the formerly married couple. While that may do them some good individually, it puts pressure on the few scenes they share, most of which come through a vital home video. It’s a testament to Stick that it doesn’t need to spell out that context to have a clear snapshot of Pryce Cahill by the end of that first episode.
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Mitts and Elena’s Better Understanding
Again, it’s logical for Stick to bet on Owen Wilson to pull people into this new series. However, like Pryce and Santi, Marc Maron’s Mitts and Mariana Treviño’s Elena become a duo to watch. These three episodes do an excellent job with he exposition about their characters, so that by the time they interact, their dynamic can click slightly out of place. One of Stick’s best assets is that it continually addresses how strange the situation is in which the characters find themselves. There’s absurdity to hitting the road in an RV with two men who are strangers to Elena and her son, and Stick leans into those jokes.
In a delightful turn, Mitts and Elena’s dynamic of a grumpy widower and a business-minded, protective single mother cracks open under the hilarious pressure of a broken bed’s forced proximity. These two challenge each other, and they work together quite well. The latter can only come from the former, which Stick roots in their pasts. Mittsy has his walls up in grief, and Elena has hers up because of her ex-husband. Like with Pryce’s past, Stick unpacks that exposition more dynamically than unloading it in heavy-handed dialogue.
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Santi’s “Extreme Ownership”
While Mitts and Elena’s scenes come as a delightful surprise, Stick has more of a make-or-break emphasis on Pryce and Santi’s dynamic. Consequently, it’s a bit odd that the comedy doesn’t spend more time establishing their mentor/mentee relationship before dismantling it. Stick has an acute awareness of how quickly the plot unfolds, yet it doesn’t entirely slow down when given the chance. Instead, “Daddy Issues” highlights Pryce’s competitive nature and issues with accountability at the expense of building a solid groundwork with Santi.
Stick wants to draw parallels between Pryce’s behavior and Santi’s father, but, oddly, those come too early. Given the story so far, that connection will always arise. The relationships between fathers and sons are integral to Santi and Pryce. Wouldn’t it be more impactful to let Santi and Pryce build a stronger dynamic before taking it out at the knees with such a heavy blow? Hopefully, since this is only the beginning, Stick will take its time rebuilding Santi and Pryce’s dynamic. Any success for the partnership – and the show – relies on it.
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New episodes of Stick stream every Wednesday on Apple TV+.
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