Stick Is Stuck on the Trauma Plot

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Apple TV+’s fresh sports series “Stick” carries a powerful sense of satisfaction. It’s a deep, intense fulfillment that resonates structurally, aesthetically, and even on a cellular level. “Stick” is more than just a golf show; it delves into the exhilarating feeling of driving a ball across county lines or making a perfect tap across the green. The vibrant, vivid colors of the golf courses and pristine uniforms are a pleasure to behold. Owen Wilson, an actor known for his charismatic screen presence, embodies this sense of contentment even when his character may be deceiving himself. At its core, “Stick” is about sports, where triumph emerges from adversity. Games will be won and lost, but what truly matters is playing with passion. And like many TV series that explore the concept of feeling good, “Stick” begins with a universal truth: Everyone must first experience deep discomfort.

As a dedicated viewer, I can’t help but notice the prevalence of the trauma narrative in today’s TV shows and broader culture. What was once striking has now become commonplace, even formulaic. Each character seems to have a backstory riddled with pain, and this history often intertwines intricately with the current plotline. It’s as if every character has one tragic event in their past, which is then multiplied by the number of similarities with their present circumstances, giving us the story. This narrative carries such a strong impact and longevity because it mirrors the harsh reality: Life can be incredibly tough, and these experiences often shape who we are.

The show “Stick” is equally infuriating due to its compelling plotline. From the very first episode, we learn that Owen Wilson plays Pryce “Stick” Cahill, a divorced, disgraced ex-golf pro who ruined his career in a spectacular fit during a tournament and now excels (albeit sadly) at selling overpriced golf equipment to enthusiastic amateurs. His former spouse, Amber-Linn (Judy Greer), constantly criticizes him for being stuck in a rut of underachievement. Mitts (Marc Maron) aids him in scamming money from unsuspecting bar patrons. The situation is dire! However, everything changes when he encounters Santi Wheeler (Peter Drager), a 17-year-old golf prodigy who’s causing quite a stir at the driving range with his impressive skills and simmering anger. Seeing potential in Santi, Stick decides to turn over a new leaf, convinces Santi it’s time for him to travel, and with Mitts and Santi’s mother Elena (Mariana Treviño) by his side, they embark on an RV journey to help Santi qualify for the major tournament.

Indeed, Stick Cahill isn’t merely a golfer trying to redeem himself after career setbacks, and Santi isn’t simply a teenager with impulsive tendencies. Instead, their stories delve deeper into the reasons behind their personas. Golf, a mental game according to Arnold Palmer asserts by Stick, serves as a backdrop for their self-discovery. Before they can mend their games, they must first mend themselves. Swiftly, Stick uncovers Santi’s past: his father, who once taught him golfing skills, abandoned him, constantly undermining his confidence and then vanishing. It’s no surprise that Santi plays with a vengeful swing, and Stick ensures that this fact is understood. There’s no mystery or emotional complexity left unexplored; the narrative unfolds like a Rubik’s cube being solved, block by block, until all pieces align perfectly at the season’s end.

A more subtle approach in the narrative is portraying how Stick uncovers the key to unraveling Stick Cahill’s melancholy. Given that a solitary man grappling with a midlife crisis typically seeks a tragic history, Stick is more than prepared — eager, even — to supply it. The pivotal moment arrives towards the end of the first episode, when Stick decides to embark on this new phase of his life and journey with Santi. In an unexpected move, he inserts a DVD that acts as a compilation of family moments: Stick and Amber-Linn appearing joyful while moving into their new home, being affectionate honeymooners, and then videos featuring a young son who has not been mentioned or shown in the current timeline. The sorrow from losing this child seems to have fueled all subsequent events, such as the breakdown, the divorce, and the sad attempts at making a living in the pro-shop. However, Stick’s predicament isn’t about what lies ahead; he’s already found Santi, figured out his financial troubles, and mapped out his plans to travel. Instead, this is a lively sports show with vibrant colors and an uplifting theme song featuring Owen Wilson; it promises to be enjoyable. The issue for Stick, however, remains deeply rooted in the past.

In essence, the truth may be there, but it doesn’t necessarily make for compelling storytelling, and this becomes particularly evident when Stick slowly calms down a bit. Santi’s narrative allows his past to resurface within the narrative of the story, and once the group introduces Lilly Kay as Zero – a former bartender who later becomes Santi’s love interest and golf caddie – the whole thing gradually evolves into a show reminiscent of Bill Lawrence’s style, which seems to be its desired form. (Stick is so similar to Ted Lasso that it’s almost unbelievable Brett Goldstein isn’t secretly involved.) It even largely succeeds in executing the difficult task of making an older character grumble about Zero’s gender-neutral pronouns into a somewhat endearing recurring joke, a feat that other shows should avoid if they lack a performer with Marc Maron’s knack for expressing aggrieved empathy.

However, as the show’s components gradually align, the trauma-driven narrative becomes even more grating. Whenever Stick seems poised to gain traction for the future, the narrative veers back to revisit their shared past experiences. Each advancement is followed by a setback, and every new development is juxtaposed with a past event for comparison, creating a sort of narrative workshop session that feels like it’s been transposed onto scripted television. Alternatively, it might be likened to a corporate leadership conference where every topic mysteriously revolves around golf, although this analogy may seem unnecessary.

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2025-06-06 00:54