Apple TV+’s ‘Stick’ Starring Owen Wilson Surpasses Ted Lasso Comparisons

The third episode of Apple TV+’s new golf-themed comedy, Stick, is titled “Daddy Issues,” a fitting summary for the entire series. Created by Jason Keller, the show features Owen Wilson as Pryce Cahill, a once-renowned golfer whose career ended abruptly two decades prior. He remains stuck in the past, working at a sporting goods store, refusing to finalize his divorce with his long-suffering wife (), remaining in their old home, and struggling to accept his changed status as a former husband, father, and athlete. When he encounters Santi (Peter Dager), a talented but disgruntled teenager at a driving range, Pryce sees an opportunity for personal redemption through this potential protégé. However, Santi, whose relationship with his now-estranged father was strained by excessive pressure on the golf course, is hesitant to embrace another father figure.

The premise might seem cliché—another sports comedy using the game to explore men’s emotions and relationships, reminiscent of . While Stick, debuting on June 4, does have moments that feel contrived, such as the dad-rock soundtrack (“Baba O’Riley,” “The Boys Are Back in Town”) and a theme song that echoes Lasso‘s folksy earnestness, it also offers some unexpected depth. Although Greer avoids the stereotypical shrew role, the show sometimes feels overly deliberate in its attempts to portray empathy for women. The character Zero (Lilli Kay), a self-described “genderqueer, anticapitalist, postcolonial feminist,” initially comes across as a collection of Gen Z stereotypes that exist mainly in the minds of older generations.

Yet, despite its conventional framework, Stick succeeds. The predictable setup evolves into a more relaxed road-trip dynamic after Pryce persuades Santi and his pragmatic mother (Mariana Treviño) to join him and his irritable former caddie (played convincingly by Marc Maron) in an RV for a summer of amateur tournaments. Each character is subtly lonely, burdened by family issues that hinder their ability to connect with others. Fortunately, Keller’s writing is less overly sentimental or preachy than that of Lasso and creator Bill Lawrence. Furthermore, the characters are not mere caricatures like Ted; most, including Zero, quickly develop into complex individuals, thanks to a cast with understated charisma. While not revolutionary, Stick manages to score a few points above average.