Last night, my wife and I finally got the chance to sit down and start watching Stick on Apple TV - something we’ve been meaning to do since it premiered in early June. Let me just say: I get the hype now.
Multiple friends and family members (some of whom don’t even golf) had been telling us to watch it. I kept hearing, “You’ll love it,” “It’s hilarious,” They were right.
We’re only a couple episodes in, and we were laughing so hard we had to pause a few times just to catch our breath. But Stick isn’t just funny - it’s smart, sharp, and surprisingly heartfelt.
What’s Stick About?
Without giving anything away (no spoilers here), the show centers around Pryce Cahill, played perfectly by Owen Wilson. He’s a former pro golfer who’s fallen on hard times - career over, life sideways, and carrying a lot more than just emotional baggage.
Then there’s Santi, a teen with a monster swing and a past he’s trying to forget. He used to be all-in on golf… until life knocked him off course. When Pryce and Santi cross paths, what unfolds is part mentorship, part redemption arc, and part pure chaos - in the best way possible.
Why It Works
1. Owen Wilson as Pryce is pitch-perfect.
He’s got that lovable trainwreck energy down to a science. Pryce is the kind of guy you’ve met before - maybe at a local bar, maybe in your own family, maybe in the mirror. He’s flawed, funny, bitter, hopeful, and somehow still full of heart. And Wilson nails every beat.
2. The humor is legit.
This isn’t background noise comedy. The writing is sharp, the timing is spot-on, and the opening scene alone had us howling. The jokes land, but they’re not over-the-top. It's funny because it’s real - the kind of humor that comes from pain, awkwardness, and being a little too honest at the worst possible time.
3. It’s about more than golf.
Sure, golf is the backdrop. But this is a story about second chances, broken people finding purpose, and unlikely connections. You don’t need to know a thing about golf to enjoy it.
4. The emotional core hits hard.
Beneath the laughs, there’s real pain and real growth happening. You can feel it. Both Pryce and Santi are carrying some heavy stuff, and the way their stories unfold is refreshingly honest without ever getting sappy.
Bottom Line
If you’ve been putting off watching Stick, stop. Queue it up tonight. It’s hilarious, grounded, and sneakily emotional. It’s also one of those rare shows that’s not trying too hard - it just works. Owen Wilson brings his A-game, and the supporting cast and writing do the rest.
We still have 6 episodes to catch up on, but Stick already feels like a sleeper hit. If the first episodes are any indication, we’re in for something special.
