WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Stick season 1, episode 9.
Stickseason 1, episode 9, “Showtime,” finally starts to sharpen its focus, pick up its pace, and set Owen Wilson’s golf dramedy show up for a strong season finale. Although some areas ofStickseason 1’s penultimate episode continue to run thin or stray from what makes the show really work, it’s a great continuation from last week’sseries-best episode, “Clark the Mark”, led by Timothy Olyphant’s godsend of a performance to rival Wilson’s beat-up ex-PGA pro, Pryce Cahill.
Stickis proving that, just like in golf, it doesn’t matter how rough you start out, because it’s all about how you finish. WhileStickhasn’t gotten any more convincing in actual areas of golf knowledge and fandom, its story and character dynamics have finally picked up steam at the right time. Even though it would have been so much better had the series not completely floundered with its middle episodes,Stickimpressively reversed its course in clutch time.
Stick Episode 9 Proves It Works Best When Pryce & Santi Stay On Course (Literally)
Episode 9 Keeps Things In The Playing Field & Features Real PGA Golfers
Looking back onStickafter episode 9, its biggest problem has surely been how much energy and focus were spent on plot elements and character conflicts that took place off the golf course. It may be too late forStickto fully redeem itself, but its last two episodes havemade it much easier to overlook its typical laundry list of weekly episode complaints.
Stickepisode 9 features cameos fromPGA pros Keegan Bradley, Max Homa, and Wyndham Clark. For golf fans who have been patient withStickand were hoping for more golf authenticity from the show, the three PGA pros add a great touch, but are still a far cry from theupcoming guest list in Netflix’sHappy Gilmore 2.
Had the creative team behindStickput more emphasis on creating a sense of genuineness around the game, we’d likely be having a much different conversation heading into the finale.
CBS golf broadcastersTrevor Immelman and Jim Nantz also appear in multiple scenes ofStickepisode 9, adding their signature brand of commentary to the fictional PGA Tour event, the Ready Safe Insurance Invitational. I appreciated their candor about Santi’s decision to hit a drive into the fairway of a neighboring hole to avoid a bunker because it really is, as they put it, “insane.”
This type of legitimate golf presence andendorsement from established PGA personnel is exactly whatStickneededand what many fans had hoped for when they first pressed play. Had the creative team behindStickput more emphasis on creating a sense of genuineness around the game, we’d likely be having a much different conversation heading into the finale.
Stick’s Various Flaws Have Hidden Its Most Fundamental Problem – Santi
Santi Is Hard To Root For & Unconvincing As A Teenage Golf Prodigy
Plenty ofStickviewers have cast shade at Zero’s character for throwing a wrench in the emerging teacher-student relationship between Pryce and Santi. SinceStickseason 1,episode 4, Zero became the only one whom Santi would listen to on the course, even though she had little to no golf experience. Meanwhile,Pryce, a former PGA Tour champion, called the shots from the sidelines.
These elements aroundSanti, including the nonspecific arc about his strained relationship with his father, made it seem like they were the roots of some ofStick’smost fundamental problems. Seeing Santi back in the spotlight with Pryce in episode 9 reveals that his character, which the entire concept of the show is centered around, is the true issue.
I’m unsure what the audience is supposed to think about Santi when he seems more interested in calling Pryce out than in going pro or winning the tournament.
There are just too many times when Santi looks like a deer in headlightsor gets overly rattled by Pryce or Zero without showing an ounce of resiliency. I’m unsure what the audience is supposed to think about Santi when he seems more interested in calling Pryce out than in going pro or winning the tournament.
IfStickis going to lean into the starstruck and fragile teenage side of Santi, then having him end up in second place on the leaderboard after three rounds of his first PGA tournament simply can’t happen (even though it does). Not only is itunrealistic on a nearLike Mikelevel, but it’s undeniably ridiculouswhether you understand golf or not.
It’s been a needlessly volatile debut season forStick, but I’m still rooting for it to make a comeback finish – one that can’t rely on a predictably cheesy happy ending.
I am looking forward to seeing how Santi reacts after his father shows up in episode 9, butfor the sake ofStick’slongevity, he cannot win this tournament. A better lesson and ending would be Santi properly handling disappointment, something that he has blatantly struggled with throughout the series so far.
It’s been a needlessly volatile debut season forStick, but I’m still rooting for it to make a comeback finish – one that can’t rely on a predictably cheesy happy ending.Stickneeds to definitively show viewers what this show is all about with its season 1 finale. If it’s not the golf comedy it’s marketed as, there has to be something more to it.
Stick Season 1, Episode 9
Cast
A disgraced golf pro seeks redemption by mentoring a troubled teen prodigy, igniting a journey of healing and second chances.
