Stick

Interesting characters, decent writing, good acting and one snotty millennial actress Lilly Kay just destroys the show and renders it unwatchable. The chemistry between the rest of the cast is good, she is like a permanent oil stain on a racetrack.

Good portrayal of what it is like to be a golfer, the precarious balance between confidence and coming off the rails at any moment. The precarious balance between letting a teenager test himself and providing the safety net when he predictably fails. Owen Wilson is the perfect "former great golfer" - equal measure of chaos, arrogance and neediness.

My hopes weren't particularly high with this one as the marketing seemed very lightweight and the first episode in particular included every single washed up star cliche in the book. But as the show goes on and the core premise started to take shape, I soon find myself looking forward to each episode.

Stick has been dubbed 'the golf Ted Lasso' but doesn't quite swing for the same dramatic depths (other than a few standout scenes) and the writing is not quite as tight (whether intentional or not, almost every character has moments where they come across as unlikeable or rude).

However what we do have is a light, breezy watch that doesn't outstay its welcome, and a few moments of euphoria when everything clicks and the show is firing on all cylinders. If you're going throgh a tough time in your life, this might just be the show you need right now.

Bonus points if you're a golf fan - there's plenty of references and the actual golfing itself is shot rather well!

This show is well cast, and endearing. But it's also extremely light and fluffy. The first three episodes are fun in that way shows should be, but at the same time Owen Wilson is playing a variation of every character he's ever played.

You're waiting for the shoe to drop, or the big thing to happen, and it kind of never does. It's the kind of show you put on Sunday afternoon when you need a decent nap and aren't too scared to miss an episode because the "previously on" will fill in the blanks.

If you're looking for something easy and full of surface, this is the show for you. But then again, that's only after the first three episodes. I will happily eat my hat if it turns into something deeper as it goes along.

But hey, the soundtrack to this show is pretty great.

This show works surprisingly well for what it is. Owen Wilson is always the same character, so you know what you're getting with him. The supporting cast, with one exception, is excellent. The storyline works to connect us to the characters and make us feel something.

BUT, we all know which character has to go. The one who is insufferable. The one who perfectly embodies the group she/they represent. The one who tries to make you feel like you're some horrible person while you're simply trying to enjoy your steak. The one who doesn't feel safe the moment anything uncomfortable happens. The one who can't deal with life and the way other people are.

Because of how annoying that character is, it's hard to get through some episodes.

The show started off promising. Owen Wilson is playing his stock likable lead character well enough, but the supporting characters are going to tank this show fast if something doesn't change.

At first, the stereotypical smart alec teen and the sassy Latina mom are okay, but their shticks quickly wear thin. Both are spoiled and unlikable, and by the fourth episode, I found myself fast-forwarding through most of their scenes since they mostly consisted of Pryce (Wilson's character) begging them for one thing or another. You'll find yourself getting angry on his behalf that he has to beg people he's paid $100k for basic respect and to hold up their end of the contract.

I haven't even mentioned yet the caddy-"Zero" is (her?) name-who is some compilation of every radical woke stereotype wrapped up in one. The identity wouldn't matter if the person was even semi-likable. But she too is insufferable and mean and bratty. (Why does one show need to stack up with so many unlikable characters? Every single character must be mean and snarky and pile on to bully the lowly main character? Why did the writers themselves not get how lopsided and hard to watch that would be for the viewer?)

I will give it a little more time, but I have one foot out of the proverbial door at this point. When I'm having to fast forward scenes of a new show because they're predictable and redundant and frustrating, that's not a good sign. I hope the writers course-correct before it's too late.