Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Stick season 1, episode 9.The penultimate episode ofStickseason 1 proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Owen Wilson’s golf comedy is a lot better when it ignores its most controversial storyline. Despite beingcompared toTed Lassofrom the very beginning,Stickhas proven much more divisive.Stick’s Rotten Tomatoes scoreshows that, and viewers have started to voice their displeasure with some choices.
There are quite a few divisive things inStick, but the show has finally found its biggest problem. In fact,Stickepisode 9just proved that the show is indisputably better without its most divisive storyline. By ignoring that controversial plot,Stickhas finally found its groove, and the show had its best episode yet.
Stick Is Much Better When Avoiding Santi & Zero’s Romance
Stick Episode 9 Didn’t Focus On Santi & Zero, & It Felt Much Lighter & More Enjoyable
Pretty much everythingStickhas tried to do with Zero (Lilli Kay) so far has proven divisive in some way. Many fans view them as whiny, they don’t appreciate the way Zero attacks the older generations in the show, and they’re just seen as annoying.Perhaps the most divisive part of Zero’s entire character, however, is their relationship with Santi.
Santi and Zero’s relationship so far has been one of the least compelling parts ofStickseason 1. While they have had a few cute moments, their relationship is mostly just about fighting, getting overly offended at one another, or going through a pretty standard coming-of-age romance. Focusing on Santi and Zero’s romance can really bogStickdown.
The best example of the negative impact Zero and Santi’s relationship has is their fighting. Every timeSticktries to put some drama into the budding relationship, it ends up being a very annoying and childish story.Zero and Santi are honestly a bad pairing that just end up boggingStickdown. Watching them fight feels like a chore, and even the sweeter moments don’t feel special.
The proof of how Santi and Zero’s relationship slowsStickdoes is episode 9.Zero and Santi’s relationship basically wasn’t inStickepisode 9 at all, and it was one of the show’s best episodes so far. We didn’t have to deal with any childish lovers' quarrels, any jealousies or miscommunications, andStickgot to be the heartwarming golf comedy it sold itself as.
By not focusing on Zero and Santi, it feels likeStickepisode 9 really trimmed a lot of fat off itself. The whole episode feels like it moves faster than all the previous ones ever did, and there really weren’t any eye roll moments to speak of.Ignoring Santi and Zero’s relationship is clearly good forStick.
Stick Episode 9 Finally Starts Fixing Its Problem With Santi’s Immaturity
Santi Has Finally Started Listening To Pryce & Calming Himself Down On The Links
Stickepisode 9 certainly benefited from not focusing on Santi and Zero’s relationship, but it also benefited from a general shift in Santi’s character.Santi has been very immature throughoutStickseason 1. He wouldn’t listen to Pryce’s coaching, he threw temper tantrums every time he shanked a shot, and everything had to be his way or the highway.
Santi and his childish antics were really getting annoying, butStickepisode 9 has finally let him get some character development. He had some bad shots in his first round, but instead of slamming his clubs or freaking out,Santi had a mature reaction and calmed himself down. He even listened to Pryce’s advice and let the older, more experienced golfer share his wisdom.
That alone really helpedStickepisode 9.Santi instantly got more likable, and it was instantly easier to root for him and actually want him to win the tournament. Along with being more likable, it now feels like Santi has actually grown up a bit. He’s had some bad experiences, but he’s actually learned from them and used them to develop into a more mature person.
Along with being more likable, it now feels like Santi has actually grown up a bit.
Because of Santi’s character development,Stickepisode 9 feels like the show has earned some happy moments.Santi’s triumph at the tournament feels deserved, the relationships the show has been building feel genuine, and everything is finally falling into place. There’s still room to grow, butStickhas finally found its winning strategy.
Stick Is At Its Best When Focusing On Pryce, Santi & Golf
Wilson & Dager Have Incredible Chemistry & Stick Knows How To Shoot A Golf Scene
The last big advantage thatStickepisode 9 had over most of the earlier episodes is its focus on golf.Stickis at its absolute best when its focuing on golf, and more specifically on Pryce and Santi’s relationship as a coach and player. Most of the other thingsSticktries, like Santi and Zero’s relationship, just don’t hit as hard as the golf comedy parts do.
Stickmight not have the best track record of knowing golf terminology and facts, but it certainly knows how to shoot a good golf scene.Watching Santi struggle with his nerves and ultimately decide to “take a big swing” and listen to Pryce’s crazy shortcut was great all around. The shots of Santi swinging and the drone footage of balls flying through the air are also a visual treat.
Stickalso knows exactly how to translate golf terms and stakes to an audience that may not know much about the sport. That’s not easy to do with a game as universal but also highly technical as golf, and it’s impressive thatStickmanages it. I, for example, don’t know much about golf beyond knowing that a low score is good, but I can followStick’s tournaments with ease.
Déjà Vu All Over Again
July 23
Owen Wilson and Peter Dager also have an undeniable chemistry that shines brightest duringStick’s golf scenes. When it’s just Pryce and Santi out there, with Pryce pitching a harebrained scheme and Santi getting amused by it, they feel like an actual father-son duo. It’s incredibly endearing and amusing, but that central pairing often gets overlooked when they’re not on the links.
All of this sums up to a simple conclusion:Stickis truly in its groove when it’s showing Santi and Pryce playing golf. The show’s problems come from everything else; if it just focused on golf,Stickwouldn’t get half as much criticism. It’s a shame it took nine episodes to get here, but hopefully ifStickseason 2 happens, the show will find its groove a lot earlier.
