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Apple TV+’s ‘Stick’ Swings into Trauma Territory: Is Owen Wilson’s Golf Show Too Focused on the Past?
Apple TV+’s New Sports Drama, “Stick,” Starring Owen Wilson, Has Arrived, Promising A feel-Good Story Set against The Backdrop Of professional Golf.Though, Some Critics Are Questioning Whether The Show’s Heavy reliance On Character Trauma Undermines Its Potential As An Uplifting Sports Narrative.
The series Follows Pryce “Stick” Cahill (Owen Wilson), A Former Golf Pro Seeking Redemption By Mentoring A Talented But Troubled Young Golfer. While The Vibrant Visuals And Wilson’s Charismatic Presence Initially Suggest A Lighthearted Tone, The Show Quickly Delves Into The Painful Pasts Of Its Characters.
The Trauma Trope: A Double-Edged Sword
Television’s Dependence On The “Trauma Plot,” Where Characters Are Defined By Their Past Suffering, Is Now A Ubiquitous Device. While Acknowledging The Reality That People Are Shaped By Challenging Experiences, some Argue That Overreliance On This Trope Can Led To Predictable And Less Engaging Storytelling.
in “Stick,” Both Pryce Cahill And His Protégé, Santi Wheeler, Are Burdened By Significant Trauma.Cahill Is Haunted By A Past tragedy Involving His Son, While wheeler Struggles With abandonment Issues Stemming From His Father’s Disappearance. Thes Traumas Serve As Explanations For Their Present Struggles, But Critics Question Whether They Overshadow The Potential For More Nuanced Character Advancement.
Plot Details Surface
The First Episode Of “Stick” Lays Out The Basic Premise. Owen Wilson Plays Pryce “Stick” Cahill,A Washed-Up Golf Pro. He Ruined His Career With An Epic Meltdown During A Tournament. Now He Upsells Expensive Golf Clubs. judy Greer Plays His ex-wife, Amber-Linn. She Reminds Him He Is Underachieving. Marc Maron Is Mitts, His Friend. mitts Helps Him Hustle Cash From Bar Patrons. Then He Finds Santi Wheeler (Peter Dager), A talented 17-Year-Old Golfer Who Is Full Of Anger. Stick Sees Potential in Santi. So, he Decides To Mentor Him.
As A Result, He Convinces Santi To Travel. Together With Mitts And Santi’s Mom, Elena (Mariana Treviño), They Travel In An Rv. Their Goal Is To Get Santi Qualified For A Big Tournament.
The Math Of Melodrama
The Series Makes No Secret Of Why The Characters Behave The Way They Do. “Stick” Attributes The Saying, Golf Is A Game Played Between your Ears, To Arnold Palmer. Before Stick And Santi Can improve Their Golf Skills, They Must First Heal Themselves. The Show Reveals That Santi’s Father Abandoned Him. His Father both Taught Him Golf And Criticized Him. The Show Wants to Make Sure There Is No Question That Santi Swings With Vengeance. There Is No Mystery. Instead, The Math Of The Situation Is Clear. The Season Plays Out Like A Rubik’s Cube Being Solved.
Did You Know? Arnold Palmer, frequently enough regarded as one of golf’s greatest players, popularized the sport in the 1950s and 1960s. Palmer won seven major championships: four Masters Tournaments (1958, 1960, 1962, and 1964), two Open Championships (1961 and 1962), and one U.S. Open (1960).
Echoes Of Other Shows
Critics Have Noted Similarities Between “Stick” And Other Feel-Good Sports Shows Like “Ted Lasso,” Suggesting That It Borrows Elements From These Successful Series. however, The Overarching Focus On Trauma Distinguishes “Stick” and Potentially Limits Its Ability To Fully Embrace The Uplifting Qualities Of The Genre.
Breaking Down ‘Stick’s’ Approach
The Show Presents That Stick Cahill’s Key To His Issues Is A Traumatic Backstory. The Show Is Ready To Provide This Backstory.Stick Decides To Watch A Dvd Of Family Moments. He And Amber-Linn Are Moving Into Their New Home. Then She Gets Pregnant. Then There Are Family videos Of A Young Son. This Son Has Never Shown up In The Present day. Stick Lost Him. This Grief caused Both The Meltdown and The Divorce. Stick Has Already Found santi. He Has Also Made Plans To Travel. The Problem Is About The Past.
Trauma Vs. Good Storytelling
Just Because It’s true, Doesn’t Mean It is Good Storytelling. Santi’s Past Comes Back Into The Story. Then, Lilli Kay Joins As Zero, Santi’s Love Interest, Who Is A Bartender And Also His Golf Caddie. then The Show Evolves Into A Bill Lawrence-Style show. “Stick” Is Similar To “Ted Lasso”. It Almost Seems Like Brett Goldstein Is Involved.
Every Step forward, Two Steps Back
But When “Stick” Starts To Come Together, The Trauma Framework Becomes More Annoying. Each Time “Stick” Moves Forward, The Story Goes Back To the Past. Every Story Development Is Compared To The Past. It is Like A Team-Building exercise That Has Been Turned Into A Tv Show Or A Business Conference About Golf.
The Elements Of The Show That Work Only Exacerbate The Annoyance Of The Trauma-Plot Framework. Every Advance Is Met With A Retreat Into The Past, Turning Each episode Into A Cycle Of Progress And Regression.
Key Players
| Actor | Character | description |
|---|---|---|
| Owen Wilson | Pryce “Stick” Cahill | A Former Golf Pro Seeking Redemption. |
| Judy Greer | Amber-Linn | Cahill’s Ex-Wife. |
| Marc Maron | Mitts | cahill’s Friend And Hustle Partner. |
| Peter Dager | Santi Wheeler | A Talented But Troubled Young Golfer. |
| Mariana Treviño | Elena | Santi’s Mother. |
| Lilli Kay | Zero | Santi’s Love Interest. |
The Enduring Appeal of Sports Dramas
Sports Dramas Have Always Held A Special Place In Viewers’ Hearts. They Offer A Combination Of Excitement, Underdog Stories, And The Triumph Of The Human Spirit. Shows Like “Friday Night Lights,” “The Queen’s Gambit,” And “cobra Kai” Have Demonstrated The Wide Appeal Of The Genre In Recent Years.
The Key To A Successful Sports Drama Lies In balancing The Athletic Competition With Compelling Character Development. Whether “Stick” Can Find This Balance Remains To Be Seen, As It navigates The Delicate Terrain Between Feel-Good Entertainment And Exploration Of Difficult Themes.
Frequently Asked Questions About ‘Stick’
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What is the main premise of Apple TV+’s ‘Stick’?
The Show Revolves Around Pryce “Stick” Cahill,A Former Golf Pro Played By owen Wilson,Who Seeks Redemption By Mentoring A Young Golf Prodigy.
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How does the show ‘Stick’ incorporate trauma into its storyline?
Each Main Character In ‘Stick’ Carries A Significant Traumatic Backstory That Influences Their Present Actions And Motivations, Creating A Narrative driven By Past Events.
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Who are the key actors in the ‘Stick’ TV series?
The Series Stars Owen Wilson As Pryce “Stick” Cahill,Judy Greer As His Ex-Wife Amber-Linn,Marc Maron As Mitts,And Peter Dager As The Young Golf Prodigy Santi Wheeler.
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What are some criticisms of the show ‘Stick’?
Critics Argue That ‘Stick’ Relies Too Heavily On The “Trauma Plot” Trope, Where Characters’ past Traumas overshadow And Dictate The Current Storyline, Potentially Hindering The show’s Momentum.
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Is ‘Stick’ similar to other feel-good sports shows?
Some Critics Have Noted Similarities Between ‘Stick’ And Shows Like ‘Ted Lasso,’ Suggesting It Shares aspects Of A Feel-Good Sports Narrative
