Apple TV+’s ‘Stick’, starring Owen Wilson, is more than just a golf comedy; it’s a poignant exploration of grief. The series delicately balances humor and heartache, revealing how each character grapples with loss. Pryce Cahill (Owen Wilson), Mitts (Marc Maron), Santi (Peter Dager), and Elena (Mariana Treviño) are all bound by grief, making their journey through American golf tournaments a path to healing.
The series emphasizes the universality of grief, highlighting how individuals cope with loss differently. ‘Stick’ invites viewers to confront grief directly, suggesting that only through acknowledgment and understanding can one truly move forward.
This article delves into the themes of grief, the cast’s insights, and the unique role of golf in this dramedy, focusing on performances and the series’ exploration of loss and resilience, incorporating perspectives to explore the show’s emotional depth.
Pryce’s Unacknowledged Grief
Pryce Cahill’s journey in ‘Stick’ is defined by his refusal to confront the death of his son, Jet. This avoidance leads to further losses, including a career meltdown and the dissolution of his marriage. Despite the divorce, Amber-Linn (Judy Greer) remains close, her grace highlighting Pryce’s inability to mourn with her. Greer notes that Pryce’s stuck grief costs Amber-Linn her best friend and partner, showcasing the ripple effect of unacknowledged loss.
The series’ seventh episode features a dream sequence where Pryce imagines the milestones he missed with Jet, underscoring the depth of his unacknowledged pain. This refusal to face loss keeps him emotionally stagnant, affecting his relationships and overall well-being. The show uses Pryce’s story to illustrate the importance of confronting grief rather than running from it.
The relationship between Pryce and Amber-Linn, even after their divorce, remains a central theme. Greer’s portrayal of Amber-Linn brings a sweet-tart chemistry. Pryce talking at top speed and Amber-Linn getting a sentence or two in edgewise to playfully bring all of his hot air back down to Earth.
Elena and Santi’s Family Grief
Elena and Santi, another essential character pair in ‘Stick’, grapple with the fallout from Elena’s divorce. Mariana Treviño describes them as trying to hold onto what’s left of their household. They are trying not to move too much, because there’s so much hurt and grief. Treviño described the mother and son as initially “trying to hold onto what’s left of their household” following Elena’s divorce from Santi’s father.
Golf becomes a fraught subject, entangled with Santi’s estrangement from his father. Returning to the sport unlocks new possibilities for both, Treviño explains that Elena sees what condition her son is in and she really wants something to change. Elena’s agreement to Pryce’s plan signifies her desire for change and healing within their family unit, highlighting the risks and rewards of confronting their shared pain.
The mother and son have a fluid relationship shifting between English and Spanish in a way so fluidly that it often seems as though the two native Spanish speakers had ad libbed some of their scenes.
Santi’s Journey with Golf and Grief
Santi’s journey with golf is intertwined with memories of his father’s demanding coaching style. After Pryce’s expectations and occasionally too-demanding coaching style overwhelm him with memories of his father’s off-putting behavior, Santi stomps off to a storage shed. There he meets Lilli Kay’s Zero, who encourages him to embrace his athletic abilities. Their instant bond motivates Santi to not let these people use you, because [your athletic abilities] are your gifts.
The tension between loving golf and having been hurt by it drives much of Santi’s arc. Dager highlights that the game is really what binds them together, and of course it also catapults them into and triggers all the complicated emotions and experiences that playing golf both gave and took from them. Ultimately, the substantive connections between characters happen “when they become open and start to talk about the grief and loss” they’ve experienced.
Zero sees Santi and the two connect. Kay describes in lightly mystical terms as Zero and Santi “intersecting in this moment where they really can’t help but be honest with each other.”
Golf as a Tool for Dealing with Grief
The cast and creator of ‘Stick’ emphasize golf’s unique ability to facilitate healing. Jason Keller describes grief as an entirely egalitarian experience: “It doesn’t matter who you are, where you are, it’s just going to happen.” The series underscores that acknowledging grief is a life-changing experience and challenges the American approach to avoiding such difficult emotions. Golf serves as a powerful metaphor for managing loss and finding resilience.
Dager, who didn’t play or even follow golf before Stick, still plays, relishing its unique combination of intellectualism, accountability, and physicality. Dager loves that it’s “primal and gut-wrenching, and you have to work on the mental side of it” all the time, pointing out that “it’s even more challenging than tennis in establishing dominance, because success is so fleeting”.
When, as a golfer, “you hit a terrible shot, and if, in the next shot, you are still wrapped up with the grief of the previous shot” the weight of that failure gets in the way of improving with the next shot. Instead, “you can learn from your previous bad shot” and adjust accordingly, treating the experience as a re-centering practice for managing heavier losses off the course.
Relationships and Vulnerability
The connections between characters in ‘Stick’ highlight the importance of vulnerability in overcoming grief. Kay describes the scariness of finding that the risk of learning to be a little bit softer with each other is worth its rewards. Whether it’s the friendship between Pryce and Mitts, the romance between Elena and a new love interest, or the coach-athlete dynamic between Pryce and Santi, these relationships emphasize the need for openness.
The tension between loving golf and having been hurt by it drives nearly everything between Santi and Pryce. In order to access and develop the working and personal relationships Santi and Pryce want together, each of them has to start resolving the tension they experience between their love for golf and how powerfully it reminds them of past hurts.
These dynamics showcase how characters can re-access what they love about golf by addressing their emotional wounds, illustrating the healing power of vulnerability and connection.
Conclusion: Finding Healing Through Golf
‘Stick’ beautifully portrays how grief can be confronted and healed through unexpected avenues like golf. The series emphasizes the importance of acknowledging loss, embracing vulnerability, and forming meaningful connections. Owen Wilson and the cast deliver poignant performances that underscore the universality of grief and the potential for resilience.
The series showcases the journey of finding healing through the game while dealing with challenging emotions and past hurts. ‘Stick’ is a compelling reminder that it’s primal and gut-wrenching, and you have to work on the mental side of it. ‘Stick’ suggests that facing grief head-on, learning from past mistakes, and leaning on others are essential steps toward emotional recovery.
If renewed for a second season, ‘Stick’ promises to continue exploring these themes, further intertwining the sport of golf with the complexities of human emotion. Just as a golfer learns from a terrible shot, the characters in ‘Stick’ demonstrate that life’s challenges can be overcome through understanding, resilience, and the courage to connect with others.
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