Stick Season 2: Owen Wilson's Golf Dramedy Barely Makes The Cut | Review

Apple TV Stick remains an easy feel-good watch in season 2, but underdeveloped writing and filler scenes keep Owen Wilson's Apple TV dramedy from standing out. Published Oct 30, 2026, 11:45 AM EDT Greg is a Lead TV Writer & Critic at Screen Rant with expertise in new streaming releases. He's published over 3000 articles at SR, including weekly recommendation guides and dozens of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. He previously worked in Development at ABC Television & Lawrence Bender Productions. Greg majored in Film Production at Chapman University's Dodge College. Greg also has years of broadcast TV production experience at major networks such as NBC, TNT, and ESPN. He currently lives in Greater Boston. Apple TV's golf-themed dramedy series Stick returns on November 4, 2026, with a 2-part premiere that continues the comeback story of former PGA superstar Pryce Cahill, played by Owen Wilson. Stick season 1 introduced viewers to Pryce going through a midlife crisis, costing him his marriage while still grieving over the tragic loss of his young son. Pryce was able to begin healing his wounds by getting back into the game that made him a household name but also left a stain on his reputation after a prolific, nationally televised meltdown. In Stick season 2, Pryce gains the inner strength to start swinging his own clubs again after restricting himself to only playing the part of a mentor to a rising golf phenom, Santi Wheeler, played by Peter Dager. Pryce begins to discover that the same reasons he can't accept his own former greatness on the golf course are connected to why he can no longer seem to commit to anything in his life, and perhaps why he overly invests in Santi's development at the cost of his own emotional well-being. Stick rests on this link between the game and Pryce's mental health even more so in season 2. Pryce remains optimistic through the help of his old caddie Mitts (Marc Maron) and his old flame turned golf swing coach Amanda, played by Emmy winner Rhea Seehorn, who both help him on his journey to become the oldest PGA player to ever win a major championship. Meanwhile, Stick season 1 antagonist Clark Ross, played by Timothy Olyphant, receives a complete character makeover, serving as an ally and source of motivation for Pryce this season. Although it's an odd change, Olyphant's increased role does improve the series. Newcomer John Higgins joins the cast as Santi's agent, which gives viewers a taste of the inner world of a celebrity golfer without ever delivering anything substantial. To summarize Stick season 2 as just one core critique, it comes down to a matter of underdevelopment in just about every creative aspect. Santi's progression feels like playing one of those career modes in a sports video game like NBA 2K or MLB The Show, full of those half-baked, inauthentic cutscenes you want to skip through to get to the actual gameplay. Stick Is Hardly A Golf Series, But It Is A Passable Drama In Season 2 Stick insists on carrying the signature "feel-good" torch passed on from previous Apple TV dramedy series of its kind, primarily Ted Lasso and Shrinking, that oftentimes try exhaustively to feel grounded, relatable, and safe to its viewers. In doing so, it utilizes its golf-themed narrative as more of a background to the overall series than anything else, occasionally returning to Santi's tournaments and Pryce's training to remind viewers that it's still, technically, a series about golf. In both Santi and Pryce's cases, however, golf is just an avenue for greatness. Outside the success and fun on the course, both characters stand in their own way from what they actually need – fulfillment. To Stick's credit, it is quite easy to sit through in that it doesn't require a laser-sharp attention span to keep up with the unfolding plot. All things considered, the sports aspect feels interchangeable in Stick, like it could just as easily be a series about hockey or baseball, which makes it rather dull for an avid sports fan. What's left underneath is a bland rendition of an extended family drama that frequently lacks tension or humor, so much so that you may wonder what demographic this show is actually aiming at. The performances are all strong, especially Seehorn, who adds a much-needed sense of authenticity to the series, but the writing simply is not up to par. There are really no emotional beats or character conflicts in Stick that viewers haven't seen or heard before in some other light drama series. To Stick's credit, it is quite easy to sit through in that it doesn't require a laser-sharp attention span to keep up with the unfolding plot. I would recommend waiting to binge-watch all ten episodes of Stick season 2 when they become available this December. As far as calling Stick a series worth returning to and looking forward to each week for the rest of the year, there's simply not enough execution or appeal. If, however, you're looking for a weekly dose of something wholesome, there are certainly worse ways to spend about 30 minutes. Stick Season 2 Hints At Greatness But Never Goes The Full Distance One of the more intriguing elements of Stick season 2 is Santi's development as one of the biggest new faces on the PGA Tour and the surge of endorsements and monetary pressures that come along with success in the field of entertainment. Some moments feel like they could have been scenes that were cut from HBO's sports agent drama Ballers as Santi is faced with decisions and obligations tied to contracts and his developing public image. A better series might have focused more intently on Santi's career growth in this way and made the actual business being discussed more interesting to viewers, just like Entourage did with the movie business. Stick has not deviated from the type of light-hearted dramedy series it markets itself as, but it also really hasn't reached its full potential in season 2. Another swing and a miss in Stick season 2 is the alarming number of filler scenes throughout that truly don't serve the story. From air hockey battles to forced relationship issues and silly contemplations about koi fish and Star Wars, Stick attempts to dive deep into areas of human life that everyone can relate to but doesn't do enough to make these conversations worthwhile. The general therapeutic undertone of Stick season 2 becomes irritating as it carries on – not because its heart isn't in the right place, but more because it doesn't seem to have the right tools or language to touch on matters that could profoundly affect the viewer, or even briefly entertain them. Stick has not deviated from the type of light-hearted dramedy series it markets itself as, but it also really hasn't reached its full potential in season 2. Its "feel-good" qualities often feel artificially constructed, and that may have more to do with how surprisingly hard it is to care about these characters even when they're so clearly designed to be likable, cheery, and sympathetic. Some viewers may feel like they're just waiting for something to actually happen throughout Stick season 2, while others may find it to be cozy and comfortable. If you're looking for a series that is engaging, distinctive, and worth coming back to each week, Stick just doesn't make the cut. The first two episodes of Stick season 2 premiere on Wednesday, November 4, exclusively on Apple TV. Stick - Season 2 5/10 Release Date November 3, 2026 Network Apple TV Series Stick Episodes 10 Pros & Cons Stick season 2 has a great and likable cast Stick season 2 is an easy & stress-free watch Stick season 2 hardly focuses on golf or sports Stick season 2 is often melodramatic & cliché Stick season 2 lacks consistent tension & humor