Stick, the Apple TV+ golf comedy, has had a rough ride in its debut season, but episode 8, titled “Clark the Mark”, is a major turning point, thanks to Timothy Olyphant’s character, Clark Ross.
Clark has a complicated past with Pryce Cahill, played by Owen Wilson, which includes a huge public fallout that ended Pryce’s career. Clark’s charm and charisma bring some much-needed energy to the show and finally make things interesting.
Timothy Olyphant Steals the Show
Olyphant’s character, Clark, doesn’t show up until episode 8, which sums up Stick’s problem: there’s potential, but it’s been poorly executed so far. Clark and Pryce’s rivalry is the show’s best storyline, and it could have been the focus from the beginning.
Instead, we only get them together late in the season, which makes the show feel disjointed. Their chemistry is hilarious, and every scene they share is much more entertaining than the rest of the characters, especially Santi, the supposed protagonist.
Pryce’s Story vs. Santi’s
The show tries to build up Santi’s storyline, with his daddy issues and his journey in golf, but Pryce’s emotional arc is far more interesting.
Watching Pryce try to make a comeback in the sport he once loved is much easier to root for than watching Santi struggle with his relationship with his father. Stick would have been much better if it focused on Pryce’s redemption and his quest for a spot in a PGA tournament rather than Santi’s journey.
Inconsistent Storytelling
While episode 8 is a clear improvement, Stick has still struggled with being inconsistent throughout the season. The tone shifts too often, making it hard to enjoy.
The drama around Pryce’s past, his tension with Clark, and his painful journey back to golf are often overshadowed by unnecessary melodrama involving other characters like Santi, Zero, and Elena. Some parts of the episode are hard to believe, like Clark not recognizing Mitts, Pryce’s caddie, sooner. It’s also confusing how Pryce could have predicted the situation with Zero blowing their cover.
Golf Comedy or Drama?
Episode 8 does a good job of bringing back the golf comedy aspect, which the show promised. There’s a nice touch when Pryce uses an old 3 iron to skim a ball over a pond, but there are still a few odd moments, like Santi constantly calling the PGA Tour “the show,” which is a term more common in baseball.
Even though these little details are off, the episode shows that Stick is starting to find its footing and could still turn things around for the final episodes.
