Stick is a sports comedy television series created by Jason Keller for Apple TV+. The series premiered on June 4, 2025, and had 10 episodes. While it started with a gripping story, it somehow got lost in cliches during its course. Now, with the season finale released, viewers are experiencing all sorts of ‘deja vu’.
Owen Wilson’s sports drama’s risky ride ends in an ordinary ending
Stick started as an emotional ride, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats about what would happen next. However, once ‘Santi Wheeler’s’ (Peter Dager) father, ‘Gary Wheeler’, showed up in the eventual episodes, it was evident that the show was headed to a well-known ending. The final episode, which is itself named Deja Vu All Over Again, certainly delivered the same. Nonetheless, it doesn’t detract from the risks the makers took in creating the projects.
While things have been predictable, there have been some elements that have left room for intrigue in Season 2. The season doesn’t give any insight into what happened to ‘Mitts’ and ‘Elena’s’ relationship and how ‘Zero’ ends up being sidelined after coming into her own as a character. However, the show she focused on was ‘Pryce Cahill’ (Owen Wilson) and ‘Santi’s’ relationship, and that is what dominates the finale. Unfortunately, for the fans so does, ‘Gary’ the absentee father who decided to make an appearance when all was going well.
Cudos to Mackenzie Astin, who plays the role of ‘Gary Wheeler,’ as he has made the role extremely unlikable. However, the bigger source of irritation for the audience ends up being the fact that everyone can see it except for the one person who needs to. Nonetheless, ‘Santi’ is oblivious to the fact that his father is back to his old tricks.
Will ‘Santi Wheeler’s’ journey to heal take away his chances of winning the Ready Safe Invitational?
‘Santi’s’ character is also well-formed; they don’t try to rush, which ensures that viewers get to know what the actual healing can look like. From outbursts to falling and standing up again, Peter has done a strong performance throughout. And while no one, including ‘Santi’, denies that he needs more time to heal, the only problem occurs when he has to learn some lessons on the final day of the Ready Safe Invitational, when he’s at the top of the leaderboard with nowhere to go but down.
Stick ends season one with some major cliches
Despite a complex plot, Stick reaches a predictably risky conclusion for season one. While some viewers believed that the ordeal with ‘Gary’ would have been better in earlier episodes, leaving ‘Santi’ and ‘Pryce’ to shine in the finale, they are not entirely disappointed by how it ended now. However, people would have liked to see ‘Santi’ keeping the tournament’s outcome separate from his personal ‘daddy issues’.
The finale left some questions about ‘Zero’ and ‘Santi’s’ relationship unanswered, while others wanted to see ‘Amber-Linn’s’ reaction to ‘Santi’s’ success. Nonetheless, there is always season two, which the viewers believe will take a run at ‘Pryce’, making another attempt at a pro season, perhaps even with ‘Santi’ as a potential opponent.
There are many questions the audience wants answers to. What are your thoughts on Stick’s finale? Let us know.
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