The latest sports-comedy hybrid series from Apple TV+, in the same vein as the platform’s Emmy-winning hitTed Lasso, has divided critics ahead of its early June 2025 premiere. Five months into 2025, Apple TV+ has already generated a handful of new original streaming hits, some of them receiving widespread critical acclaim, while others have achieved and maintained popularity on the streaming platform. The most notable of Apple TV+’s 2025 original programming slate are the Seth Rogen and Evan GoldbergHollywood-centric comedy seriesThe StudioandJon Hamm’s dark comedy crime dramaYour Friends & Neighbors.
That said, there have also been some less successful original 2025 offerings on Apple TV+ over the first half of the year. For example, the Leo Woodall-ledintellectual conspiracy drama seriesPrime Targetfailed to win over a majority of critics, resulting in aRotten Tomatoescritic score of just 45% (paired with a similarly mixed 56% audience score). Meanwhile, the gritty, tonally ambiguous crime seriesDope Thiefand the action sci-fi comedy seriesMurderbotare two recent examples of brand-new celebrated Apple TV+ programs. Additionally, the acclaim ofSeveranceseason 2, the flagship drama series on Apple TV+, speaks for itself.
Stick Season 1’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Debuts At 50%
At the time of writing,Stickseason 1 has earned just a 50% rating on Rotten Tomatoes ahead of its series premiere on Wednesday, June 10, 2025. If this RT score were to stick,it would make the new Owen Wilson-led sports comedy series the lowest-rated new Apple TV+ series of 2025. A common critic’s consensus forStickseason 1 is that it doesn’t have enough story to justify its 10-episode season, relying on tired tropes and recycled clichés that make its attempt to be aTed Lassosupplement for Apple TV+ a bit too obvious and ultimately unsatisfying.
The most concerning aspect about the future ofStickseason 1 is thatall the poor reviews currently listed on Rotten Tomatoes are written by Top Critics on the site. Nick Shager ofThe Daily Beastwrites, “Stretching clichés so thin that its comedy by and large vanishes, thereby neutering charming turns from Owen Wilson and Mark Maron, this slog is like a more heartfelt Happy Gilmore if it ran as long as Ingmar Bergman’s Fanny and Alexander.” Chase Hutchinson ofTheWrapwrites, “There could be an enjoyable 90-minute comedy hidden away in here, but a full TV season painfully overstretches a standard sports underdog story until you just wish it would call it a day and go home.”
Don’t Underestimate The Appeal Of A Modern Golf Comedy Show
While the critical reception forStickseason 1 has gotten off on the wrong foot, there’s still hope that the series can find a fan base based on its strong ensemble cast and golf-focused themes and backgrounds.
Just like its underdog story, Stick season 1 still has a chance to bounce back.
Golf remains one of the most popular sports on the planet and is somewhat unrepresented in film and television outside of classics such asCaddyshackandHappy Gilmore, the latter of which has spawned a sequel that will release on Netflix in late July, the same week that theStickseason 1 finale will come out. Just like its underdog story,Stickseason 1 still has a chance to bounce back.
