Saagar Kote
Apple TV+’s ‘Stick’ takes the viewers into the world of golf, redemption, and friendships. The previous episode ended with Santi and Pryce coming to terms again after their conversation by the quarry. Pryce offers Zero a chance to become Santi’s caddy, and Mitts casts doubts on the whole plan. Pryce is finally optimistic about Santi winning the US Amateur and achieving his goal. With the qualifiers for the tournament coming up, the team finds itself dealing with changing dynamics and emerging complexities in interpersonal relationships between chaotic personalities. SPOILERS AHEAD.
A Golf Lesson From Pryce
After Zero agrees to be Santi’s replacement caddy following Pryce’s faking of a minor leg injury, the former pro golfer has a conversation with them on the sport. What starts as a golf conversation hilariously leads to Zero saying that golf is just a boring sport for rich men. Clearly irritated by the loud conversation between his friend and the new caddy, Mitts expresses his frustration, not able to get a wink of sleep. Pryce shows Zero a set of golf clubs, showing them how they are different from each other. All he wants to do is not let Santi make bad choices on the field of play. He hopes that Zero will be able to break through the emotional and rigid exterior of the kid. The first qualifier for the US Amateur happens at Applebrook.
As expected, Pryce is clearly a bit anxious; he teaches Zero certain hand gestures to indicate a change in clubs during the play. The whole idea confuses Zero, who lacks experience being a caddy. Pryce hopes that no trouble befalls Santi. As play commences, Santi makes early inroads into a potential victory. Unbeknownst to him, Pryce and Zero use their hand gestures to discreetly convey a change of clubs whenever Santi needs it. Unaware of this, Santi continues playing and scores a magnificent birdie. Pryce realizes that this is the only way to make Santi listen and sticks to trusting Zero. In the meantime, Mitts has a conversation with Elena about Zero and their identity. He expresses concerns about their partnership and tells Pryce that he is playing with fire by choosing to include Zero in his plan.
Zero and Elena Discuss the Past
We see Zero and Santi’s bond growing closer as they converse about each other’s music choices at a laundry store with Elena. Santi tells Zero that he cannot exist without leading the leaderboard of a tournament. It’s his obsession with always being the best that unsettles Zero to an extent. Santi also wishes to know more about Zero as a person. As the two continue to laugh and tease each other, Elena asks Santi to take a rest, as Day Two of the tournament is the next day. After her conversation with Mitts about Zero, Elena tries to break the ice with them and have a deeper understanding of their past.
Zero reveals that they were born with a different name, Christina Marie Duffy, and that their mom wasn’t there for them in their childhood. Their Dad was more understanding and accepted their gender identity and political ideology better than they hoped. Zero grows closer to Elena, and the conversation becomes a poignant exploration of each other’s personalities. Elena reveals that she used to be a business major before Santi was born.
A Switch and Hit Scenario
Santi starts Day Two of the first qualifier with a good swing. Elena tells Mitts that she now trusts Zero. At a particular point during the game, Pryce wants Santi to use a particular club called Five Iron; however, after Zero refuses to tell Santi, he plays with his own club and ends up not hitting too well, slipping to sixth place on the leader board. Zero tells Pryce that they don’t want to add more trauma by pushing Santi into something he doesn’t want to do, and adding to his daddy issues.
Pryce convinces Zero that he only wants Santi to succeed and has no ulterior motive; he is seemingly too emotionally invested in Santi. Zero is convinced and tells Santi to trust his own voice and look for a balance in his play, rather than being ultra-aggressive. After a heartfelt conversation with his friend, Santi switches to a Seven Iron Club from a Three Wood and Eagles the 17th hole. His exquisite play showcases his true potential, and he wins the qualifier handsomely.
A Cascade of Emotions
The team celebrates in the RV after Santi’s audacious victory, during which a picture frame of Mitts and his wife falls and shatters. Mitts angrily walks out, and Pryce follows him to have a conversation. Mitts emotionally tells his friend that Santi cannot be seen as the only solution to all of Pryce’s emotional issues and that he is doing all this to overcome his grief of losing his son, Jett. Struck by this, Pryce talks about Mitts’s dead wife, Francine, and his inability to handle that grief. Overwhelmed by personal remarks, the two men exchange blows. Mitts is unsure whether Pryce can handle the disappointment if Santi lets him down. When they calm down, Pryce says that he has to take this big swing in his life with Santi and admits that he desperately needs Mitts’s help.
The two friends laugh it off and have a deeply personal and cathartic moment of mutual understanding. The team hits the road again with beautiful sunsets lighting up their path. Santi and Pryce are seen enjoying each other’s company again. Elena also drives the RV, indicating that Mitts trusts her to do so now. Santi wins the final qualifier for the US Amateur in an impressive manner. Following his victory, the team gathers around the RV and celebrates, while also waiting for the main tournament. They all experience a rare feeling of joy. As night approaches, Santi and Zero go camping under the stars as suggested by Mitts, and in that moment of magic, they kiss.
Read More: Where is Stick Filmed?
