Created by Will Ferrell, Harper Steele, and Chris Henchy, The Hawk follows Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins (Ferrell), a former No. 1 ranked golfer who years ago exited the pro ranks in disgrace, as he attempts a return to pro golf by working his way up to play the U.S. Open. If he wins, he’ll complete the career Grand Slam that eluded him in his heyday. (10 28-to-37-min. episodes)
The Hawk
What’s it rated? TV-MA
What’s it worth, Anna? Full price
What’s it worth, Glen? Full price
Where’s it showing? Netflix
Glen: If you’re a fan of Will Ferrell, he’s bringing his Ricky Bobby, Ron Burgundy, Chazz Michael Michaels machismo to the part of Lonnie Hawkins. Lonnie is full of exaggerated swagger, but somehow Ferrell always manages to imbue these characters with heart, making them sympathetic despite their boorish insufferableness. Molly Shannon stars as Stacy, Lonnie’s ex-wife, and their son, Lance (Jimmy Tatro), is an ascending PGA golfer who ends up competing against his father. Keith David is Old Henry, Lonnie’s former caddy and longtime best friend. Fortune Feimster is Sam, Lonnie’s new and completely inexperienced caddy. Luke Wilson stars as Golden Fisk, Lonnie’s longtime rival. This is a great cast delivering a funny underdog story that’s very bingeable.
Anna: I find Ferrell to be very funny and watchable, and whether he’s in his wheelhouse of comedy or stretching his dramatic muscles in films like Stranger Than Fiction and Everything Must Go—I love both films and have watched them countless times—he’s got charm and charisma. It’s a tough cast to beat in The Hawk. Lance is a spoiled nepo baby in the world of golf, Sam is bumbling and desperate in a way the Feimster has perfected, and Shannon is comedy royalty in whatever project she touches, including this portrayal of the put-upon ex. It’s hard not to compare this to Stick, Jason Keller’s show from last year that features Owen Wilson as an aging golfer as well. While Stick had a bit more sentiment and deeper storylines, The Hawk plays into Ferrell’s whimsical, over-the-top character portrayals but still manages to have a lot of heart.
Glen: When we first meet Lance, he and his fiancée, Natalie (Katelyn Tarver), have their eyes on the prize. She’s a “wellness influencer,” and Lance supposedly treats his body like a temple. Training is tantamount. Wouldn’t it be funny to discover the muscle-bound cocksure jerk has a bunch of bad habits just itching to get out? Ferrell and Shannon are great together as always. Stacy loathes Lonnie, and his mere presence usually unleashes a profane diatribe. This series also marks the first return of Ferrell and Wilson working together since Old School (2003). The whole thing is a breezy, silly, goofy romp that revels in making fun of male bravado. I don’t know what it is about the game, but golf seems ripe for comedy, from Caddyshack (1980) to Happy Gilmore (1996) to Tin Cup (1996), there’s something funny about men (it’s always men, right?) in ridiculous pants trying to hit a tiny ball into a tiny hole in the ground. If you don’t mind lowbrow, it’s watchable.
Anna: Good point. Golf seems to be a well-used sport when it comes to comedy—long games and big egos tease out pretty well. There was also Dink that came out this year about a washed-up tennis star who goes into the competitive world of pickleball. I’ve not seen that one yet, but it’s next on my list when I’m itching for a low-stakes comedy about a sport I know virtually nothing about. There’s no lack of content out there, as we all know, but if shutting your brain down for a bit and watching some of the best well-seasoned comics out there, The Hawk is worth a binge. If Ferrell isn’t your thing, I don’t think you’ll make it through this one, but personally I find his over-the-top characters to be quite charming. It was worth the watch to me.
New Times Arts Editor Glen Starkey and freelancer Anna Starkey write Sun Screen. Comment at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in July 30 – August 6, 2026.
