The Sticky

Maple syrup is one of those products I just assumed sprang into existence fully formed. Like mangos. Or boulders. But there are apparently farmers who tap trees with spigots to collect the stuff.

Ruth Landry is a Quebec maple syrup farmer. She is struggling pay the bills and care for her comatose husband. Then the association that regulates the syrup trade revokes her license on a technicality.

The owner, Leonard Gauthier, wants to force Ruth out of business and buy her land on the cheap. He makes her an insultingly low offer. Ruth responds by hurling a 30-foot maple tree through the association’s front door. Leonard thinks it is a good idea to keep hounding her.

As my father used to say: Never underestimate a woman willing to throw timber at you. Odds are good she ain’t screwing around.

Ruth hatches a scheme to rip off the association’s million-dollar maple syrup surplus with the help of Remy Bouchard, the only security guard at the association’s warehouse, and Mike Byrne, a disgraced mobster with poor impulse control.

The relationship between the three is set up well, building enough sympathy to make you care about the characters when they start breaking bad and making poor decisions. As with most crime comedies, the plot zigs and zags in unexpected ways. Nothing goes according to plan and eventually our crew is in hot water with the police, the mob, and the association.

The Sticky is a lot of fun. It’s clearly going for a Fargo vibe, especially with their “This is not based on a true story” title card at the beginning of each episode. But it’s missing the distinctive style and well-defined side characters that make Fargo such a singular viewing experience.

A larger problem is the finale, which left me wondering if there were still more episodes waiting to drop. It felt abrupt–less like a season-end cliffhanger and more like the next chapter of your book is 12 months away. It’ll also be a huge bummer if the show isn’t picked up for future seasons. I think a smidge more resolution would’ve countered this.

Still, those are pretty minor complaints about a fun, well-crafted crime story. Recommended.