Netflix's New Show Is a Flop With 27% on RT That Only Hardcore Will Ferrell Fans Would Like

Netflix released ten episodes of the comedy series The Hawk, starring Will Ferrell as a washed-up golfer.

This long-awaited return to the comedian's favorite genre, the sports buddy comedy, was expected to be a hit but instead disappointed critics and ordinary viewers alike.

What Is 'The Hawk' About?

A huge camper van bursts onto the grounds of a quiet country golf club – three-time major winner Lonnie "The Hawk" Hawkins has arrived for a tournament. Once the premier star of American golf, Hawkins is now a relic of the past who refuses to retire.

For the first time in a while, he's having luck on the course. Soon, he meets Sam, a casual acquaintance from the parking lot who becomes his assistant.

Meanwhile, the story of his son, Lance, a rising golf star trying to mend his relationship with his constantly absent father, develops. Lonnie dreams of playing in the US Open with his son but forgets that golf is an individual sport and that he'll be playing against Lance.

'The Hawk' Is a Derivative Sports Comedy With Dated Humor

The Hawk offers nothing new – its premise is nearly identical to that of Stick, starring Owen Wilson, which aired on Apple TV a year earlier.

Lonnie Hawkins is a classic Ferrell character: silly yet talented and selfish yet charming. His attributes – sunburned skin, a visor with the word Hawk, and provocative suits – become his defining characteristics.

Jokes based on feces, genital size, and similar topics are drawn out mercilessly and are excruciatingly boring. Ferrell's signature technique of stretching a single comic idea to unimaginable proportions rarely works here because it requires more than comparing a golf ball to male reproductive organs.

'The Hawk's Biggest Weakness Is Its Overextended Secondary Plotlines

The main problem with The Hawk is its supporting cast and their plotlines. Lonnie's son, Lance, has a decent dramatic arc, but it pales in comparison to Ferrell's. Lonnie's ex-wife, Stacy, is a cliched, unlikable character who manipulates everyone around her.

Lance's fiancée, Natalie, is a pathetic attempt at satirizing wellness influencers. Sam is the only likable female character, and she has genuine chemistry with Lonnie.

However, the creators split up the duo midseason and forced Sam into a secondary, unnecessary crime plot.

On paper, the series should have been Ferrell's perfect comeback, but after a promising start, it falls flat – only true fans of the comedian won't be disappointed by the lackluster and boring The Hawk.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Hawk'?

• The Hawk has 27% from critics and 63% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 6.3/10.