Prime Video’s comedy-thriller series "The Sticky" has a narrative based around a stranger-than-fiction event - the infamous Canadian Maple Syrup Heist. However, viewers soon realize that the show only loosely adheres to the truth, borrowing the skeletal structure of the real-life events to tell an entirely new story filled with quirky characters and unexpected developments. A strikingly clear resemblance is drawn to the Coen brothers' film “Fargo,” with a similar storytelling style involving locals embroiled in a criminal saga far more complex than originally perceived.
"The Sticky" starts off slow, taking its time to find its groove in the hour-long first two episodes. However, once it does, it ends on a cliffhanger, setting the stage for a chaotic second season. Amidst a sea of quality end-of-year programming, "The Sticky" manages to retain its charm and invites viewers to partake in its saga.
Surprisingly, the show culls its inspiration from a real incident. In 2011 and 2012, vast amounts of maple syrup were pilfered from a storage facility in Quebec. Little-known to many, the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers contributes to 77% of the worldwide supply, making such a heist a significant economic setback.
Essentially, the show revolves around the plight of Ruth Landry, portrayed by Margo Martindale, a maple syrup farmer struggling to save her property from the covetous Leonard, and Remy Bouchard (Guillaume Cyr), a security guard at the syrup warehouse harboring a side-business of stealing the maple syrup. Alongside a Boston mobster, Mike Byrne (Chris Diamontopoulos), the trio devises a plan to seriously scale up the syrup theft.
The initial episodes may come off as a struggle between establishing the character arcs and driving the plot. However, the storyline gradually becomes compelling as the cat-and-mouse chase between the antiheroes and law enforcement instills further intrigue.
Adding to the cast's vibrancy, Jamie Lee Curtis, one of the producers originally set to act Ruth’s role, makes an appearance as a bona fide criminal, injecting a distinct, darker tone to the series.
It’s noteworthy to mention that the show doesn't quite fulfill its cleverly crafted premise, as the anticipated grand scale heist doesn't come to fruition, leaving viewers hanging for the upcoming second season. There is hope that the allure of Curtis and Martindale will maintain viewer’s engagement up to a satisfying conclusion. The entire first season premiered on December 6th on Prime Video.
