The Sticky Review — Mayhem. Mischief. Delicious Maple Syrup.

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Placing a “based-on-a true story” dark comedy in the snowy north carries with it some heavy connotations. The success of the Coen Brothers 1996 filmFargo, and its subsequent prestige television series on FX had mostly staked out this setting as their playground. However,The Stickylooks to needle into the setting while opening up the location. Who thought stealing syrup could be such a fruitful world to explore? With an excellent performance from (character actress) Margo Martindale leading the small ensemble,The Stickyscratched an itch for small-time heists. The Prime Video series maintains momentum and silliness despite intense moments of violence. This helps make the admittedly absurd story shine, despite the inclusion of some tired tropes.

Ruth Clarke (Margo Martindale) in The Sticky

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What is the plot ofThe Sticky?

Based on the real-life Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist (yes, seriously),The Stickyfollows three fictional characters looking to score big riches. Ruth Landry (Margo Martindale) struggles to keep her life in order after her husband falls into a coma. Her life gets even more difficult when Quebec’s bureaucrats who run the National Reserve of Syrup look to take advantage of her situation. Led by Leonard (Guy Nadon), they try to force a sale of her land for well below market value. To fight back, she joins with Boston mobster Mike (Chris Diamantopoulos) and security guard Remy (Guillaume Cyr) to pull off a multi-million dollar heist.

Murder and Maple RuleThe Sticky

It’s easy to crack jokes about the premise and the concept, butThe Stickyestablishes the high financial stakes, even in a small-town community. In a world where every family earns their keep on maple syrup, cutting off the tap of liquid gold becomes far more devious. It’s mostly seen in the attitudes and actions around Ruth. One scene involving a chainsaw, a tow truck, and a full-grown tree is one of the series’ funniest scenes. It also proves unique in the best possible ways. Throwing a tree through a government building has never felt so dangerous and purposeful at the same time.

More importantly, these moments carry personal stakes. When workers have to support their ailing parents or significant others, disrespect rings louder. Cyr shines when he taps into his ambition and naive optimism. Yet the introspection and self-loathing that await him in his quiet moments shape the performance. The same can be said of Martindale, whose anger and righteousness feel earned. There’s a reason that economic populism works: those who are being oppressed by forces outside their control see a way to regain their agency.The Sticky, while derivative in some senses, finds power in the unique struggles of its protagonists.

Remy Bouchard (Guillaume Cyr) in The Sticky

Meanwhile, with property damage aside, there’s a scary trend of violence that emerges. After all, the mob is not a group to take lightly, even in a comedy. Placing Diamantopoulos and Jaime Lee Curtis in this arena only adds to the comedic missteps. Both can crank up the unease in a moment’s notice, while also landing comedic punches. They make for an excellent B plot to the financial struggles of the town and those in it.

Unfortunately, the specter ofFargodoes hang over the series. This makes even the inspired performance from Cyr, which recalls early Paul Walter Hauser, does not feel unique in this environment. It’s an unfortunate situation because moves that would feel unique no longer can own that lane. Instead, it feels a little too beholden to the style and dark comedy of the iconic hit, and thus feels a little flat in comparison.

Teddy (Gita Miller) and Don Leblanc (Tristan D. Lalla) in The Sticky

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IsThe Stickyworth watching?

Not only isThe Stickyvery fun, but it’s a short time commitment. With only six episodes, each under thirty minutes, the crime comedy is an easy recommend. There are few more specific shows in recent memory, and using a real crime to spin off a story of fictional characters makes for a very fun ride.The Stickyshould not work as well as it does. Then again, few shows have centered Margo Martindale so effectively. The comedy, the drama, and the incredible relevance of the story result in an excellent blending of flavors. Add on Diamantopoulos getting a starring role and the breakthrough from Cyr, andThe Stickybecomes borderline must-watch TV.

Watch The Sticky onAmazon Prime, starting June 07, 2025. All six episodes release on December 6.

Ruth Clarke (Margo Martindale) in The Sticky