Last year FX and Hulu dropped a series created by Sterlin Harjo and a talented team of Indigenous writers and directors, which offered an unparalleled look inside life for a group of teens living on an Oklahoma reservation.
Reservation Dogs slowly grew an enthusiastic following, partially through the involvement of Executive Producer Taika Waititi, but mostly because of its tremendous quality. At its core, it’s a comedy about a community and how it deals with death and personal struggle. Amidst the well-earned laughter, you find emotional investment in its frequent tonal shifts and endearing characters.
In the first season we were introduced to 4 friends; Elora (Devery Jacobs, American Gods), Bear (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Creeped Out), Cheese (Lane Factor, The Fabelmans), and Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis, Ghostbusters: Afterlife) trying to scrape up enough cash, by any means necessary, to leave the reservation and head to California, driven by the suicide of their friend Daniel (Dalton Cramer) a year earlier. The quest for small-town escape laid a relatable foundation for the story, and while the early episodes leaned heavily into the more comedic elements of the show, there was always a consistent sadness that lingered just below the surface. Daniel’s death, and how it impacted the group dynamic, and especially Elora and Willie Jack, was explored gradually, and it’s still top of mind as things pick up where they left off for Season 2.
While the humorous elements remain, still predominantly and most outwardly led by Dallas Goldtooth – who in addition to being a writer for the show, also plays the role of an ill-equipped spirit guide that regularly visits Bear – and now Uncle Brownie (Gary Farmer, Dead Man), to bestow “wisdom,” the overall tone through the first two episodes of the new season, “The Curse” and “Run,” skews more dramatic. Still reeling from being left behind by Elora, Bear is trying to find his place, while Willie Jack is determined to reverse a curse she placed against Jackie (Elva Guerra, Dark Winds), which she believes to be responsible for their run of bad luck.
Even as Brownie and his rival Bucky (Wes Studi, The Last of the Mohicans) trade barbs while assisting in lifting the curse, and Elora and Jackie find themselves running from one absurdly awkward situation to the next, there is an inescapable sadness serving as a wet blanket, reminding you that humor is often survival based. That said, one of the best things about Harjo’s series is him allowing legends like Farmer, Studi, and even Zahn McClarnon to be authentically funny. It’s not something consistently afforded to actors of their stature, frequently called upon to portray Indigenous American characters in a more stoic manner.
While it’s fun to see the whole gang together, much of the character development has always taken place during individual arcs and that continues as they spend more time apart early this season. Bear is facing the reality that it may be time for him to grow up, a notion he’s slowly accepting as many things start to come full circle. Willie Jack, who made the choice for herself to stay behind, is pursuing what she can to keep busy and hold onto some semblance of the group, whether she truly believes the curse is the issue or not. Elora and Jackie are wrapped up in surreal events, drawing easy comparisons to standalone episodes of Atlanta. They are learning to trust each other on the road and discovering they have quite a lot in common. Not to mention Cheese, who remains the anomaly of the group, discovers the cult-classic film, Big Trouble in Little China, so that in and of itself is growth.
While some popular secondary characters like Big (Zahn McClarnon, Into the West), Leon (Jon Proudstar, Wastelander) and Kenny Boy (Kirk Fox, The Postman) are largely absent in the first 2 episodes, the show has done a great job establishing a large community that they can pull from when storylines call for them. Casting director Angelique Midthunder deserves a lot of recognition for piecing together such a talented cast of actors to fill the various roles, all of whom further elevate the material with their specific affectation.
Early in its sophomore season, this eccentric group of “shitasses” seems to be turning a corner as they set new goals for themselves. It remains interesting to watch the series continue to subvert common Indigenous tropes while showcasing its unique sense of humor. As the character’s motives change, the creative team behind Reservation Dogs continues to steadfastly deliver a beautiful blend of sadness and laughter – truly imitating life.
Reservation Dogs Season 2 is now streaming on Hulu.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xjKgOnf1w4
