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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
It is somewhat rare for Native Americans to be given their own spotlight in film and television. An indigenous people who have been around for hundreds of years. After over a century of white people dominating cinema, when will it be the Natives’ turn to shine? Look no further, as Taika Waititi has co-created Reservation Dogs with Sterlin Harjo.
This comedy series follows a small group of teenagers on an East Oklahoman reservation as they find a way to move out to California in hopes of a better life. In this review, I will be discussing the two-part series premiere. There will be no major spoilers revealed in this article.
Plot Summary
According to FX on Hulu, here are the synopses of the series’ first two episodes:
“Pilot”/”F*ckin’ Rez Dogs” (written by Sterlin Harjo, directed by Harjo)
One year after the death of their friend, four Native teens commit crimes to fund their efforts to leave their home in rural Oklahoma.
Devery Jacobs plays Elora Danan Postoak, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai plays Bear Smallhill, Paulina Alexis plays Willie Jack, and Lane Factor plays Cheese.
Dalton Cramer plays Daniel, the kids’ late friend who died one year prior to the events of the pilot. Lil Mike and Funny Bone play Mose and Mekko, respectively.
Jude Barnett plays Bone Thug Dog, Keland Lee Bearpaw plays Danny Bighead, and Xavier Bigpond plays Weeze. Elva Guerra portrays Jackie, Dallas Goldtooth plays Spirit, Darryl W. Handy plays Cleo, and Rhomeyn Johnson plays Miles. Jack Maricle plays White Steve, while Laura Spencer plays Ms. Rothrock.
In guest star roles, Zahn McClarnon plays Officer Big. Sarah Podemski plays Rita, Bear’s mother. Matty Cardarople plays Ansel, Macon Blair plays Rob, and Kirk Fox plays Kenny Boy.
“NDN Clinic” (written by Harjo, directed by Sydney Freeland)
A new crew threatens the Reservation Dogs while they try and make some money selling meat pies outside the local IHS Clinic.
Lil Mike and Funny Bone returns as Mose and Mekko. Barnett, Bearpaw, Bigpond, Goldtooth, Guerra, and Maricle return as Bone Thug Dog, Danny Bighead, Weeze, Spirit, Jackie, and White Steve, respectively.
Emily Northcut plays a nurse, while Nathalie Standingcloud plays an optometry receptionist. Richard Ray Whitman plays Old Man Fixico.
McClarnon and Podemski return in the guest roles of Officer Big and Rita, respectively. Jana Schmieding appears as the clinic receptionist, while Bobby Lee appears as Dr. Kang. Casey Camp-Horinek and Jon Proudstar also appear in guest roles.
Discussion
Reservation Dogs’ first two episodes have outstanding crew members attached to them.
Crew
Richard Toyon is the pilot’s production designer, while Heidi Bivens designs the characters’ costumes. Yana Gorskaya and Dane McMaster are the editors. Meanwhile, Angelique Midthunder and Jennifer Schwalenberg are to thank for the casting.
In the second episode, Brandon Tonner-Connolly is the production designer, while Jillian Bundrick serves as the costume designer. Gina Sansom acts as the episode’s editor, while Midthunder is solo in the casting. Director Freeland, as well as Tommy Pico and Bobby Wilson serve as the staff writers of the episode.
Christian Sprenger is the first episode’s cinematographer. You might also notice his work from FX’s Atlanta, Amazon’s Guava Island, and Netflix’s GLOW. Meanwhile, Mark Schwartzbard is the second episode’s director of photography.
The Narrative
In some ways, watching this two-part series premiere took me back five years to when Atlanta Season 1 premiered in the latter half of 2016. Perhaps it’s Sprenger’s cinematography, or maybe it’s the little gunfight in the first episode followed by the repercussions of some fight in the second one. I love how well “F*ckin’ Rez Dogs” establishes its main characters as individuals who don’t need to be introduced the way most storytelling does it. “NDN Clinic” just extrapolates this.
The pacing isn’t so bad. The story neither plays out too slow nor too brisk. I’d like to think that it’s just right enough to follow along. Hopefully, of course, we will find these characters having made good progress by the end of the season.
Additionally, the attention to detail is flawless. We can see a poster of Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs (the inspiration behind the series title) hanging in one scene. I also appreciate the little troubles that the characters get themselves into, specifically theft. The funny thing is McClarnon’s Officer Big’s investigation of these matters. I wonder if he suspects the kids are behind it all.
Performances and Character Developments
For actors who play the protagonists, I cannot help but admire the casting decisions that were made. Jacobs, Woon-A-Tai, Alexis, and Factor’s respective roles as Danan Postoak, Smallhill, Jack, and Cheese are just fantastic. There are times where I don’t know how I feel about Smallhill but make no mistake. Woon-A-Tai makes a good actor. I like Willie Jack as the “I don’t give a fuck” character and Cheese as the randomly hilarious character. Although, I would like to see what more they have to offer to the show.
I believe Postoak and Smallhill have the most room for character development in the series so far. McClarnon comes in third as Officer Big.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Reservation Dogs Season 1 Episodes 1 & 2 take us back to where Atlanta headed when it first premiered. Harjo and Waititi’s fresh spin on Tarantino’s iconic criminal crew is magnificent, telling of a minority’s perspective of life and struggle.
Harjo and Waititi’s Reservation Dogs is now available on FX and FX on Hulu!
Have you seen this series? What are your thoughts on it? Let us know! For more comedy-related news and reviews visit and follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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