Reservation Dogs is a 2021 television hit. FX and Hulu have partnered with Taika Waititi and Sterlin Harjo to produce the Native American comedy, filmed in Oklahoma and written by a team of all-indigenous writers.
The show follows a group of delinquent teenagers in a rural reservation. They get into and out of trouble, trying to raise money to move to California as they interact with their community and families. Occasionally a pop of magical realism enters, in the form of Dallas Goldtooth’s character “Spirit” or a vigilante that’s part deer.
The number one word in the Reservation Dogs script word cloud has to be “Shit Ass.” I didn’t count but I’m sure it showed up at least once in every episode.
“Reservation Dogs” features four main characters: Elora, Bear, Willie Jack and Cheese.
There are several episodes that end with songs, like Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love.” The feeling I got when these episodes ended were elation, sadness that the episode was over, and delight and gratitude that this show is on the air. It’s at once different and familiar.
Like Pose did for trans actors, Reservation Dogs has the potential to be that first big show on the resume for some of these actors and writers in an industry that lacks meaningful support for indigenous creatives. In fact, Devery Jacobs has been tapped to join the writers room after her contributions during production.
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