Reservation Dogs
A half-hour comedy that follows the exploits of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma.
Co-creators and executive producers Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi serve up hilarious glimpses into life on the Rez with honesty and integrity. The circumstances driving the characters decisions center their very real challenges surviving poverty and crime in a rural Indian community. But the series’ comedic approach makes the lives of these kids totally relatable.
Bear Smallhill (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai) is destined to be a warrior, and a leader. The only problem is he’s not a good fighter, and his crew don’t really consider him the leader. But with the guidance of a questionable spirit guide (Dallas Goldtooth), he just might become a great leader.
Elora Danan (Devery Jacobs) may be the true leader of the group, but she’s so oblivious to her own power, that she often can’t see the beauty and goodness in herself and all around her. Street-smart tough girl Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis) is the beating heart of the group. She’s always looking out for her crew. Meanwhile, “Cheese” (Lane Factor) is the gentle, quiet ride-or-die friend who is so willing to go along with the group that he never stops to consider what his own dreams might be.
The story is loosely centered around Daniel, the fifth member of the Reservation Dogs, who died. Struggling to make sense of their loss, the remaining four blame their boring, small town and its ability to crush the spirit. They decide to honor Daniel by adopting his dream of getting to California as their own. To succeed, they will have to save enough money, outmaneuver the meth heads at the junkyard on the edge of town, constantly dodge the conspiracy-obsessed Lighthorseman “Big” (Zahn McClarnon), and survive a turf war against a much tougher rival gang, led by the enigmatic Jackie (Elva Guerra).
Reservation Dogs has Native rappers, catfish, Indigenous superstitions, and spirits both hilarious and terrifying. Plus laughter, tears, unexpected grandmothers, decent people, terrible people, and a cavalcade of supporting characters who color and shade this already vibrant community.
Filmed on location in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, Reservation Dogs is a breakthrough in Indigenous representation on television, both in front of and behind the camera. Every writer, director, and series regular on the show is Indigenous. This first-of-its-kind creative team tells a story that resonates with them and their lived experiences, and invites audiences into a surprisingly familiar and funny world.
Reservation Dogs airs on Monday evenings on Hulu.
