About Reservation Dogs

Reservation Dogs is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered in 2021. The series tells the story of four Indigenous American teenagers living in the rural Oklahoma town of Okmulgee. They spend their days committing crime and fighting it, trying to save enough money to get to the exotic and mysterious land of California.

Making / Production

The series occupies a special place in television history as it has an almost entirely Indigenous North American team and cast. Produced by FX on Hulu, Reservation Dogs is co-created by Sterlin Harjo (who's of Seminole and Muskogee descent) and Taika Waititi, an Indigenous Maori filmmaker known for Jojo Rabbit and Thor: Ragnarok.

Actors

• D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Bear: The unofficial leader of the group, Woon-A-Tai portrays a character juggling the pressures of leading the group and dealing with the loss of a friend.
• Devery Jacobs as Elora Danan: Jacobs plays the strong-willed and tough Elora, showcasing her resilience to keep the group together.
• Paulina Alexis as Willie Jack: Alexis brilliantly portrays the character of Willie Jack, the muscle of the group, with a unique sense of humor.
• Lane Factor as Cheese: Factor plays Cheese, the quietest member of the group, providing an often needed calming presence.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The show's creators, Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, first met at Sundance Institute's Native Lab.
• Sterlin Harjo took inspiration from his own youth, growing up in Oklahoma for the series.
• The title of the series, Reservation Dogs, parodies Quentin Tarantino's film Reservoir Dogs.

Awards

As of now, the series has not received any award recognitions but has been widely praised by audience and critics alike.

Quotes

• "We're not wannabe gangsters. We're real gangsters." - Bear
• "You come for one of us, you better be ready to fight us all" - Elora Danan
• "We're not meant to be tamed. It's in our blood." - Cheese

Music, Soundtrack

• The entirety of the soundtrack has been created by Indigenous artists and includes a mix of hip-hop, punk, blues, and folk music.
• Notable Indigenous musicians such as The Halluci Nation and Black Belt Eagle Scout are included in the soundtrack.