Reservation Dogs (Season 2)

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⭐ 10.0/10

(Originally written by Tim)

In a year of incredible TV, this is the show I savoured the most, watching episodes weeks apart. The first season of the show was quirky and fun, with our main cast of kids on the reservation kind of avoiding their feelings about one of their friends committing suicide. The season is still quirky, but tackles the grief head on, and I probably cried during 7 of the 10 episodes.

Every choice in this show is note perfect. Season 1 sets the stage, and now the characters are let loose, and it feels so real and lived in. Each character kind of gets an episode to shine, and you learn more about their connection to Daniel and what his absence means. It is really touching, and the interesting thing is that when they show you flashbacks of Daniel he was kind of a jerk! Regardless the crater he leaves behind is felt and the emotional moments really punch you in the chest.

I talked last season about the role of representation in this show, and season 2 pays dividends because of it. The way every character behaves and talks, the settings, the foods, it is all real, because the people who made this show are those people. This isn't token representation, this is telling the story of those people in settings and situations that matter, and my goodness is it ever refreshing. This season goes even further with the spirituality of these native peoples, and I was choked up many times at the beauty of their reliance on their ancestors, and the trust they place in the family that has come before them. It is illustrated a couple times so beautifully through music and visions and communion, and saying it taught me a lot is almost an insult. This show isn't here so I can feel like I understand native people better, it puts me in their story as an equal, no handholding, and lets me live their lives with them.

Sorry I am getting all lofty but this show truly blew me away. The closest comparison would be Atlanta, which I think does all the exact same things for the African American story, while leaving room for plenty of whimsy and absurdity. I think both shows will live on as defining pieces of art of this time, Atlanta maybe more so because of its higher profile, but this show will forever have a place in my heart.

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