Reservation Dogs
Kids say
Based on 1 review
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Reservation Dogs
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Reservation Dogs is a coming-of-age comedy about four teenagers living on a Native American reservation -- tribe unspecified -- in rural Oklahoma. The teens (Bear, Elora Dannen, Willy Jack, and Cheese) struggle with the prospect of never getting the chance to leave where they live and long for a fresh start in sunny California. There's some fighting, and drug and alcohol use includes marijuana. Language is constant, with many uses of the words "f--k" and "s--t." This series was created by and stars all Indigenous people, which is unfortunately rare in mainstream TV and media and may bring up lots of conversations about Native representation, struggles, and culture.
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What's the Story?
Shaken by the death of their friend Daniel one year prior, the four main characters of RESERVATION DOGS commit to collecting enough money to move out of Oklahoma and start a new life in California. But with no other way to earn money, they must resort to stealing whatever they can, scraping together money and resources as fast as possible. They face many obstacles: A new street gang on the Rez causes trouble for them; one of the members, Bear, starts spending the group's money in an attempt to connect with his estranged father; and, most of all, their stealing and selfishness cause real trouble for real people with real struggles. Will the group be able to hold it together long enough to get out of Oklahoma? Will they still want to leave their community, given the urgency of supporting and defending it?
Is It Any Good?
Yes, this comedy is funny, but that's not the best part about it -- it's that it places the experiences of Indigenous youth in the spotlight. Created by a mostly Indigenous cast and crew, Reservation Dogs draws from their real-life experiences and leads to a refreshingly authentic vibe, wrapped up in some new takes on familiar television conventions. For instance, there are many sitcoms with an "everyone in the group has to go see a doctor" plotline or a special guest episode where a character connects with a long-lost family member. But that, when mixed with the Scooby-Doo-esque hijinks of the characters' petty crimes -- plus examples of uniquely Indigenous struggles and culture, like how Uncle Brownie prefers marijuana over what he calls "the White Man's alcohol" -- helps Reservation Dogs set a distinctive, highly enjoyable standard for diversity in comedy and entertainment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the lack of representation of Indigenous people on television. Do you think a show like this will lead to more diverse representations?
Talk to your kids about the group's relationship with their community. Why do you think they want to leave, and do you picture that they will be able to start their new life in California?
TV Details
- Premiere date: August 9, 2021
- Cast: Paulina Alexis, Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs, D'Pharoah Woon-A-Tai, Lane Factor
- Network: FX
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Friendship
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
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