Reservation Dogs

Shot from the movie
The Very Best

Reservation Dogs2021

8/10
Taika Waititi takes on indigenous teen life in rural Oklahoma

This coming-of-age comedy series is about four indigenous teenagers in Oklahoma who try to get enough money to leave for California. 

Co-created by Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Hunt for the Wilderpeople) and Sterlin Harjo, the show has so much of Waiti's brand of heartfelt quirkiness that's still very much grounded in reality. The main character, Bear, is haunted by an indigenous warrior spirit - only it's a warrior whose horse tripped before he got to the battle so his wisdom doesn't always come off as reassuring. 

The teenagers commit various small crimes in their hopes of gathering enough money to leave, as they mourn a friend who couldn't cope with the town's environment. Reservation Dogs is such a good mix of comedy and drama, and it might be a little teen-y at times, but if you don't mind that, it's also very addictive. 

Synopsis

This comedy follows the exploits of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma who steal, rob and save in order to get to the exotic, mysterious and faraway land of California.