Early in the third and final season of FX/Hulu’s Reservation Dogs, Bear (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai) finds himself gazing up at the glittering night sky with Maximus (Graham Greene), the conspiracy theorist who has temporarily taken him under his wing. Maximus imparts some wisdom, saying, “In order to observe the universe, you must put your back to the future and fix your eyes on the past. Celestial events that occurred long ago, we still see remnants of them. The universe knows. It always knows. We are just echoes of the things that came before.”
These words resonate throughout Reservation Dogs, a show that delves into how histories, both personal and cultural, reverberate into the present and future. The premiere of the final season focuses on the death of the gang’s friend Daniel, with his absence strongly felt, much like his presence once was. However, while the universe may be infinite, TV series come to an end. In its superb final season, Reservation Dogs takes the opportunity to share some final pieces of wisdom, both poignant and uproarious, as it bids farewell to its beloved characters.
The third-season premiere starts off relatively conventional by Reservation Dogs standards, with its zigzagging narrative narrated by William Knifeman (Dallas Goldtooth), Bear’s undistinguished and often unhelpful spirit guide. The Rez Dogs are still in Los Angeles, trying to figure out their next move, before their parents and guardians send Teenie (Tamara Podemski), a stern auntie, to bring them back to Okern, Oklahoma.
Cheese (Lane Factor), Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis), and Elora Danan (Devery Jacobs) board the bus, relieved to be going home. Bear initially intends to join them, but is sidetracked in Amarillo when William appears in a bathroom and suggests he take a different path.
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One of the great pleasures of Reservation Dogs is its unpredictability. While the series maintains a consistent voice and recurring themes, its tone and perspective can vary wildly from episode to episode. Episode two opens with a visit to the spirit world, represented by the salt plains of Oklahoma. The episode contrasts the natural beauty of the salt plains with Bear’s stay in Maximus’ remote and isolated cabin, providing a stark juxtaposition.
The third episode takes an even bigger swing by exploring the backstory of the Deer Lady (Kaniehtiio Horn), a character Bear encounters. As we delve into her childhood experiences at an Indian boarding school run by abusive nuns, the series showcases the terror of regular human colonizers instead of relying on supernatural horror. The Deer Lady, with her cloven hooves and bloodstained talons, pales in comparison to the man who tore her from her home.
While this storyline is one of Reservation Dogs’ most harrowing, it doesn’t indulge in pain and misery. Instead, it ends on a surprisingly tender note as the Deer Lady passes on a piece of advice to Bear: “Remember to keep smiling. They can’t stop you from smiling.” In the fourth and final installment sent to critics, the season takes a more optimistic turn. The Rez Dogs are assigned menial tasks as punishment for their unsanctioned trip to Los Angeles. Throughout the episode, glimpses of their potential futures emerge as they contemplate career paths and flirt while doing chores.
As the season progresses, the show offers only fleeting glimpses of the paths pursued by other characters like Cheese, Elora Danan, Willie Jack, and Jackie (Elva Guerra) who went from nemesis to ally. The rich community of aunties, cousins, and local oddballs surrounding them also holds their own stories. However, before they venture into the unknown, the Rez Dogs are seen striding across the parking lot, chatting and laughing as they always have. The past echoes, this time with joy, hope, and boundless love.
In its final season, Reservation Dogs expands on its exploration of personal and cultural histories. It continues to weave together humor, drama, and magical realism to create a unique and heartfelt series. As we bid farewell to the Rez Dogs, we are left with a sense of optimism and the understanding that our past influences our present and future, but does not define us completely.
