Rutherford Falls

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Rutherford Falls
Rutherford Falls poster.jpg
Promotional poster
GenreSitcom
Created by
StarringEd Helms
Michael Greyeyes
Jana Schmieding
Jesse Leigh
Dustin Milligan
Theme music composerLucy Schwartz
David Schwartz
The Halluci Nation
ComposersDavid Schwartz
The Halluci Nation
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producers
  • Mike Falbo
  • Ed Helms
  • David Miner
  • Morgan Sackett
  • Michael Schur
  • Sierra Teller Ornelas
Production companies
Release
Original networkPeacock
Original releaseApril 22, 2021 (2021-04-22) –
present (present)
External links
Website

Rutherford Falls is an American sitcom television series that premiered on the streaming service Peacock on April 22, 2021.[1] It was created by Ed Helms, Michael Schur, and Sierra Teller Ornelas. In July 2021, the series was renewed for a second season.[2]

Premise[]

The series is a comedy about two lifelong friends, Nathan Rutherford (Helms) and Reagan Wells (Schmieding), whose relationship is tested when a crisis hits their small town. After the mayor decides to move a statue of Nathan's ancestor because car drivers keep crashing into it, Nathan begins a quest to keep the statue in its place, causing Reagan to juggle loyalty to her friend and to her people, the Minishonka Nation.[3]

Cast[]

Main[]

  • Jana Schmieding (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe) as Reagan Wells, Nathan’s best friend and a member of the Minishonka Nation, who has dreams of championing the history of her people
  • Ed Helms as Nathan Rutherford, a proud descendant of the town’s founder who runs the town's heritage museum
  • Michael Greyeyes (Nêhiyaw from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation) as Terry Thomas, the C.E.O. of the Minishonka's casino, who envisions big things for both Reagan and the success of their Nation
  • Jesse Leigh as Bobbie Yang, a driven high school student and Nathan’s personal assistant
  • Dustin Milligan as Josh Carter, a passionate journalist looking for the real story of Rutherford Falls

Recurring[]

  • Dana L. Wilson as Deirdre Chisenhall, Mayor of Rutherford Falls
  • Geraldine Keams as Rayanne
  • Ben Koldyke as Dudley 'Duz' Rutherford, Nathan's brother
  • Adam Farabee as Charlie Cromwell
  • Mimi Gianopulos as Kaitlyn, Vice President of Communications at Rutherford Inc.
  • Jason Grasl as Forest Grant
  • Chevonne Hughes as Bonnie
  • Devery Jacobs as Jess Wells, Reagan's cousin and Terry's assistant
  • Monica Padman as Melanie, Kaitlyn's assistant
  • Camille Schurer as Madison
  • Bobby Wilson as Wayne, a casino employee
  • Julia Jones as Sally, a casino employee
  • Paul F. Tompkins as Professor Tobias James Kaufman
  • Beth Stelling as Ms. Fish, a teacher with a crush on Nathan
  • Kiawentiio as Maya Thomas, Terry's daughter

Episodes[]

No.Title [4]Directed byWritten byOriginal release date [5]
1"Pilot"Lawrence SherEd Helms & Michael Schur & Sierra Teller OrnelasApril 22, 2021 (2021-04-22)
After yet another car runs into the statue of Lawrence “Big Larry” Rutherford in the middle of an intersection, Mayor Chisenhall decides it’s time to remove the statue. Nathan is irate at having the statue of his ancestor removed. His childhood best friend Reagan is on his side at first, but she later convinces him to move the statue to the town history museum he runs. However, at a town gathering where he plans to announce the move, as the crowd heckles him and questions the importance of Big Larry, he goes on an angry rant against the town and says he’ll fight to keep the statue in its place after all. Meanwhile, Reagan goes before her boss Terry, who runs the casino, to ask that more casino profits go into expanding the Minishonka cultural center she runs. He refuses her request but tells her he’s preparing for a secret initiative called “Running Lightning” and would like her to be a part of it in 3-5 years. After Terry sees Nathan’s angry speech to the town, Terry tells his board it’s time to launch Running Lightning immediately.
2"Buckheart Lodge"Lawrence SherSierra Teller OrnelasApril 22, 2021 (2021-04-22)
Nathan and his assistant Bobby visit Nathan’s old history professor, Tobias Kaufman, who’s writing a book about the Rutherfords, to see if he can help get people on Nathan’s side about the statue. They record an interview for Kaufman’s podcast. After Kaufman makes several racist comments, Nathan asks if the episode can be edited, and Kaufman refuses. He releases the episode and an executive at Rutherford Inc., the major multinational corporation Nathan’s family founded, has to scrub it from the Internet to avoid damaging the company’s reputation. Meanwhile, Reagan is having trouble getting support from the community for her cultural center, and Terry explains it’s because she needs to rebuild her relationships with the community after she broke off an engagement years earlier. He brings her on his visits to council members, during which she provides service to the community while Terry uses her to get council members on his side. Terry again asks Reagan to work for his Running Lightning initiative and she refuses. The board is now all in support of Terry, and he announces they are suing Nathan Rutherford.
3"Aunt Ida's 90th Birthday"Sydney FreelandEric LedginApril 22, 2021 (2021-04-22)
Nathan leaves town for a family gathering to celebrate Great Aunt Ida’s 90th birthday at his brother Duz’s house, which has been in the family for hundreds of years. He’s devastated to learn Duz is planning to sell the house. Duz tries to convince Nathan to stop idealizing the Rutherfords, while Nathan tries to convince Duz not to sell the house. Meanwhile, Nathan has left Reagan and Bobby in charge of his museum, and Josh, a reporter from New York City, shows up to see if the statue is worth doing a story on. Reagan shows him around and convinces him there’s no story there. Josh misses his train back to New York, so Reagan takes him out for a drink and Josh ends up kissing her and spending the night. In the morning, the two get coffee and Josh tells her New York is only a train ride away. Then, just as he is commenting that he didn’t get a story out of the trip, Nathan shows up, outraged, saying he’s being sued by the Minishonka Nation.
4"Terry Thomas"Sydney FreelandRupinder GillApril 22, 2021 (2021-04-22)
Josh comes to interview Terry and asks more hard-hitting questions than Terry expected. Nathan shows up, trying to put an end to Terry’s lawsuit by offering Terry fur and popcorn to satisfy the offerings Nathan’s ancestors agreed to make the Minishonka people in exchange for the land they gave up for the town of Rutherford Falls. Terry explains the Minishonka are owed $350 million. Nathan warns that he has a seat on the board of Rutherford Inc., and the company will come after Terry if he pursues the lawsuit. After Nathan leaves, Josh pushes Terry and asks if the capitalism of the casino is at odds with Terry’s cultural values. Terry shuts off Josh’s recorder and explains that power is a zero-sum game, and money is the route to power. He says his goal is to get back everything that was taken from the Minishonka. Elsewhere, we see Terry proudly raising children steeped in their culture; his son plays lacrosse, and his daughter is learning beadwork. At the end, Terry convenes the board and shares that Nathan has a seat on the Rutherford Inc. board. Terry announces he wants to add the company to the lawsuit.
5"History Fair"Lawrence SherLauren TylerApril 22, 2021 (2021-04-22)
Nathan and Reagan judge a school history fair. After learning the best entry, an impressive video about the Minishonka people, was made by a white student who has worn dreadlocks and mimicked what sounds like Jamaican Patois, they give the award to Bobby, whose video about America is nonsensical and therefore inoffensive. Meanwhile, Mayor Chisenhall and Terry have been butting heads all evening, apparently because the Mayor had rented an airbnb property from Terry and left him a bad review, causing him to lose his Superhost status. Finally, the two realize they are both ambitious and have positions of power obtained by few people in their respective communities, and they agree to be allies. After Terry leaves, the Mayor tells her assistant she still doesn’t trust Terry but asks him to set up a squash game between her and Terry.
6"Negotiations"Sydney FreelandMarcos LuevanosApril 22, 2021 (2021-04-22)
Josh shows up at the casino to record audio for his podcast and brings Reagan a latte. After Wayne and Sally make fun of Reagan, she asks what they’re doing for the good of the tribe, so they solicit donations for the cultural center but end up with a pile of what looks like junk. Josh helps Reagan sort through it, and after she calls some of the donors, she realizes some of the items, like blenders and old VHS tapes, have meaningful stories about people’s cultural identity and activism. Terry’s daughter Maya also donates some of her beadwork. Reagan holds a re-opening of the cultural center with the new items. Meanwhile, Rutherford Inc. sends a young lawyer to help Nathan. They meet with Terry, and the lawyer offers him $3 million to drop the lawsuit. Terry counters with $300 million and demands that the company’s real lawyers return by Friday at noon. Later, Nathan and Terry run into each other at a restaurant and are kind to each other despite the lawsuit. On Friday, minutes before Terry’s deadline, a helicopter with the Rutherford Inc. logo lands in the casino parking lot.
7"Rutherford Inc."Rebecca AsherTazbah ChavezApril 22, 2021 (2021-04-22)
An elder woman from the tribe comes to the cultural center and tells Reagan she’s proud of her. Reagan tells Josh it’s the best day of her life. Terry tells the Rutherford Inc. lawyers he will publish a damaging history of the Rutherfords written by Professor Kaufman unless Rutherford Inc. sells back to the tribe some of their land, which includes the land on which Nathan's museum/house sits. If they do, Terry will drop the lawsuit. Nathan and Reagan decide to protect Nathan’s house by having it designated a historical landmark. They go to Nathan's Great Aunt Joan's house to dig through her old records. They find nothing helpful, but Reagan finds a cabinet of Minishonka cultural artifacts. After they leave, Kaitlyn tells Nathan they’re going to take Terry’s deal because the land is unfrackable anyway. Later, Reagan, after encouragement from Josh, tells Nathan she’s going to ask his great-Aunt to return her Minishonka collection. He lashes out and says her people are trying to steal his home. Reagan asks Nathan to help her, but he says he won’t because that would benefit his enemy, Terry. Reagan drives to the casino, where she tells Terry she'll finally agree to work for him in exchange for a larger budget for the cultural center. Meanwhile, Mayor Chisenhall confronts Terry about his plan to buy part of the town, which she’s afraid will jeopardize her re-election. She tells him they’re at war.
8"Skoden"Sydney FreelandBobby WilsonApril 22, 2021 (2021-04-22)
Terry names Reagan the Associate Director of the casino, and they travel to a gaming conference, where they see projections about the imminent decline of gaming revenue and realize they’re unprepared for the future. Meanwhile, Deirdre, the mayor, visits Nathan and explains she wants the town to keep the Big Larry statue in place after all, in the hopes that civic pride will keep the town from signing off on Terry’s land deal. Nathan gives a speech to the city council advocating to leave the statue in place. The council agrees, at least temporarily. Nathan and Deirdre go back to his house to celebrate their victory and end up having sex. The next morning, Nathan notices Minishonka writing on the statue. Rayanne, a Minishonka woman, translates it as a warning not to trust a legendary monster, explaining Big Larry was a real monster to the Minishonka people. Nathan, Deirdre, Reagan, and Terry meet at the casino. Reagan and Terry propose creating “Ye Olde Rutherford Village,” a 17th-Century village similar to Colonial Williamsburg. Reagan thinks Nathan will enjoy the opportunity to showcase his family’s and the town’s history, but Nathan is angry he’s being asked to give up his land but still live on it on Terry’s terms. He refuses the deal and walks out.
9"Stoodis"Claire ScanlonMatt Murray & Tai LeclaireApril 22, 2021 (2021-04-22)
Terry gives Reagan $20,000 to buy the Minishonka artifacts from Nathan’s aunt, Joan. Joan agrees to Reagan’s offer only after Reagan threatens to get the feds involved to find out if the items were acquired in compliance with NAGPRA. Reagan and Josh go through artifacts in the carriage house and discover old love letters revealing Nathan isn’t biologically a Rutherford. Josh wants to include this fact in his reporting. Reagan says she can’t be with him if he destroys her best friend’s life. It appears to be the end of their relationship. Meanwhile, Bobby observes that Terry usually gets his way, so suggests Nathan join Terry in planning the historical Rutherford Village so he’ll have a say. Nathan agrees but is frustrated the costumes and symbols Terry proposes are not historically accurate. Then Reagan comes to Nathan’s house and tells him he’s not a Rutherford. Nathan denies it and gets angry. Later, his brother Duz confirms that Mr. D’Angelo from their mom’s bowling team is Nathan’s biological father. Nathan says he’s closing the museum forever and leaving town. He attempts to pull down the Big Larry statue with his car, but his bumper falls off as he drives away.
10"D'Angelos"Claire ScanlonEric LedginApril 22, 2021 (2021-04-22)

Production[]

Development[]

“[T]here’s very specific ways that Native people relate to the towns around them and they’re fraught. It’s complicated and complex and it involves commerce and culture. Part of the project of this show is to get really detailed and explain to people who don’t know anything to explain to people how these relationships exist between towns and their neighbouring reservations. It’s very important for us to get very specific and explain how that stuff works.”

―Michael Schur, 2020[6]

The series was created by Ed Helms, Michael Schur, and Sierra Teller Ornelas.[7][3] The initial idea came from discussions between Helms and Schur (who had previously worked together on The Office), and once they had decided on a Native American theme, they asked Ornelas to get involved and serve as showrunner, Schur having worked with her previously on Brooklyn Nine-Nine.[8] After delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[9] the series announced in August 2020 their intentions to begin filming in Los Angeles[10] in early September.[6] On July 8, 2021, Peacock renewed the series for a second season.[2]

The writer's room features one of the largest Indigenous writing staffs on American television, with half the writers being of Indigenous heritage.[10][11] Teller Ornelas sourced Native writers from many different channels, including hiring Bobby Wilson of the 1491s, who also acts in the show, after laughing at a post he made on Instagram.[12] Teller Ornelas said she had previously been told there wasn't enough Native American writing or acting talent to make a Native-themed sitcom, but told The New York Times, "It’s not true. We found more Native writers than we could staff and multiple actors for each role. It was an embarrassment of riches."[13]

Casting[]

Alongside the initial series announcement in November 2019, it was reported that co-creator Ed Helms would also be starring in the series.[7] On August 10, 2020, as part of a virtual press tour it was announced that the principal cast would be Jana Schmieding, Michael Greyeyes, Jesse Leigh and Dustin Milligan.[14]

Release[]

On March 16, 2021, the series released its first trailer.[1] On April 22, Peacock released all ten episodes of the series' first season.[15][16]

Reception[]

Reviews of the show's first season were generally positive. Rotten Tomatoes gave the series a score of 94% based on 36 critics with an average rating of 7.20/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Though it takes a few episodes to find its footing, a winsome ensemble, witty writing, and a willingness to engage with complex issues facing Indigenous peoples in modern America make Rutherford Falls a place worth visiting."[17] Metacritic gave the series a score of 66 out of 100 indicating "generally favorable reviews" based on 17 critics.[18]

Based on the first four episodes of the series, Jen Chaney of Vulture.com said the show "skillfully braids discussions of serious sociocultural issues with character-based comedy in ways that seem neither forced nor overly didactic."[19] Saloni Gajjar of The A.V. Club gave the series a grade of "A-" and said the show "is distinguished by a sincere attempt to depict previously untold narratives without falling into a trap of stereotypes" and praised its "vibrant, heartwarming spirit."[20]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Petski, Denise (March 16, 2021). "'Rutherford Falls': Peacock Unveils Trailer, Premiere Date For Michael Schur, Ed Helms & Sierra Teller Ornelas Comedy". Deadline Hollywood.
  2. ^ a b Ausiello, Michael (July 8, 2021). "Rutherford Falls Renewed for Season 2". TVLine. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Rudolph, Ileane (January 13, 2021). "'Rutherford Falls': Ed Helms Teases Peacock's Small Town Crisis Comedy". TV Insider. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  4. ^ "Rutherford Falls: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  5. ^ "Rutherford Falls – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  6. ^ a b White, Peter (August 10, 2020). "Rutherford Falls: Sierra Teller Ornelas Lauds Comedy for Native American Representation as Peacock Series Scheduled to Shoot in Three to Four Weeks". Deadline Hollywood (in American English). Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Petski, Denise; Andreeva, Nellie (November 19, 2019). "Rutherford Falls Co-Creator Sierra Teller Ornelas Inks Overall Deal with Universal TV". Deadline Hollywood (in American English). Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  8. ^ Mathews, Liam (August 10, 2020). "Rutherford Falls EPs Explain How the Show Represents Native Americans Authentically". TV Guide (in American English). Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  9. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 12, 2020). "Production of Russian Doll, Rutherford Falls & Little America Put on Hold by Uni TV Amid Coronavirus Crisis". Deadline Hollywood (in American English). Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Ahearn, Victoria (August 12, 2020). "Michael Greyeyes on 'groundbreaking' Indigenous Focus of Rutherford Falls". Toronto Star (in Canadian English). Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  11. ^ Lambe, Stacy (August 10, 2020). "Rutherford Falls to Feature Largest Indigenous Writing Staff on TV". Entertainment Tonight (in American English). Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  12. ^ Turchiano, Danielle (April 21, 2021). "'Rutherford Falls' Boss on Building Diverse Native American Team for Peacock Comedy". Variety. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  13. ^ Miller, Stuart (April 21, 2021). "Sierra Teller Ornelas on the Roots of 'Rutherford Falls'". The New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  14. ^ Petski, Denise (August 10, 2020). "'Rutherford Falls: Jana Schmieding, Michael Greyeyes, Jesse Leigh & Dustin Milligan Join Ed Helms in Peacock Comedy". Deadline Hollywood (in American English). Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  15. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (April 17, 2021). "The TVLine-Up: What's New, Returning and Leaving the Week of April 18". TVLine (in American English). Retrieved April 30, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ Lloyd, Robert (April 24, 2021). "Groundbreaking sitcom finds the ideal target: People's love of a made-up past". Sun Newspapers. Retrieved April 30, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ "Rutherford Falls: Season 1 - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  18. ^ "Rutherford Falls - Season 1 Reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  19. ^ Chaney, Jen (April 20, 2021). "Rutherford Falls Reckons Optimistically With America's Flawed Past and Present". Vulture. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  20. ^ Gajjar, Saloni (April 19, 2021). "Peacock's Rutherford Falls is a joyous, barrier-breaking addition to the Mike Schur TV universe". The A.V. Club. Retrieved April 20, 2021.

External links[]

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