Rutherford Falls
Two friends clash over a statue and heritage.
Rutherford Falls is an American sitcom that premiered on Peacock on April 22, 2021. Created by Ed Helms, Michael Schur, and Sierra Teller Ornelas, the series ran for two seasons before being canceled in September 2022.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Sitcom
- Creator
- Ed Helms
- Michael Schur
- Sierra Teller Ornelas
- Starring
- Ed Helms
- Michael Greyeyes
- Jana Schmieding
- Jesse Leigh
- Dustin Milligan
- Theme music
- Lucy Schwartz
- David Schwartz
- The Halluci Nation
- Composer
- David Schwartz; The Halluci Nation
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Seasons
- 2
Facts from the source article.
Premise
The comedy follows lifelong friends Nathan Rutherford and Reagan Wells, both museum curators, whose relationship is tested when the mayor decides to move a statue of Nathan's ancestor after drivers keep hitting it. Nathan campaigns to keep the statue in place, while Reagan balances loyalty to her friend and to her people, the Minishonka Nation, as she seeks to develop a cultural center highlighting their history. Nathan's ancestor drove the Minishonka from their land centuries earlier. Terry Thomas, CEO of the tribe's casino, schemes to use Reagan and others to gain more political and financial power for the Minishonka. The show uses humor and irony to address biases about Native Americans, contrasting a marginalized community with a white community on heritage and preservation.
Production
The series was created by Ed Helms, Michael Schur, and Sierra Teller Ornelas, with the initial idea coming from discussions between Helms and Schur, who had worked together on The Office. After deciding on a Native American theme, they asked Ornelas to serve as showrunner; Schur had previously worked with her on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Following delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the series announced in August 2020 plans to begin filming in Los Angeles in early September. Peacock renewed the series for a second season on July 8, 2021. The writers' room included one of the largest Indigenous writing staffs on American television, with five writers of Indigenous heritage. Ornelas recruited Native writers from many sources, including Bobby Wilson of the 1491s, who also acts in the show, after laughing at an Instagram post. She told The New York Times she had previously been told there wasn't enough Native American writing or acting talent for a Native-themed sitcom, but found more writers than could be staffed and multiple actors for each role. On September 2, 2022, Peacock announced it would not renew the show for a third season. The principal cast, announced on August 10, 2020, included Jana Schmieding, Michael Greyeyes, Jesse Leigh, and Dustin Milligan.
Reception
Reviews of the 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 and a critical consensus praising its winsome ensemble, witty writing, and engagement with complex issues facing Indigenous peoples. Metacritic gave a score of 66 out of 100 based on 17 critics, indicating generally favorable reviews. Jen Chaney of Vulture said the show skillfully braids discussions of serious sociocultural issues with character-based comedy. Saloni Gajjar of The A.V. Club gave the series an A−, calling it distinguished by a sincere attempt to depict previously untold narratives without stereotypes and praising its vibrant, heartwarming spirit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes of Rutherford Falls are there?
Rutherford Falls has 18 episodes across 2 seasons.
When did Rutherford Falls end?
Rutherford Falls last aired on 16 June 2022.
More in Television Series Set in the 2020s
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