'Reservation Dogs’ Showrunner Sterlin Harjo Answers Our Burning Questions | Showrunners Sitdown

Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi - the co-creators of “Reservation Dogs” - met in the mid-aughts, and though Harjo is from Oklahoma and Waititi grew up in New Zealand, they immediately bonded over their shared experiences as Indigenous filmmakers. As Waititi’s star rose, the two remained friends, but “I never talked to him about work,” Harjo said. “I mean, enough people I think are trying to get stuff from Taika, so we just kept it as friendship.”
Variety Showrunners presented by FX
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[@parrotcracker6629]

This is such an underrated show. It should have more views and talked about.

[@sonderingkayla]

Definitely one of my top favorite shows. Every character is so loveable with a backstory. There's so much more to learn about them and this story. I hope we get many more seasons.

[@SeeStuDo]

One of the best shows. Flows between silly/ridiculous and heavy/sad every episode with ease. Knifeman doing "Spirirt Guide Improv" is icing on every cake.

[@thestormlscoming]

Honestly one of the best series ever. Top 5. I say this as a non native with a ton of appreciation for the community while also living in a cloud of ignorance. I'm glad they have this platform and hope this opens up the doorway for a lot more. This show is seriously so brilliant. the cinematography is gorgeous! the writing is funny and poignant. I'm rewatching and picking up on little things I missed. It's really such a treat. And I'm so glad they were able to film where they wanted and hire who they wanted for the production.

[@lees267]

😂 best tv series and most original representing native youth and community! Kudos to Sterlin Harjo and all the writers and cast❤ You all beat anything that comes out of Hollywood's same old old😴. Looking forward to more native stories being told!🙌

[@loana3066]

I loved the show. Truly amazing. I hope there are going to be more seasons.

[@anniebell6846]

This show humbled me so much , so many learning moments the episode with the boarding school was so beautifully made.

[@mariansmith7694]

This show is SO REAL! I have lived on rez in NC & in OK most of my life. I have 3 enrolled Tsalagi grandchildren. Thanks for this. The World NEEDS THIS SHOW. Keep it up!

[@anadragoslavic8312]

I'm not Native but I watched this series a year after I lost my Dad died by suicide, and the level of respect... Empathy and the way this series has been a crutch through my grief I just can't even explain ❤ we are immigrants my Dad had an enormous love and respect for Indigenous culture.

[@androm4che]

Interacting with this because I'm happy it exists. Can't wait for season 2.

[@johnnyvibezzz6372]

Fun show and second season has been great so far hope it gets a third season

[@MariahBunni]

I love this show. It's so refreshing. Excited for season 2!

[@IzzySpeaks]

To know there is a lot Native films in the works gives me joy in my heart.

[@RayyanKesnan]

Love that native humor is being more popularized. Great way for settlers to be introduced to indigenous stories and cultures.

[@DavidRexGlenn]

This show deals with a lot of universal themes. The first season really drew me in because it reminded me of living in one of those 'pioneer' suburbs/subdivisions located miles from the nearest town that were so prevalent during the '60s & '70s. As I have gotten older my tolerance for poorly written low effort material has grown thin. This show has proved again and again that they can produce top quality content that keeps you engaged from beginning to end. Wes Studi and Gary Farmer need a spinoff series like right now

[@lemon3165]

It's the best tv shows I've ever seen and it's crazy that I'm not being hyperbolic💯 it pains me how underrated it is

[@TheNaturemama]

I love this show so much! It has the right balance of humor among serious subjects plus it does give a glimpse into a world many of us know little about. I love all the characters but my favorite is Willie Jack.

[@derrickbosedb]

Every Rez has a Willy Jack, sometimes more then 1

[@justlookup-mp4vs]

Such a great description of okmulgee. 😂 huge fan of the show. I’m Wyandotte native and grew up on the Osage reservation. I’m one of less that 7,000 Wyandottes left and extremely proud of my heritage. Thank you mr. harjo! I love what you are doing!

[@davidsahlem3149]

So thankful for this insightful interview. i love the show!

[@brendadevereaux7739]

Love this show! How often does a show come along that in one episode you are laughing then crying 15 mn later? Can't wait for next season❤️

[@JBHogan]

This show is absolutely fantastic. I wish there 10 more in the same vein or similar.

[@kentexican5844]

Awesome show with awesome stories!

[@eileenmc4746]

Best show that must be enjoyed

[@ejo]

Great interview! Insightful questions. Thanks.

[@donnapeavey1886]

BEST SHOW EVER!!!

[@djm122270]

Congratulations to everyone for producing such an honest and real ass depiction of US! #Sterlin Harjo

[@DaSxTrickZ]

love this show ! William knife man

[@jayrojas7402]

Great Show!

[@christian_lied]

I hope reservation dog keeps getting more seasons

[@JohnGottschalk]

Read that S3 is gonna be darker, all I can say is (if you're reading this Sterlin Harjo) follow your heart, but S1 & S2 were already pretty dark man, make sure to keep showing the light too!

[@drewheyman7173]

Addictive

[@chrisheroldt5871]

WILLIE JACK RULES

[@nelsonmarehalau2237]

Stoodis!

[@hunnybunnyssunshineliving5155]

🙌🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽✊🏽💜

[@michaeldahmenART24]

🙌⛩️🕉️☯️⚛️⛩️🙌.

[@XimenaZhao415]

Laughing in the face of all of this tragedy.

[@inkkeysful]

Hensji Sterlin! We are all grateful for this and laugh until we cry. Mvto, this is us!

[@Murf_Workshop]

Such an awesome show, happy to see that we finally have something like this!!! Can't wait for Season 3! Definitley a current favorite show of mine as well as my family. Being from New Mexico where they had a chance to film it, he mad the right choice to make the show in Oklahoma. Film your home and your background, it's easier for you to tell the story, we're going to understand it anyways, us kids and adults from the REZ will understand. they hit so many issues and feelings that hit home that it's hard to believe. I gotta say the moment when Willie Jack prays with her cousin while visiting her in prison was something I thought I'd never see in a show, too damn heartfelt and heart wrenching moment.

[@goldroso]

Great interview and absolutely fell in love with the show when I saw the first trailer.

[@Ariverse_]

I like how it says "burning questions" 😂

[@catchinbass86]

Best show on tv

[@janetlynn324]

I love this show so much.

[@maydavalle]

Such a unique show and story of the Res teens♥️ Flows so beautifully Love having LilMike and FunnyBone added to more representation naturally

[@billysobolik]

As a white dude, this show is quickly becoming one of my favorites, and its not JUST funny to Natives, it's easy for anyone who likes/makes indi films to get into, while encouraging the audience to research the slang/modern culture of Indiginous America.

[@OrderOfTheGash]

As a full blood Native from Oklahoma, I had 2 friends growing up who were half Native and Asian and they insisted on being called a 'Chindian' 😅

[@williammickle9077]

Great interview! Fantastic show!!

[@roberthogue6132]

Yo ,I love watching native, cultural saidy Slagle ticks ,jokes and spiritual writing, hopefully there's more seasons 🙏

[@scriberothchild5335]

One of my favorite new shows

[@sevenjam7474]

Love this show.

[@TagusMan]

Although I've yet to watch a full episode, the clips I've seen on YT are genuinely funny and engaging, which is shocking in today's anti-comedy, woketivist climate.

[@trashpandaqc]

This show is woke as hell lol. The foundation of the show is respect, representation, and humanization, which the right wing could never show Indigenous people. If you're watching other shows that superficially tokenize people and try to score diversity points - that's not wokeness, that's just capitalism attempting to capitalize on it.

[@TagusMan]

@@trashpandaqc It's a racist show in the sense that most of the cast and crew are all the same race / ethnicity. But they are telling indigenous stories from an indigenous perspective and therefore casting appropriately, which makes all the sense in the world. And to that degree, it's anti-woke af. And most importantly, it's damn funny. Can't get any less woke than that.

[@ghostman5620]

its full of crime and drug use. not saying its not enjoyable.........but, that's every episode. Pot, LSD, car theft, lollipop theft, animal abuse, assault.... so now..... i must believe that community celebrates.

[@intentionallyleftblank3016]

Lots of swearing too, which kinda bums me out cuz it does limit who I can and cannot recommend it to. What animal abuse???

[@sopyleecrypt6899]

It reflects the life and experiences of the people who make it. It’s real life.

[@allenmichaels6515]

I'm Michael matzinger and I grew up in the native neighborhood that they were filming in .also I've never seen the show

[@allenmichaels6515]

Mike Davis lived In the neighborhood from day one

[@derrickbosedb]

It's Rez life, what don't you get?