The Hulu original series Reservation Dogs serves as an inspiring coming-of-age show that features a group of kids who want to escape the bad memories their hometown represents. The four main characters — Elora, Bear, Cheese and Willie — each have their designated place within the group dynamic, and their personal struggles vary greatly, making the issues of the show well-rounded. These kids have experienced true loss and pain, and the way they approach solving their problems could be relatable to a lot of other teens, making the show incredibly inspiring and important.
In rural Oklahoma, these kids don’t have many options for their futures, and the limitations of the reservation they live on and the highly present generational trauma are consistent issues. Many people who grew up in small towns can relate to the scarcity of growth in their community, and many of these main characters believe it played a role in one of their close friends’ decision to commit suicide before the start of the show, and for Elora and Bear, their desire to leave and move to California was heavily dependent on that belief.
Another important element that makes this show a coming-of-age story is the diversity of each character’s background. Elora wants to leave the reservation more than her friends do, and she’s the one who found their friend Daniel after he passed. She carries the burden of discovering his body, and she also lost her mother in a car accident previous to the show’s start. The only person she has as family is her grandmother, who isn’t nice to her, making her desire to leave crucial to her character. For her, there are no other choices, and she represents many teens who might feel similarly about their home situation.
Meanwhile, Bear has a complicated relationship with his parents since it seems that his mother had him at a young age. His dad is also estranged, and continuously lets him down. His mom doesn’t spend much quality time with him, choosing to go out most nights and leave him alone. Bear’s desire to leave stems from the emotional neglect he receives from his parents, and he represents many teens in similar situations, wanting to be anywhere but home when they know they’ll be alone.
As for Cheese, not much is known about him so far besides the fact that most of his family is deceased, and he lives with his uncle. Despite his family history being extremely similar to Elora’s, Cheese has a more positive outlook on life. He originally wanted to leave to appease his friends, but he decides to stay when he realizes leaving with Elora and Bear wouldn’t have positive results. There’s so much more to learn about his development in Season 2, as there are many ways for his character to grow.
Finally, Willie had the biggest changes in Season 1, as she went from wanting to leave with her friends to proudly declaring she would stay. She’s the only member of their group with present parents, and her closeness to her father is what makes her decide to stay, as she realizes losing Daniel was hard for their entire community and that she wants to learn how to be a great person from her parents. She showed emotional maturity, and the trailer for Season 2 also displayed some moments that proved she would continue to take on more responsibilities and grow.
The coming-of-age element that plays a special role in the show is how each character’s experiences have pushed them toward growth. Every single moment caused a significant reaction that moved the story forward. Each character’s motives were clear and relatable, making the series perfect for a variety of people. The repetitive themes of pain and growth for each character will continue to be an inspiration as the show continues, thus making it a solid coming-of-age story.
Reservation Dogs Season 2 premieres Aug. 3, 2022.
