From its description, “Rutherford Falls” seems like a show that could go wrong in all sorts of ways. The comedy, which is streaming on Peacock, is about Nathan Rutherford (Ed Helms), whose life revolves around paying tribute to his family, particularly Lawrence “Big Larry” Rutherford, the supposed founder of the town of Rutherford Falls.
If Nathan is obsessed with honoring the Rutherford tradition, including opening his home as a museum of Rutherfordian memorabilia, his best friend, Reagan Wells (Jana Schmieding), is just as committed to celebrating her Native heritage. Reagan is determined to develop a cultural center devoted to the Minishonka people, the (fictional) tribe who were on the land long before “Big Larry” showed up, hundreds of years ago.
After yet another motorist’s vehicle collides with the statue of “Big Larry” that sits in the middle of a town intersection, the mayor, Deirdre Chisenhall (Dana L. Wilson), decides it’s time to move the statue.
At a time when the country is grappling with the issue of removing statues of white “founders,” this storyline could be a disaster. Add in the issue of Native tribal members asserting their right to ancestral lands that were taken by white people, and “Rutherford Falls” sounds like it should be a PBS documentary, not a comedy.
But, thanks in no small part to the contributions of Native writers and performers, “Rutherford Falls” is smart and witty, with an ability to balance the serious and the silly. “Rutherford Falls” is that rarity – a show that makes you think, and is also utterly charming.
It’s particularly enjoyable to watch Schmieding, who’s a staff writer on “Rutherford Falls,” as well as a costar. An Oregon native who grew up in Canby and graduated from the University of Oregon, Schmieding is enrolled in the Cheyenne River Lakota Sioux tribe. With a background in comedy and writing, Schmieding is enormously likable, which is particularly funny since the character of Reagan is cheerfully mocked by her fellow Minishonka people for not knowing how to speak the language, and not being connected enough to the community.
While Nathan is ineffectually trying to preserve his family history, Reagan is working to upgrade the collection at her Minishonka cultural center, a task made more challenging by the fact that the cultural center is basically a side room in the Minishonka’s “Running Thunder” casino. Terry Thomas (Michael Greyeyes), the CEO of the casino, has his mind on other priorities, namely building wealth, power and influence for the Minishonka people.
Meanwhile, a National Public Radio reporter, Josh Carter (Dustin Milligan), is convinced that there’s a juicy story to be told about what’s going on in Rutherford Falls, even as his boss dismisses it with, “This isn’t some Confederate statue being pulled down by protesters. At best, it’s a local traffic issue.”
From left, Jesse Leigh as Bobbie Yang, Ed Helms as Nathan Rutherford, Dana L. Wilson as Mayor Deirdre and Jana Schmieding as Reagan Wells in "Rutherford Falls." (Photo: Colleen Hayes/Peacock)Colleen Hayes/Peacock
“Rutherford Falls” was created by Michael Schur (whose credits include “Parks and Recreation” and “The Good Place”), Helms, and Sierra Teller Ornelas, whose credits include “Superstore,” and who is of Navajo heritage. The show stands out for the creative participation of Native people, with five Native writers, and actors such as Schmieding and Greyeyes, who is Nêhiyaw from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation.
The inclusion of Native voices is worth applauding, because it’s still unfortunately unusual. That sense of authentic experience makes “Rutherford Falls” feel fresh. Over the course of 10 half-hour episodes, we want to know even more about the Minishonka community, and the ease with which people honor traditions of the past, while living in the present.
Nathan can’t help but come off as less interesting than the Minishonka characters, though, to its credit, the show has a gentle touch. Nathan is fairly ridiculous in his fusty attachment to family lore, but even characters who disagree with him don’t really want to eviscerate the guy.
“Rutherford Falls” has its flaws, most of which have to do with us wanting to know more about these people. How did Nathan and Reagan become such close friends? Reagan briefly mentions her mother, but where is her family? Just when does Josh work on that NPR podcast he wants to do?
Michael Greyeyes as Terry Thomas in "Rutherford Falls." (Photo: Colleen Hayes/Peacock)Colleen Hayes/Peacock
By the end of the 10 episodes currently available on Peacock, it’s obvious there’s more story to tell. Here’s hoping “Rutherford Falls” gets renewed, if only so we can spend more time with Terry, who, in Greyeyes’ elegant performance, is one of the year’s most intriguing TV characters, driven, a bit ruthless, but endlessly fascinating. Then there’s Bobbie Yang (Jesse Leigh), a high school student who, for some reason, is Nathan’s assistant, and who Leigh plays with dazzling energy.
It’s not every show that manages to feel both like a breakthrough in representation and an original comedy. “Rutherford Falls” is that, and more. Let’s hope for a second season, to spend even more time in this delightful town.
“Rutherford Falls” is streaming its first season of 10 episodes on Peacock.
-- Kristi Turnquist
kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist