Reservation Dogs will end after season 3, and FX seems as bummed about it as anyone
The show's creators have decided to end the show with a "perfect series finale"
Aux News Reservation Dogs
TV fans know the pain of an unjust cancellation all to well, but there is also the lesser pain of having a show’s creators end a series on their own terms even though you thought it could’ve gone on for a lot longer. That’s a rarer situation, but it seems to be exactly what has happened today with FX and Hulu’s Reservation Dogs, which will be coming to an end after its upcoming third season.
That decision was made by series creators Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, with Harjo putting out a statement on his Instagram (via The Hollywood Reporter) in which he says this was the “correct decision creatively for the show.” He also noted that he always knew how the show should end, just not when it should end, but as he, Waititi, and the producers planned out the third season, they knew they had the “perfect series finale.” That third season is coming to FX and Hulu on August 2.
Meanwhile, nobody seems as upset about this as FX itself is, with the network putting out a statement that reads more like a eulogy of decorated war hero than a press release—and hey, if any show deserves that, it’s this one. The statement refers to Reservation Dogs as “one of the most important TV shows ever made” and says that it gave the world “a wholly unique, original, and honest portrayal of Native people—one that has never before been seen in television or film.”
FX also notes that it’s “difficult to say goodbye,” but adds, “we support Sterlin and Taika’s decision to end this series in a way that will cement its legacy.” Here’s the full statement:
People throw around the words historic and groundbreaking far too often and without merit: Reservation Dogs is worthy of those superlatives. Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi created one of the most important TV shows ever made. They gave the world a wholly unique, original, and honest portrayal of Native people—one that has never before been seen in television or film.
It’s difficult to say goodbye to these indelible characters and to an award-winning series that The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Variety and Vulture named The Best Show of 2022. That said, we support Sterlin and Taika’s decision to end the series in a way that will cement its legacy.
We, along with our partners at Hulu, are forever grateful to the producers, writers, directors, cast, crew and the Native land and communities in eastern Oklahoma who collaborated to make this masterpiece. While we’re sad to see the show come to an end, we’re excited for Sterlin, Taika and Garrett Basch to continue to tell stories for FX. And Rez Dogs fans, we hope you share our excitement and anticipation for the coming season.
27 Comments
Bittersweet. One of the best shows on TV
I’ll be sad to be without this show, but I think they’ve got the right idea. Season 1, they have a goal driven by grief and encounter hardship in working toward it. Season 2, they battle through their personal low points but come together to achieve their goal from season 1. If season 3 is about how they come to terms with their grief individually and as a group and how they move on with their lives after making it to California, it really will be a perfect ending.
Agreed.
I actually thought the season 2 ending was pretty perfect and they could have ended the show there. I guess there are some overall loose ends but it was a pretty perfect note. I was surprised (pleasantly) that it was even getting a season 3, so hopefully they go out on a high note (again).
Yeah, I felt the same. If it had ended after season 2, I would’ve had no complaints, but I’m happy to get one more run with the Dogs.
I’m really sad to see Reservation Dogs go, it’s been one of the most thoughtful shows I’ve ever seen. I hope this means they can free up a little money for This Fool to get a third season, becuase it’s kinda flow under the radar and is excellent.
Never heard of This Fool, but after looking it up I’m very interested. Thanks for mentioning it.
I second the recommendation, and am stoked for the second season. The first was a lot of fun; I think the episode where Luis tries to round up a crew to deliver a beatdown was my favorite of S1.
Yes, This Fool is so great!! I hope there are more seasons.
Ditto. Also…going to look for This Fool which blunts pain of RD ending. Thanks!
I don’t know what the third season has in store, but so far from a narrative standpoint, I could see how one more season would be all that’s needed to wrap it up. While I’m you could extend stuff out a couple more seasons with more stand alone episodes with all the different characters and native myths they’ve touched on in the past, you risk watering down what you’ve already done.
They already have the end point in mind and found the path to get there. No need to drag it out and potentially tarnish what’s been a fantastic ride so far. Skoden!
More good shows could be great shows if they know when to end
Very good point. The Wire had 5 stories and 5 seasons. Ended because the story was done as opposed to just making episodes for the sake of making episodes. Unfortunate that the magnitude of shows that DON’T know how to end well is equal to the magnitude of how good your point is. Sigh.
If FX is really upset about this, put the entire series on FX or FXX instead of hiding it behind a paywall on Hulu.
They’re actually putting the first two seasons on FX in the lead up to the new season…
Yeah, because more people have FX/FXX than have Hulu, right?
*smh*
Can we get a Deer Lady or a William Knifeman spinoff?
This show is so good! I’ll be sad to see it go, but I’m glad they get to go out on their own terms having produced the show they want.
Damn that sucks.Ah-ho!
Would anybody really be shocked if the Justified reboot gets axed after one season?
Isn’t it just supposed to be a Limited Series, anyway?
It’s a limited series, so no.
Actually did not know that.
It’s based on a non-Raylan-centric Elmore Leonard book that has been adapted as a Raylan Givens story.
Having said that, I wouldn’t be surprised if FX renewed it.
I’m sad to see it go, but I’m really looking forward to whatever the creators and cast get up to next. Until then, I’ll really miss these shit asses.
Can’t wait to see the cast become big stars.
Gary Farmer is not only on Reservation Dogs, he’s also on Sci-fi’s Resident Alien.Paulina Alexis is not only on Reservation Dogs, she’s also in Ghostbusters: Afterlife.