Look Who’s Coming Out of the Shadows

September will be a bumper month for Taika Waititi fans, with the premieres of Reservation Dogs and the latest season of What We Do in the Shadows.

S3 of the vampire spoof, which has just been renewed for a fourth, will stream from September 3 on Neon and air from September 9 on SoHo. Reads the blurb:

In season three, the vampires are elevated to a new level of power and will encounter the vampire from which all vampires have descended, a tempting Siren, gargoyles, werewolf kickball, Atlantic City casinos, wellness cults, ex-girlfriends, gyms and supernatural curiosities galore.

Reservation Dogs is a critically acclaimed FX comedy about four Native teenagers in Oklahoma that will stream on the Disney+ Star service from September 15 following this month’s US launch on Hulu.

Here’s the media release:

RESERVATION DOGS WILL LAUNCH ON DISNEY+ IN NEW ZEALAND ON SEPTEMBER 15TH

Comedy series Reservation Dogs from the minds of Taika Waititi and Sterlin Harjo, will premiere in New Zealand on Star on Disney+. The first three episodes will be available to stream on Wednesday, September 15th.

Reservation Dogs is an eight-episode comedy series that follows the exploits of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma who steal, rob, and save in order to get to the exotic, mysterious and faraway land of California.

Filmed on location in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, Reservation Dogs is a breakthrough in Indigenous     representation on television both in front of and behind the camera.

Every writer, director, and series regular on the show is Indigenous. This first-of-its-kind creative team tells a story that resonates with them and their lived experiences – and invites audiences into a surprisingly familiar and funny world.

Bear Smallhill (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai) is destined to be a warrior, and a leader. The only problem is he’s not a good fighter, and the gang doesn’t really consider him the leader. But with the guidance of a questionable spirit guide, he just might get there. Elora Danan (Devery Jacobs) may be the true leader of the group.

But she’s so focused on getting to California, and so oblivious to her own power, that she often can’t see the beauty and goodness in herself and all around her. Smart-mouthed tough girl Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis) is the beating heart of the group.

She’s always looking out for her crew. Meanwhile, Cheese (Lane Factor) is the gentle, quiet ride-or-die who is so willing to go along with the group that he never stops to consider what his own dreams might be.

One year ago, Daniel, the fifth member of the Reservation Dogs, died. Struggling to make sense of the loss, the remaining four blame the reservation, its poverty, and its ability to crush the spirit. They decide to honour Daniel by adopting his dream of getting to California as their own.

To succeed, they will have to save enough money, outmanoeuvre the meth heads at the junkyard on the edge of town, constantly dodge conspiracy-obsessed Light horseman Big (Zahn McClarnon) and survive a gang war against a much tougher rival gang, led by the enigmatic Jackie (Elva Guerra).

Reservation Dogs has Native rappers, catfish, Indigenous superstitions and spirits, both hilarious and terrifying, laughter, tears, unexpected grandmothers, decent people, terrible people and a cavalcade of supporting characters who colour and shade this already vibrant world.

Reservation Dogs is executive produced by Sterlin Harjo (11/8/16, Barking Water, Four Sheets to the Wind), Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows, Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok) and Garrett Basch (What We Do in the Shadows, The Night Of).