Rutherford Falls, a single-camera comedy, has been cancelled after two seasons on Peacock. With a blend of humour and social satire, the series starring Ed Helms, Jana Schmieding, Michael Greyeyes, Jesse Leigh, and Dustin Milligan proved to be a smash with both critics and viewers. Season 2 began airing on June 16. Mike Schur, Ornelas and Helms createdthe series. They became show’s boasted significant Native American presence both onscreen and in the writing room.
Following Nathan Rutherford (Helms) and Reagan Wells (Schmieding), two longtime friends who unexpectedly find themselves on opposing sides of the same controversy when a statue of Nathan’s ancestor is about to be taken down, is Rutherford Falls. While Reagan, a member of the Minishonka tribe, attempts to have the monument removed because of the ancestor’s notable attack on her people, Nathan pushes to keep it there in respect of his ancestor’s legacy. Due to its status as a comedy series, Season 1 was able to approach the subject in a more humorous way as Nathan came to terms with what his forefathers done through a series of conversations about the subject, with Season 2 broadening the discourse beyond statues.
Just three months ago, the second season of the show made its streaming platform debut. Even though Peacock does not provide standard audience statistics, the comedy’s 8-episode second season received a highly unusual perfect Rotten Tomatoes rating. Additionally, with a 92 percent rating, Season 1 is deemed to be fresh. Despite these victories, according to insiders, Peacock had been thinking of being cancelled after its debut season due to low viewership. Universal Television reportedly had such faith in a second season that it offered and covered all expenses, especially given how much it loves its partnership with Schur. Compared to Season 1, Season 2 had two fewer episodes.
The comedy’s subtle treatment of a more serious subject while yet delivering plenty of chuckles was notably praised by critics. In order to accurately transmit their perspective to screens, it also featured a production that was jam-packed with Indigenous creatives. Along with Schmieding, the series included members of the Navajo, Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota, Cheyenne River Lakota Sioux, and Plains Creek tribes in the ranks of its cast. These included Sierra Teller Ornelas, Bobby Wilson, Tai Leclaire, Tazbah Chavez, and Michael Greyeyes. The result was one of the biggest Indigenous crews and casts in current television.