TV PREVIEW

WHEN it comes to creating a ground-breaking sitcom, what makes for the perfect recipe? For some, it’s an instantly recognisable name – like The Hangover’s Ed Helms, right, perhaps. For others, it’s about tackling rarely broached subject matter in a new and exciting way. It stands to reason then, that Rutherford Falls – a comedy about diverging cultures, set against the backdrop of a Native American reservation, would prove a hit with audiences. Series one broke new ground, cementing the show as the world’s first Native American sitcom.

“This was always conceived as a comedy,” explains Helms, 48, describing the series as a vehicle for tackling social issues head on “but in a fun way”. We’re funny people – I hope. We think we’re funny. We’re very arrogant about being funny. And so this is what we do,” laughs the actor, gesturing to co-star Jana Schmieding, 40.

Helms, best known for playing straight-laced Stu in The Hangover franchise and Andy Bernard in the US remake of The Office, stars as Nathan Rutherford. The lifelong best friend of Reagan Wells, played by Reservation Dogs actress Schmieding, the pair tackle all manner of work, romance and life challenges from their small town bordering a Native

American reservation.

A succinct blend of heartwarming friendship and cultural discourse, the sitcom even sees Schmieding take on a few action sequences of her own. “It turns out I am the Tom Cruise of comedy,” she announces with a guffaw.

The subject of Native culture is something co-creator Ornelas is all-too familiar with, given she herself is a member of the Navajo Nation, more specifically, the Edgewater clan, the name given to the 25,000-mile Indian reservation extending into the US state of New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Arizona. Her first-hand experience of the nation’s rich history makes her the perfect conduit for such a tale.

Explaining that shows with Native people are “almost always helmed by white men”, the writer says that traditionally, Native individuals are positioned as secondary characters on screen, “usually dying before the third act”.

“Often, Native stories that are told by non-Native people either focus on trauma or feel like homework. It’s just sort of like ‘eat your vegetables!’” shrugs the creator.

“We never wanted to tell stories in that way. I feel like we know that we’re funny, it’s just new to everyone else. Comedy, at the end of the day, humanises the subject matter – I think that’s why we take down whole political movements with comedy.”

Reprising his role as Tribal Casino CEO Terry Thomas in the series, filming was an experience the actor and scholar describes as “freeing”. After more than three decades in the film industry, Michael Greyeyes, 55, says that “for the first time” a production was so well-informed, showrunners didn’t rely upon his own “experience or knowledge of a community to correct the writing or direction”.

Describing the forthcoming series as brimming with “Native joy”, Greyeyes says the combination of Helms and Schmieding’s characters makes for thoughtprovoking viewing. Depicting contrasting experiences, the creator says both characters are “huge champions for their own histories”. Yet, despite the systemic issues that surround and divide them, friendship ultimately prevails.

Rutherford Falls Season 2, Monday, Sky and NOW