An endorsement: Taika Waititi

"Reservation Dogs," available on Hulu, is a terrific 
coming-of-age television show.

    To those of you who appreciate good television I offer this name: Taika Waititi.

    Waititi, of New Zealand, is an artist who has achieved numerous awards and achievements. He is a director, screenwriter and producer, as well as actor and comedian.

    I first learned of Waititi -- also known as Taika David Cohen -- when he was involved in a television series, "Flight of the Conchords." 

    That show was on HBO several years ago: Comics Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie travel from their native home in New Zealand to New York City, aiming to find love and success in the Big Apple.

    "Reservation Dogs," is a more recent Waititi show which I found on Hulu. Waititi co-created the show with Sterlin Harjo and is one of the writers.

    This series focuses on young, Native American teens who live on a reservation in Oklahoma and dream to visit California. They lie, steal, cheat and compete with a rival gang but also stay focused on California, which they believe will be warm and much more exciting than the reservation.

    "Reservation Dogs" is a comedy as well as a dramatic offering.

    It is the first TV series to use almost all indigenous writers as well as actors of Native American descent. The American Film Institute named "Reservation Dogs" as one of the 10 best television shows of 2021 and 2022.

    The Native Americans have plenty of history to offer. The acting and writing is superb in "Reservation Dogs," and one learns about the reservation culture as well. 

    Each episode is interesting, emotional and so nicely done -- it's a real treat to experience. Viewers can easily understand these kids and what moves them.

    I also appreciate how the teens approach problems that life presents, and how they find ways to deal with them one-by-one. That's an indication of good, true, writing translated to the tube.

    Find Waititi involved in other projects, including: "What We Do in the Shadows," "Thor: Ragnorak," as well as "Thor: Love and Thunder." He was also involved in "Jojo Rabbit" and "Free Guy."

    Time magazine in 2022 named Waititi as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

This is Bear Smallhill, who considers himself the leader
of the four friends who hope to go to California.
He is played by D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai.