Follow TV Tropes

Following

History Series / RutherfordFalls

Go To

OR

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


Nate Rutherford (Helms) is a proud resident of Rutherford Falls -- a town founded by his family in the 17th Century -- and dedicated to promoting his home and his family's association with it. However, the statue of town founder Laurence "Big Larry" Rutherford causes one too many traffic accidents and leads to the the townspeople wanting to move it to a less prominent location, Nate engages in an angry rant that piques the interest of Terry Thomas (Creator/MichaelGreyeyes) of the Minishonka Nation who sees an opening to try and reclaim land that originally belonged to his people.

to:

Nate Rutherford (Helms) is a proud resident of Rutherford Falls -- a town founded by his family in the 17th Century -- and dedicated to promoting his home and his family's association with it. However, the statue of town founder Laurence "Big Larry" Rutherford causes one too many traffic accidents and leads to the the townspeople wanting to move it to a less prominent location, Nate engages in an angry rant that piques the interest of Terry Thomas (Creator/MichaelGreyeyes) of the (fictional) Minishonka Nation who sees an opening to try and reclaim land that originally belonged to his people.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
redefined trope


* TheWhitestBlackGuy: PlayedWith. Reagan, who is Minishonka, assumes that the reason her people don't like her is because she's a "city Indian" who got multiple postgraduate degrees instead of living on TheRez. Terry bluntly informs her that it's because she dumped her fiance the night before their wedding and still hasn't repaired those bridges, and puts Reagan to work in doing so. However, when she gets cyberbullied for [[spoiler:being put in charge of the upgraded cultural center]], the complaints include that she isn't in touch with the cultures and doesn't attend the rituals.

to:

* TheWhitestBlackGuy: PlayedWith. Reagan, who is Minishonka, assumes that the reason her people don't like her is because she's a "city Indian" who got multiple postgraduate degrees instead of living on TheRez.the reservation. Terry bluntly informs her that it's because she dumped her fiance the night before their wedding and still hasn't repaired those bridges, and puts Reagan to work in doing so. However, when she gets cyberbullied for [[spoiler:being put in charge of the upgraded cultural center]], the complaints include that she isn't in touch with the cultures and doesn't attend the rituals.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Rename


* ArmyOfLawyers: DoubleSubverted. After Terry sends a lawsuit his way, Nathan claims to Terry that he has the backing of Rutherford Inc., who will surely send a team of lawyers his way to back him up. They send...one, a wimp who got his junior associate position through nepotism, and whom Terry easily sends a way with his tail between his legs. Following that, Rutherford Inc. then sends a legitimate team of lawyers led by PR head Kaitlyn herself; they even show up in a helicopter and PowerWalk to the casino.

to:

* ArmyOfLawyers: DoubleSubverted. After Terry sends a lawsuit his way, Nathan claims to Terry that he has the backing of Rutherford Inc., who will surely send a team of lawyers his way to back him up. They send...one, a wimp who got his junior associate position through nepotism, and whom Terry easily sends a way with his tail between his legs. Following that, Rutherford Inc. then sends a legitimate team of lawyers led by PR head Kaitlyn herself; they even show up in a helicopter and PowerWalk TeamPowerWalk to the casino.

Added: 473

Removed: 484

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:


* MightyWhitey: InUniverse. When judging student films in "History Fair", Reagan (who is an indigenous woman from the local Minishonka tribe) and Nathan (a white descendant of the town's founder) both initially favor a film that emphasizes the oppression of the Minishonkans. But they come into conflict upon learning that the student who made it is white, with Reagan wondering if it would be proper to recognize a white ally for their efforts to uplift the tribe's voice.



* UnfortunateImplications: InUniverse. When judging student films in "History Fair", Reagan (who is an indigenous woman from the local Minishonka tribe) and Nathan (a white descendant of the town's founder) both initially favor a film that emphasizes the oppression of the Minishonkans. But they come into conflict upon learning that the student who made it is white, with Reagan wondering if it would be proper to recognize a white ally for their efforts to uplift the tribe's voice.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


The second season released on 16 June 2022.

to:

The A second season released on 16 June 2022.2022, but the show was then cancelled by Peacock.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* IndianBurialGround: Inverted. At the start of the second season, Bobbie suspects that the new cultural center, located in an old colonial house, is haunted. He calls in Sally and Wayne, who declare the house must be haunted by angry white ghosts and try to communicate with them using traditional cultural items such as ''{{Series/Cheers}}'' DVD and a bottle of Chardonnay.

to:

* IndianBurialGround: Inverted. At the start of the second season, Bobbie suspects that the new cultural center, located in an old colonial house, is haunted. He calls They call in Sally and Wayne, who declare the house must be haunted by angry white ghosts and try to communicate with them using traditional "traditional cultural items items" such as a ''{{Series/Cheers}}'' DVD and a bottle of Chardonnay.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* IndianBurialGround: Inverted. At the start of the second season, Bobbie suspects that the new cultural center, located in an old colonial house, is haunted. He calls in Sally and Wayne, who declare the house must be haunted by angry white ghosts and try to communicate with them using traditional cultural items such as ''{{Series/Cheers}}'' DVD and a bottle of Chardonnay.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* TechnicalConsultant: An InUniverse example in the second season. Terry and Reagan, who are Native Americans of the fictional Minishonka people, are brought on to be cultural consultants for ''Adirondack'', a ''Series/{{Yellowstone}}''-like ShowWithinAShow that prominently features Native Americans. However, their concerns about the offensive and appropriative portrayals in the script are ignored by the writers and directors. Eventually, Terry gives up on cultural accuracy and instead encourages a very stereotypical depiction of Native Americans (such as TipisAndTotemPoles and BraidsBeadsAndBuckskins), which brings on negative attention to the production.

to:

* TechnicalConsultant: TechnicalAdvisor: An InUniverse example in the second season. Terry and Reagan, who are Native Americans of the fictional Minishonka people, are brought on to be cultural consultants for ''Adirondack'', a ''Series/{{Yellowstone}}''-like ShowWithinAShow that prominently features Native Americans. However, their concerns about the offensive and appropriative portrayals in the script are ignored by the writers and directors. Eventually, Terry gives up on cultural accuracy and instead encourages a very stereotypical depiction of Native Americans (such as TipisAndTotemPoles and BraidsBeadsAndBuckskins), which brings on negative attention to the production.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* TechnicalConsultant: An InUniverse example in the second season. Terry and Reagan, who are Native Americans of the fictional Minishonka people, are brought on to be cultural consultants for ''Adirondack'', a ''Series/{{Yellowstone}}''-like ShowWithinAShow that prominently features Native Americans. However, their concerns about the offensive and appropriative portrayals in the script are ignored by the writers and directors. Eventually, Terry gives up on cultural accuracy and instead encourages a very stereotypical depiction of Native Americans (such as TipisAndTotemPoles and BraidsBeadsAndBuckskins), which brings on negative attention to the production.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* TheCastShowoff: Michael Greyeyes, who plays Terry Thomas, trained as a ballet dancer, so in the first episode of season 2, naturally they had him perform the entire final dance sequence from ''Film/DirtyDancing''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* TheCastShowoff: Michael Greyeyes, who plays Terry Thomas, trained as a ballet dancer, so in the first episode of season 2, naturally they had him perform the entire final dance sequence from ''Film/DirtyDancing''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* BigBeautifulWoman: Reagan is an attractive plus-sized woman; in "Halloween" when her new boyfriend Nelson comments with dismay that both her recent exes look like models, Sally explains that Reagan's intelligence, confidence, and independence make her attractive.


Added DiffLines:

* HiddenDepths: For two seasons Ms. Fish is simply a shallow teacher who adores Nathan, to his dismay. In the final episode of season two, however, she is revealed to be a certified doula and is very competent and professional in this role, to the point that [[spoiler:Nathan is attracted to her]]. He comments that it's interesting seeing this new side of her.
-->'''Nathan:''' Who knew Ms. Fish was a doula?\\
'''Reagan:''' Okay, burying the lede. Ms. Fish's first name is Peggy?\\
'''Nathan:''' Literally the first time hearing any of this.


Added DiffLines:

* TheMissusAndTheEx: At Wayne and Sally's Halloween party, Reagan's new boyfriend Nelson is transparently jealous upon seeing her chat with her ex-fiance Ray (despite Ray being married), and the two get into a dick-measuring contest about whose tribe is better and who can start the bonfire.


Added DiffLines:

* WrittenInAbsence: Terry's family features in "Halloween", sans his daughter Maya. His wife Renee has a line explaining Maya is off on an exchange program in Canada.

Added: 1763

Changed: 77

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


The cast also includes Creator/JessieLeigh as Bobby Yang, Nate's peppy intern, Creator/DustinMilligan as Josh Carter, a journalist doing a piece on Rutherford Falls, and Creator/DanaLWilson as Dierdre Chisenhall, the town's no-nonsense mayor whose family history is almost as old as Nate's.

to:

The cast also includes Creator/JessieLeigh as Bobby Bobbie Yang, Nate's peppy intern, Creator/DustinMilligan as Josh Carter, a journalist doing a piece on Rutherford Falls, and Creator/DanaLWilson as Dierdre Chisenhall, the town's no-nonsense mayor whose family history is almost as old as Nate's.



* AbhorrentAdmirer: Ms. Fish, a teacher at the town school, who throws herself at Nathan at every opportunity despite it being transparently obvious Nathan has no interest in her. [[spoiler:Until the final episode of season 2, where Nathan becomes attracted to her confidence and professionalism in her role as Deirdre's doula, and the two sleep together.]]
* AbortedArc: The first season finale's plot thread of Nathan [[spoiler:finding his real family and identity]] is dropped in season two in favor of Nathan making amends with the town and [[spoiler:becoming a good father to his child by Deirdre]].



** Exploited after Terry is hired as a consultant on a ''Series/{{Yellowstone}}''-like TV show and is unsuccessful in getting them to portray their Native Americans more sensitively. He instead steers the production into a carnival of mishmashed Native stereotypes (headdresses, tepees, yelling, over-the-top beadwork, "sexy Pocahontas" costumes). They leak photos to Josh, who publishes them, bringing negative attention onto the production.

to:

** Exploited after Terry is hired as a consultant on a ''Series/{{Yellowstone}}''-like TV show and is unsuccessful in getting them to portray their Native Americans more accurately and sensitively. He instead steers the production into a carnival of mishmashed Native stereotypes (headdresses, tepees, yelling, over-the-top beadwork, "sexy Pocahontas" costumes). They leak photos to Josh, who publishes them, bringing negative attention onto the production.



* PlatonicLifePartners:
** Nathan and Reagan are very old, close friends who form the show's central relationship; the other subplots in the show branch out from them. However, they are completely platonic and are involved in separate love triangles in the second season.
** Implied to be the case with Wayne and Sally. Wayne is married and Sally is single by choice. However, the two are the best of friends and are always seen in each other's company.



* TheSocialExpert: Bobbie is a social media savant. They are very attuned to what folks are saying online and able to track other people just from a quick glance at his phone. [[spoiler:They are able to turn this online popularity into a victorious grassroots campaign for mayor.]]



* ThoseTwoGuys: Wayne and Sally, two Minishonkan employees at the casino, who always show up as a duo to make fun of Reagan.

to:

* ThoseTwoGuys: Wayne and Sally, two Minishonkan employees at the casino, who always show up as a duo to make fun of Reagan. Reagan, snark about goings-on, or snark about Reagan's goings-on.


Added DiffLines:

* UnrequitedLoveSwitcheroo: Variation in season 2. Deirdre reciprocates Nathan's feelings, but rejects him as a romantic partner because [[spoiler:he disappeared for months while she was pregnant with his child (though he didn't know about the latter)]]. Nathan accepts his and at the end of the season [[spoiler:sleeps with Ms. Fish, their doula... just before Deirdre calls him, implying she was ready to date him for rea.]]

Added: 1126

Changed: 336

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* BraidsBeadsAndBuckskins: Exploited. Terry keeps a case in his office full of Native American accessories, including multiple bead necklaces, metal jewelry, and feathers. When preparing to meet with the white ArmyOfLawyers, he decides against the hair feathers, saying they're "too much", but the beadwork and jewelry can still make them guilty ''and'' jealous.

to:

* BraidsBeadsAndBuckskins: BraidsBeadsAndBuckskins:
**
Exploited. Terry keeps a case in his office full of Native American accessories, including multiple bead necklaces, metal jewelry, and feathers. When preparing to meet with the white ArmyOfLawyers, he decides against the hair feathers, saying they're "too much", but the beadwork and jewelry can still make them guilty ''and'' jealous.
** Exploited after Terry is hired as a consultant on a ''Series/{{Yellowstone}}''-like TV show and is unsuccessful in getting them to portray their Native Americans more sensitively. He instead steers the production into a carnival of mishmashed Native stereotypes (headdresses, tepees, yelling, over-the-top beadwork, "sexy Pocahontas" costumes). They leak photos to Josh, who publishes them, bringing negative attention onto the production.


Added DiffLines:

* FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling: The Wellses. Reagan (studious and uptight museum director) is the Responsible, while her brother Curtis (irresponsible and layabout hot tub salesman) is the Foolish. She resents that their dead aunt's land is going to him just because he has kids, when she was the one who stayed in the town and did the work.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* CoolAunt: The episode "Aunt Sue" deals with the death of Reagan's beloved Aunt Sue who was quite the force of nature. She owned a CoolBike, had a gun collection, was a party animal even in her old age, once brought the doctor to the store when her sister's water broke and helped her deliver the baby and was overall just a kind and loving relative to her niece.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** PlayedForLaughs in the season 2 premiere. Nathan is ready to give a big apology to Bobby for abandoning him in the previous season, only for Bobby to just hug him and forgive him before Nathan has a word out.

to:

** PlayedForLaughs in the season 2 premiere. Nathan is ready to give a big apology to Bobby Bobbie for abandoning him them in the previous season, only for Bobby Bobbie to just hug him and forgive him before Nathan has a word out.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* EasilyForgiven:
** PlayedForLaughs in the season 2 premiere. Nathan is ready to give a big apology to Bobby for abandoning him in the previous season, only for Bobby to just hug him and forgive him before Nathan has a word out.
** [[spoiler:Terry is upset with Nathan for crashing his birthday party with an apology video for a few minutes before accepting Nathan's apology. Terry attributes this more to seeing Nathan make a fool of himself which made Terry feel much better about the stress he's been dealing with.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


The show has been renewed for a second season.

to:

The show has been renewed for a second season.season released on 16 June 2022.

Top