Life is full of twists and turns on Reservation Dogs. In “Mabel,” the village comes together to say goodbye to Elora Danan’s (Devery Jacobs) grandmother.
Elora Danan returned to Okern last week, much to Bear’s (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai) surprise. It didn’t take long for Bear to lay into her for leaving him behind. At least, until she revealed that her grandmother, Mabel (Geraldine Kearns), is dying.
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Members of ‘the village’ gather at Elora and Mabel’s house to support Elora. They cook, clean, and sit with Mabel. Wotko (Wotko Long) sings Creek hymns while Old Man Fixico (Richard Ray Whitman) prays and burns cedar.
The Reservation Dogs, Bear, Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis), and Cheese (Lane Factor) show up for their friend. Despite recent events, she is still their friend … maybe even the only family she has left; of course, there’s also Uncle Brownie (Gary Farmer). He comes too with a handful of Sonics. Brownie goes straight to Mabel’s side. The only time he leaves her side is to chase down the pot smokers who don’t want to share with Brownie.
Things liven up when Teenie (Tamara Podemski) arrives. Teenie is Rita’s (Sarah Podemski) cousin and Cookie’s best friend. Cookie is Elora Danan’s mother, who died when Elora was a baby. Teenie gets emotional when she sees Elora. Elora looks just like her mother.
Everyone who come to support Elora sit in the living room visiting. Big (Zahn McClarnon) entertains them with his conspiracy theories about aliens. Tensions rise when Jackie (Elva Guerra) and Auntie Bev (Jana Schmieding) show up. This makes Bear and Willie Jack very uncomfortable.
Willie Jack makes a comment that Jackie could help. Elora takes the initiative to invite Jackie to make frybread. She’s never made it before so Teenie steps in to teach her.
Elora is going through the motions of taking care of her guests and checking on her grandma. She sees Teenie visit with Mabel. She’s gentle with Mabel and holds her hand while she talks. Elora doesn’t say much. She basically nods and smiles. The food is ready and everyone grabs a plate. Elora asks Cheese to say a prayer before they eat. Cheese prays for Elora as her grandmother transcends to a galaxy far, far away. Amen.
Elora asks Bear to take a plate to the backyard for the spirits. Of course, Spirit, William Knifeman (Dallas Goldtooth) immediately shows up. He asks Bear why he’s there. Bear says he’s there for Elora, but Spirit isn’t so sure. Spirit tells him a story about the importance of communication. Elora has pain in her heart and Bear needs to talk to Elora.
While Elora and Jackie wash the dishes, Willie Jack, Bear and Cheese glare at them, wondering why Jackie is still there. Jackie asks Elora if she still plans to go to California. She does and they both want to leave as soon as all of this is over.
Teenie, Rita and Bev stand in the kitchen, telling stories about Cookie and Mabel. Elora realizes that her grandmother was once a sweet woman. Rita says she changed when Cookie died. They all did.
Later Tinney goes outside to smoke a cigarette. Big is outside looking at the stars. He says it’s crazy how a dying loved one brings people together. They should get together before death. Tinney says death brings people together so they can have closure. They didn’t get together after Cookie died. Her death nearly ended everything. Big isn’t really sure why he’s there. He says he’s not doing anything. Teenie says he’s there for Elora.
People start to leave and others fall asleep in the living room, including Bear and Jackie. they’re laying next to each other. Willie Jack pours coffee and gets questioned by Teenie, who’s looking for a snag. The only single man in the room is Big. Teenie then questions why Willie Jack doesn’t have a snag. Willie Jack says she can’t be tamed.
Leon is proud of Willie Jack. Teenie turns the tables on Leon and reveals what his nickname used to be. Hodge Dog, because nobody could down beers like Leon. She starts telling more stories and Leon (Jon Proudstar) leaves the room. The commotion wakes up Jackie, who jumps away from Bear.
When it quiets down, Teenie talks to Elora in the kitchen. She asks what Elora plans to do with the house. Mabel’s house will pass to Elora because she was the closest to her grandma. Elora hasn’t thought about it. Teenie suggests she fix the place up. She also suggests that Elora sell the house and use the money to go to school.
Teenie left town shortly after Cookie died. She joined the military and got a college degree. And she never came back until now. Teenie says she was there when Cookie had Elora and helped her a bit. She’s sad she didn’t come back sooner, even just to see Elora. Teenie gives Elora a big hug and walks away.
Jackie asks Cheese if he likes her. He says he’s not supposed to. But life is short. She may not be as bad as they think she is. After all, she’s there. Jackie says she’s there because her aunt made her. Cheese disagrees.
The next morning, Elora wakes up before everyone else. She sits for a minute looking at pictures of her friends, old and new, on her wall. Brownie comes in and says it’s time. Teenie wakes up and they head to Mabel’s side. The elders sing old Creek hymns to send Mabel on her way. Old Man Fixico continues to pray. Teenie tells Mabel that it’s okay to go. Cookie is waiting for her. And Mabel takes her last breath.
Teenie grabs Elora and starts crying. Elora is stunned. She pulls away from Teenie and runs out of the room. Bear sees her walk out, but doesn’t say anything. Elora runs to the backyard and starts crying. Then she hears Mabel call her sh** a**.
Mabel laughs saying she’s a spirit. She thanks Elora and says she did good today. Now it’s time for her to go. She tells Elora not to give away her Blue Willow disk set or she will haunt her. Mabel says goodbye and disappears.
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Watch the Reservation Dogs on FX on Hulu.
News Editor, Senior Contributor, and Press Editor. Coordinate breaking news, trailers and press releases. I also contribute reviews, recaps and interviews. Creator of the Indigenerd Wire, a column dedicated to the Indigenous creatives in pop culture.
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