As crazy as things are in Rutherford Falls, we still get a reminder about how important family is. In “Aunt Sue,” the reservation prepares to honor Reagan’s (Jana Schmieding) aunt while Terry (Michael Greyeyes) prepare Bobby (Jesse Leigh) for his campaign.
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If you’re lucky, you have an amazing auntie who teaches you a lot about life. For Reagan, her Aunt Sue was that person. Sadly, Aunt Sue has left this world. Reagan takes charge of her memorial. Along with a crazy painting by cousin Tommy (Tommy Pico) and a deeply religious cousin Shannon (Adrienne Chalepah), the family decides to have a short burial service and a celebration of life at the casino. In true Reagan style, she is taking care of all of the arrangements.
Now that Bobby has agreed to run for mayor, Terry takes control to teach him what they needs to know to get votes. Even though Bobby is very popular on social media. They has a strong following on his makeup tutorials … and they’re very allergic to babies. Terry says Bobby has to be able to relate to people and express an interest in the things that the people like, even if they doesn’t like those things themselves.
Aunt Sue left behind a lot of assets and she had no children. A lot of “relatives” inquire about her land, which now belongs to Reagan’s mom, Louise (Georgina Lightning). Reagan is there to help with whatever. She even knows where Aunt Sue buried her guns.
Nathan (Ed Helms) brings over flowers and an edible arrangement. Reagan asks for his help with the arrangements. Nathan is very supportive and agrees to do whatever she needs. Then Reagan’s brother, Curtis (Eddie Spears) shows up. Curtis has a knack for tricking Nathan out of money.
Curtis really wants to help with the arrangements, but all there’s left to do is order the flowers. Reagan reluctantly gives him the task, insisting that he not get carnations. Aunt Sue said carnations are filler flowers. Curtis takes on the task with pride. He says he has to really honor Aunt Sue since he’s getting her land.
Reagan is upset with her mother for giving the land to Curtis. Louise’s reasoning is that Curtis is the oldest and he has a child. Reagan is single, has no children, and she’s always busy. Reagan’s dad, Bill (Lorne Cardinal) refuses to get involved. The only drama he likes is on Adirondack (a fictional television series set in the Adirondack mountains).
Nathan walks in on the argument, taking both sides and bails out. He says he doesn’t have the right answer because he’s white. Truth. Louise points out that getting land is hard. There are too many phone calls to make and paperwork to fill out. Curtis can’t handle it. Louise worries about Curtis more than Reagan because she never needs help like he does.
Bobby hits the campaign trail and makes three lifelong friends. Unfortunately, only one of them can vote in Rutherford Falls. Terry is beginning to think he made a mistake … and he never makes mistakes. Bobby says their strong hold is on social media. Terry thinks their talking about kids who play on the internet. They’re actually talking about real voters who play on the internet.
Bobby takes Terry to meet his fans. One of the biggest users of Bobby’s makeup tutorials are seniors. Seniors who already know that Bobby is running for mayor and told all of their grandkids to vote for them. Terry is impressed.
Curtis asks Nathan to go with him to get the flowers. When they get to the funeral, Curtis complains that Reagan doesn’t trust him. Nathan tries to be supportive of Curtis while defending Reagan. Reagan calls Nathan to let him know that she’s at the funeral home because Curtis won’t answer his phone. Nathan hides in a coffin so she doesn’t know he’s helping her brother.
While Reagan and Curtis argue about the flowers and the land, two morticians walk into the room to take the coffin. There’s a funeral going on in the next room. Curtis laughs when he realizes they took the coffin with Nathan inside. It takes about 45 minutes before Nathan has to open the coffin for air. Unfortunately, the widow was in the middle of her eulogy. Nathan has to get up and run away from her two sons.
Terry plays into Bobby’s strong suits and helps him record a tutorial that incorporates their run for mayor. Bobby starts by saying his biggest influence is his mom. Then goes into how much he understands the healthcare industry and the concerns with senior care.
Aunt Sue’s celebration of life has lots of food and lots of people. Reagan is the first to talk about her aunt and stumbles with grief. Curtis steps up and finishes her sentiment, giving Reagan time to regain her composure. Terry, Wayne (Bobby Wilson), Sally (Julia Jones), Nathan (with a black eye), and Louise share the fondest memories about Sue. Cousin Shannon uses her time to praise God, the real King of Pop, for Sue’s life.
Louise gives Reagan Sue’s motorcycle. She takes the bike outside so she and Nathan can rev the engine and scream around about how cool it is. They talk about family and how good they feel about their brothers. Nathan decides he needs his brother. Reagan decides to be more like her Aunt Sue and get her own land. Clearly they’re feeling the power of the motorcycle.
Elsewhere, Deirdre (Dana L. Wilson) informs her assistant that she’s pregnant. And yes. It’s Nathan’s baby.
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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.
GGA's resident Indigenerd, a little bit rez, a little bit classy...with a love for all things Star Wars, zombies, science fiction, and Indigenous. My ultimate goal is to start my own podcast.
