Reservation Dogs Season 3: Everything We Know So Far

FX’s Reservation Dogs is one of the finest shows in recent years. Created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, the dark comedy follows the lives of four teenagers in rural Oklahoma grappling with the loss of their friend Daniel, who passed away a year prior to the events of the series. Determined to fulfill his dream of moving to California, the Rez Dogs embark on a challenging journey westward.

What sets the series apart is its groundbreaking Indigenous representation, holding the distinction of the first show in history to have each aspect of production — both in front of and behind the camera — led by Native folks. Every writer, director, and main cast member possess Indigenous heritage, alongside an almost entirely Indigenous North American production team.

At the end of Season 2, the gang finally reach California, making peace with their grief as they encounter Daniel’s spirit by the sea. With this storyline wrapped up, the direction of the show is unclear. As we eagerly await the dramedy’s return, let’s delve into what we can expect from Reservation Dogs in its upcoming third season.

What is Reservation Dogs Season 3 about?

According to co-creator Sterlin Harjo, Season 3 will take an even darker turn. But with everything that’s happened to the gang already, it’s daunting to think about what other obstacles they might face on their journey back to Oklahoma. During an interview with Variety, he teased: “We’re not going to dilly-dally in California for too long. We have business to attend to back home. [Season 2 took] a similar approach to Season 3, which is, ‘How do I make this feel like you’re not predicting where this is going?’ And honestly, I think that tonally, there’s some darkness coming.”

As per FX’s official synopsis: "This season, the Rez Dogs find themselves stranded in Cali and have to figure out their way back home. After making it back to Okern, Elora considers the idea of college, Bear comes across a conspiracy theorist named Maximus, Willie Jack grows more invested in healing her community and Cheese, well, he still lives with his grandmother who's not his grandmother. Meanwhile, the aunties, uncles and elders explore their pasts and try to heal old wounds [...] Season 3 is full of road trips, bathroom wisdom, unexpected fathers, boarding schools, Bigfoot, rumors, revenge and healing."

The first trailer for Season 3 dropped on July 6 and sees the Rez Dogs headed back home. Everyone except Bear, that is, who is seen wandering the desert feeling both physically and spiritually lost. With the guidance of his spirit companion (Dallas Goldtooth), Bear embarks on a solitary adventure and later crosses paths with a conspiracy theorist named Maximus (Graham Greene). Meanwhile, the remaining members of the crew navigate their own emotional journeys upon returning to the reservation. Elora contemplates applying to college, and Bear’s mother Rita sees a vision of her dearly departed friend, Cookie.

When will Reservation Dogs Season 3 premiere?

The first two episodes of Season 3 will premiere August 2 on FX, with new episodes dropping weekly.

Who is in the cast of Reservation Dogs Season 3?

It wouldn’t be Rez Dogs without the beloved core four returning. This includes Devery Jacobs as Elora Danan, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Bear Smallhill, Lane Factor as Willie Jack, and Paulina Alexis as Cheese.

But in addition to the young cast, we can count on seeing their aunties, uncles, and elders. Season 3 aims to explore their backstories with even greater depth. They include Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds) as Big; Gary Farmer (Our Flag Means Death) as Brownie; Wes Studi (Dancing with Wolves) as Bucky; Elva Guerra (Dark Winds) as Jackie; Kaniehtiio Horn (Letterkenny) as the enigmatic Deer Lady; Sarah Podemski (Resident Alien) as Rita; Tamara Podemski (Coroner) as Teenie; Jon Proudstar (Dude Vision) as Leon; Lily Gladstone (Billions) as Hokti; Richard Ray Whitman (Chambers) as Old Man Fixico; Kirk Fox (Jury Duty) as Kenny Boy; Jana Schmieding (Rutherford Falls) as Bev; and Lil Mike and Funny Bone as rap duo Mose and Mekko.

Will there be a Season 4?

Sadly, Reservation Dogs is coming to an end. Harjo confirmed in an Instagram post that Season 3 will be the show's final installment, explaining that it feels like the right moment to end creatively. 

 

 

 

 

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Reservation Dogs Seasons 1 and 2 are streaming on Hulu. Join the discussion about the show in our forums.

Dianna Shen is a TV Writer at Primetimer based in New York. Her work has been featured in Paste Magazine and Decider, among other outlets.