This review was made possible by screeners for Reservation Dogs. This episode of Reservation Dogs (Season 3) is now available via FX on Hulu, with new episodes airing every Wednesday. This review will have spoilers.

Important Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Entering the final stretch of Reservations Dogs’ hilarious three-season run, “Frankfurter Sandwich” is a sincere and sweet addition to the series, balancing a perfect blend of comedy and heartfelt messages. In an uncertain time for the young Rez Dog Cheese, his community rallies around him, with elders giving guidance to help the young boy while on a spur-of-the-moment camping trip. Complete with spirit stories and many tears, this fun reservation adventure is a perfect example of native representation in media!

CHEESE GOES CAMPING

Opening to a horror scene in which Cheese (Lane Factor) decapitates zombies in a haunted house, it is quickly revealed that he has been sucked into his zombie-slasher video game headset. Though Irene pushes him to take care of himself and go out with his friends, the young boy begins to make excuses, asking Irene to lie and tell the Rez Dogs that he’s sick. Worried about her “grandson”, Irene (Casey Camp-Horinek) calls Bucky (Wes Studi), who drags Cheese out to go camping with him, Brownie (Gary Farmer), and Big (Zahn McClarnon). Impressing that he’s going to learn to live with the land, provide, and be a man, the three uncles take Cheese out in to the woods, making camp and then going fishing. While on the lake, the older men teach Cheese about fishing and Bucky’s traditional method of using drunkroot to make the fish fall asleep/float. Though Cheese thinks very analytically, Brownie tells him to change his colonized mindset, reminding him to take in nature slowly and utilize its healing benefits. While cooking up their caught fish (in which Bucky points out that Pink Himalayan salt is good medicine), Cheese begins to open up, saying that he is afraid that his older friends will grow apart from him, and for that reason, he’s pushing them away. After Bucky reminds him that they will always be connected and that he won’t want to break those bonds, Big takes the youngster deeper into the woods to find Bigfoot and some kindling.

Credit: @FXNetworks on YouTube (Reservation Dogs)

Having a special connection with the spirits, the lighthorseman tells Cheese about his own experience seeing four Bigfoots (Bigfeet…?) as a young boy, referencing the infamous “Crying Indian” meme. Although Cheese takes away that crying is sometimes needed, even when we don’t know it, Big makes sure he knows that Bigfoot is real. Once their food is ready, Big’s mouth is lit on fire by Bucky’s dangerous homemade hot sauce. Afterward, the quartet sit in a circle and passes around a stick to talk, suggested by Cheese due to his experience in a boy’s home. Though hesitant and joking at first, the emotional dam is broken down when Big admits he blames himself for his friends’ deaths (including Elora’s mom) and that he’s bottled up the feelings for too long. Moved by Big’s crying, Bwonie and Bucky talk about their friendship with Maximus, regretting that he didn’t feel comfortable relying on them when he needed it. Due to this, they reveal that Irene had wanted them to reach out to Cheese so that he didn’t end up like their old friend. As Bucky says, “We’re just men, we don’t know everything, we make mistakes, and we don’t know s***”. Though this results in Cheese’s watching the crying men, he reassures them that he won’t turn out like Maximus, realizing the importance of his own friends and inviting them to join in watching the sunset (while snacking on some food from Sonic!).

GOOD MEDICINE

After last week’s blast to the past in the Reservation Dogs universe, this sweet episode helped to tie together the importance of Maximus and his elder friends’ storyline, linking it to the witty antics of the young Rez Dogs. “Frankfurter Sandwich” also aided in showing the supportive nature of the Indigenous community, a place where elders rally around their young to pass on wise knowledge and experiential guidance. Having learned from their own past and emotional regrets about Maximus, Irene, Bucky, and Brownie thankfully have come alongside Cheese to help support his wellbeing. In the same way, though not as advanced in age, Big also draws upon his own experiences as a friend, having seen one of the worst outcomes imaginable and not wanting that for Cheese. As such, they take care of Cheese (with a bit of tough love) and encourage him toward good things, wanting his future to be one of happiness.

Credit: @FXNetworks on YouTube (Reservation Dogs)

Due to the clear display of care and love, this Reservation Dogs episode has been my favorite so far this season. I love it when a community comes together, so seeing the adults in Cheese’s life support him when he’s gone through so much was extremely encouraging and heartwarming. This is also a perfect example of Rez Dogs‘ perfect balance of comedy and serious situations, exemplifying both heartbreaking and uplifting life experiences. With a spoonful of witty sugar, this Indigenous show is able to get to the heart of real life, resonating with all viewers no matter their background.

RESERVATION DOGS’ ENDGAME

Credit: @FXNetworks on YouTube (Reservation Dogs)

Now that we’re in the second half of Reservation Dogs‘ last season, we’re at the beginning of the end! While the Maximus storyline seems semi-wrapped up (I wouldn’t be shocked to see him back as Graham Greene later), some questions still linger about Elora Danon’s father and the future of Willie Jack’s medicine tutorship with Fixico. Is it possible that Elora will meet her birth father and come to terms with her mixed identity? What will happen with Cookie’s spirit, who we’ve seen show up in the trailer? I’m sure we’ll come to find some satisfying and funny answers soon!

FRANKFURTER SANDWICH: FINAL THOUGHTS

Sincere and humourous in its telling, this episode of Reservation Dogs was one of the sweetest ones yet! Impressing the importance of community and an elder’s guidance of tribal youth, “Frankfurter Sandwich” played to the series’ strengths, using some delightful comedic components to bring home heartfelt sentiment. Though more of a one-off/bottle episode, the story really fleshed out its characters and made its world much more real, creating stronger bonds not only within the characters themselves but with its audience members. Though we may be approaching the end of this incredible show, it is definitely on a poignant an sweet note.

Check out the trailer for Reservation Dogs Season 3 below:

Reservation Dogs | Season 3 Official Trailer | FX

Check out our review of the previous episode of Reservation Dogs here!

TL;DR

Heartfelt and hilarious, "Frankfurter Sandwich" is a perfect installment in the "Reservation Dogs" series, exhibiting a sweet perspective to the idea of fear. Encouraging in its depiction of community, this was definitely my favorite episode of this last season!

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‘Reservation Dogs’ Season 3: “Frankfurter Sandwich” (Review)