That night, Jackie spies Elora sobbing. Maybe she thinks Elora isn’t tough enough to make it, because she steals Anna’s keys and almost leaves without her. Something stops her, however.
Elora is dreaming about Daniel, who asks her why she didn’t take him with her. She’s crying out in her dream, remembering how she discovered his body, when Jackie wakes her up by dangling Anna’s keys in front of her face.
“Do you feel bad?” Elora asks Jackie as they drive away. “I don’t feel bad about shit,” Jackie says. Unbeknownst to them, Anna watches from the window as they drive away. ..
The teens stop by Jackie’s mom’s house later that day. Jackie gets money from her mom, who doesn’t say much, except to instruct her to give the reservation a chance. She needs it.
Willie Jack continues to search for a job, but stumbles upon the delivery truck driver he and friends once stole from. The driver tells him that he knew what Bear did all along and now Willie Jack has some advice for the guilt-ridden teenager: “Build things, boy. Don’t tear ’em down.”
Willie Jack implores Jackie’s gang for some items of Jackie’s. They agree that a curse has been hanging over them and readily fish over some of their friend’s belongings.
Uncle Brownie and Bucky take Willie Jack and Cheese to the river in the morning. The two men say a prayer, which serves more as a vehicle to air out their grievances with one another. They toss Jackie’s items into the river, sing a song, and voilà.
According to Brownie’s vision of a Native Spirit, the curse has been lifted. The effects will linger inside of them, however, until they deal with their own guilt.
After the curse is lifted, Willie Jack talks to Daniel’s portrait. She says that it doesn’t feel like the curse is over. ..
The Episode Review
In this episode, Elora learns that Daniel is not forgotten after all. He is allowed to change and grow according to each character’s perception of him, which drives home the importance of his legacy.
After driving her to chase California, the memory of Daniel now twists her actions to feel selfish and wrong. It’s a heartbreaking arc for someone who usually prides herself on having a good head on her shoulders –now feeling incredibly lost. ..
Reservation Dogs has always struck a good balance of comedy and drama, and its tone remains well-balanced despite sobering considerably in this new season.
The Rez Dogs are still struggling to find a sense of closure after season 1. There is still a large hole in each of their motivation, as Daniel is the only one who seems to be driving them towards it. Whatever that may mean.
