To give it a bit of a fair shake, the series is based on the Tony Hillerman novels which are all 30 years old now. Hillerman loved the culture and people and was named as a friend of the Nation for how much awareness his books raised.
Awesome video as always 👍👍 I personally like the supernatural elements of the show, however I think it should be "sprinkled" in here so as to not take the show into some sort of "fantasy" situation Harry Potter-ish and such. Can we sprinkle in just a moment or two of humor? I know it's a serious show dealing with serious issues but even in the darkest of times us Natives have always found the humor in situations. Humor is a gift given to the resilient, as pointed out by "reservation dogs" & "Smoke Signals." Edit: keep pumping out these vids!! Ad sense is the highest during the holiday season!
I loved the show. Thank you for this deeper dive from a Navajo perspective. You kinda have a saintly thing going on with the position of your Pendelton in the background. Lol😂😇
I could have done without the supernatural elements in the series. I felt like it was not enough to satisfy people who would be interested in that (and thus exoticising Native people even more), but too much without it actually going anywhere and being integral to the story - at least the way I see it. I am happy to hear that you are more or less happy with how (much) they portrayed Navajo beliefs and religion and though I felt like I was sort of "left out of the loop" at some scenes, not (completely) grasping the significance of it, I liked that things were not explained and thus trivialized. This is not a documentary, after all, where you need to explain why people do what they do at each step. I liked that they let the audience experience some glances into Navajo life with more feeling it rather than understanding it. To me, that made it more real somehow, like a white person watching Navajo culture from the outside, just as it would be if I was there, without any sort of "A Guide to Navajo culture" in my hand. I really liked the series - obviously, I don't have all the same reservations as you do and as an outsider, obviously haven't noticed all that you have and commented on - and hope they keep improving on it to take Native people out of the exotic and mysterious and into the real people "category".
Hello brother it's good to see you again. Thank you for sharing your point of view. This is one of my favorite shows, I love the cast they are wonderful actors. Can't wait to see some of the work of the writers that you mentioned. See you on the next one. Stay safe and happy it's the best medicine.
Thank you so much for this! I watched the show in two days and I've been super excited to hear your thoughts about this, especially about Hillerman. So thank you ! In my opinion the actors did an amazing job, for tv i think the cinematography made very good use of the beautiful spaces the story took place in and I liked the show a lot. The supernatural elements you also mention kinda gave me the impression that the first episode especially belonged in a different show. As a foreigner in America trying to learn about and engaging with the history of the place I live in, I tend to be sceptical of outsiders telling stories about certain communities/people but it sounds like you kinda, maybe, like the books? Would you recommend them or should I just stick to Sherlock? Thank you again for the video!
I think its fair to be honest and critical especially if its your own culture on display. Like Im Mexican American (Yaqui Grandma) & Im critical of series that portray us as maybe too Hispanic or too Hollywood’s idea of Mexican. I watched Dark Winds and I think its one of the best shows of the year. Im an outsider tho & dont speak Diné, I didnt notice the discrepancies. But especially for Navajo viewers that mustve been really weird. Again its like I as a Mexican American or I imagine how my grandma felt if she saw people “playing” Yaqui and not speaking it right. Especially if its a big element of the series its weird
Great review! I agree with a lot of your critiques on the show. In the end, I enjoyed it, but it could've been better. However, I don't put the blame on the writers given that they had a month to write those six episodes, which isn't enough time at all to fully develop the plot. And I'm sure they were limited based on what the producers and the showrunner's wanted, as well. And despite being on a big platform like AMC, the show still didn't have a lot of money, based on what the cast were saying. So they could only work with what they had. They couldn't film on the reservation due to covid, so they had the green screens and such. Also they did have a dialect coach who was Navajo, but he wasn't very good from what I heard. Even Kiowa said that he felt unsure about his pronunciation, but the Navajo coach still gave him the okay anyway.
Wow. I heard the network screwed them over a bit, but when I see all these obstacles listed out, the fact that the first season is still so enjoyable (largely thanks to the actors) feels miraculous. Can't wait to see what they come up with now that they'll have more time.
I agree with pretty much every critique you make, esp the FBI angle. Overall I think the writers and director did a good job of creating something that the viewer wants to follow but I'm not sure if for me it was the main plot, I think more the relationships and characters and of course Zahn's acting, always great. But whatever, it succeeds as a series because you want to watch the next episode. By the end, the FBI itself, the head FBI agent and the actual crime are almost irrelevent and throughout I found myself forgetting about the very violent beginning of the series. Agent Whitover (what a name hey, Whiteallover?) he's like this giant toe sticking out of a shoe. The show doesn't explore enough about what exactly motivates the double agent Jim Chee, or how he feels returning to his home as a gigantic liar and spying on his co-workers and neighbours. I would think the Chee character's insides would be all tied up in knots, and that having worked with this Whitover for awhile he'd have a sense that this guy is untrustworthy on many, many levels. Whitover''s character is very hollow, sporadically meeting Chee for a drink to say something stupidly racist, and (here's the "huh?" part) Chee's motivation fires up because, um... maybe someday he'll get a desk working next to this Whiteallover dude? The heist, the whole reason for this season, ... it has a legitimate reason and historically makes sense since the time setting is the early 70's when Native activism was an important and well publicized part of the protest movement, just like Black civil rights, Vietnam, women's rights. Yet the heist, the murders, and the good policework Leaphorn is conducting gets a bit lost at times. I've never read the books, though, so maybe that's why the obfuscated politics. Interested to see how the second season goes!
I haven't seen any episodes yet, but I will. However, first I have to divorce myself from the book(s) it is based on and come to terms with "this is a stand alone story and it doesn't have to be just like the book..." Hollywood vs. an Author, any author. I'm really liking your channel here, having discovered you as a guest on PatrickIsNavajo. And when I hit that big Powerball, I'll finance a movie and I'll call you first thing! I wish I could discuss this whole subject with you over a beer, so if you ever get to Las Cruces, stop by!
I think some to the "plot wholes" are a result of the age, culture, and experiences of the audience and their interpretation of the story. This was set in the 70s so some of the nonverbal "side stories" are not as prevalent and apparent to the younger generation or those who are not Navajo/Native or have not read the books. I noticed this while watching this with both Native and non-Natives of all ages I saw the different missed ques and elements of the story line. Even the jokes, use and misuse of the Navajo language, and symbolism was interpreted differently. This was demonstrated in the questions that came up from the varying groups. I was glad that they left the "supernatural/taboos" because this is a real, respected and huge part of our culture. To ignore it is to hide the truth to some degree. This is not a documentary and beliefs are beliefs. I think the intent of showing the dichotomy of working in a modern (70s) society and trying to deal with the issues experienced in law enforcement while navigating and staying true to one's beliefs. For example, the officers carrying corn pollen, sage, and ash when entering crime scenes. Death is very taboo for Navajos and having to do your job in that environment creates a moral and spiritual dilemma for many Navajos. I'm glad they took "some" time to demonstrate its existence. It definitely has sparked discussion, hence this vlog. Definitely not perfect. What show is, but a Great show. Glad to see Navajos/Natives on TV in roles other than the "Old West!"
Who did the claw marks on the bathroom door? How did Hoski scare that young girl to death? So many plot holes. I'm looking forward to season 2 but all your critiques are super spot on.
Thank you so much for reviewing this. I hadn't watched it yet and didn't realize it was written by a non-Native - and one who was overly confident in his right to take on these stories in the first place. I appreciate you giving leeway for them appealing to a wider audience, etc., but I don't think I'll watch it. We have plenty of Indigenous writers and filmmakers at this point. It's not necessary to promote some white author who made his fortune by appropriating and misrepresenting a culture that he had no business taking ownership of.
As I understand Navajo elder lore regarding Hillerman, isn't there also an element of literal blasphemy with being too loose with sacred knowledge? As I've been told the Navajo mysticism which is still taken serious by some practicing the religion these traditions are often secrets which are viewed as losing power the more they are spoken of. Getting some info from an elder and then dumping that info into mass produced paperbacks feels a little non kosher with the very beliefs those elders might have held and expecting some level of trust and secrecy, would it not?
By your logic, he is a writer of detective stories, he cannot understand the culture of the Indians? Was it difficult for Kurosawa to understand the culture of the natives of Siberia when he was filming Dersu Uzala? I do not think so. Just as it didn’t hurt to shoot Gibson about the Maya culture, Kusturica about the gypsies? Think chief, which movie has more cultural and representational value Prey or Apocalypto?
Prey. Apocalypto is Gibson's vision of the Maya. And yes, he can't understand the culture of "Indians" because he wasn't one. There's a difference in understanding aspects about a different culture and really knowing their experience.
@@nativemediatheory Chief, you yourself are also far from "your roots", because you yourself live a sedentary life, you have a heated apartment, a TV set, wired or satellite Internet, an iPhone of the latest model. Regarding the difference in cultures, there is the effect of the first impression,for you, culture is commonplace, then it is always with you. Not for Gibson. Tell me, the descendants of which Indians are the main actors in the movie Prey? Certainly not a Comanche.Why was the film shot in English and dubbed in Comanche and not vice versa?
@@keeperoftekia4842 1) You show outrageous rudeness by calling this channel's host "chief." Are you really that ignorant? 2) Being indigenous does not *require* one to live in traditional housing. This is the 21st century. 3) First impressions are not logical reasons for continued negative bad behavior. 4) Your comment concerning the ancestors of the actors in "Prey" shows how little you know of the current state of the movie industry in the United States as does your question about why it was filmed in English first. My conclusion: you would do well to spend much more time educating yourself on how to refer respectfully to indigenous persons, how they live in today's world, learning about others beyond first impressions, and watching the interviews with the producers of "Prey." If you're not willing to do that work, please go back to your life and stop being a crank here. Disclaimer: I am an elder white woman living in the US who *has* done at least *some* of the work.
