Rutherford Falls is back for season 2, premiering June 16 through Peacock. Stars Ed Helms and Jana Schmieding lead a fantastic ensemble cast as Nathan and Reagan, lifelong best friends whose bonds are sometimes tested with Nathan's lineage of colonization brushes up against Reagan's Native roots and community aspirations. Other cast members include Dustin Milligan (Schitt's Creek) as Reagan's ex-boyfriend Josh Carter, and Jesse Leigh (the recent Heathers reboot) as Nathan's ex-assistant Bobbie Yang.
Season 2 of Rutherford Falls sees Josh and Bobbie reinventing themselves for very different reasons. While Josh is still reeling from his breakup with Reagan and re-evaluating ow important the podcast that blew up Nathan's life really was, Bobbie is thriving in the political arena and even running for mayor. But when Bobbie's opponent is the tenacious and mercenary Feather Day, it will take all of Terry Thomas' (Michael Greyeyes, Home Before Dark) coaching to get them ready.
Screen Rant spoke to Leigh and Milligan about how their characters unfold over the course of Rutherford Falls season 2, and what it means for onscreen representation to have so many authentic Native voices behind the scenes.
Screen Rant: Dustin, I'm still heartbroken over Ted and Alexis on Schitt's Creek, and you are not helping me right now with losing Reagan. What is this?
Dustin Milligan: Yeah, I know, a lot of breaking up in diners. It would seem that's just sort of the way it goes. But maybe, who knows? If we get a third season, maybe there is hope for Reagan and Josh.
Where there is life, there is hope. What is your journey this season, post-Reagan?
Dustin Milligan: I think, as we left Josh and Reagan in season 1, it was very clear that he had this idea of what he was supposed to do and was following this journalist path. Doing this podcast meant a lot to him, basically jeopardizing their relationship and sort of ending their relationship. But through season 2, we get to see bits and pieces of Josh maybe realizing that might not have been the right choice for him.
And, as I think with all the characters throughout the show, it's so wonderful how the writers have been able to find simple, subtle and very funny ways for them to be challenged by their own ideas of who they are. Josh is no exception to that. I think he really looks at what he did, and the fact that Reagan - despite being this person who lives in a small town and seemingly on the surface not having a ton in common with him - might be someone that he has to put in that extra effort and take down the guards; take down the walls and pursue in a more honest way.
Jesse, Bobbie has leveled up so much this season is their post-assistant era. You're also into political activism, and we're really getting so much more than one would expect from a child. Can you talk about this new path and where it takes you?
Jesse Leigh: Well, Bobby is 18 now, so they're legally allowed to run for mayor. [Laughs] But yeah, Bobbie is in their political era, I'd say. They do run for mayor, and they have Terry Thomas as the greatest mentor ever.
I was given such an amazing character arc this season, and as an actor, that's just all you could wish for. It was just so much to play off of, especially in the debate scenes versus Feather Day. She is a great debater, and Bobbie may start to sweat a little in these debates.
For Josh, what would be the most exciting dynamic that you think he has this season?
Dustin Milligan: Josh in season 1, he very much was the outsider. And I think that continues in season 2. For him, his connection to everybody in the town all comes through Reagan. That is ultimately still that same connection; it's just now he's looking at it in a different way.
And I think, again, he's reconsidering his choices in a more a more thorough and thoughtful kind of way.
Jesse, it's so unusual to have a writers' room that's all Native talent. What is that like for you, and what doors does it open for your character's narrative?
Jesse Leigh: Yeah, having such a diverse writers' room just encourages more diversity. Of course, they're able to tell such unique and fresh stories around the Native perspective, but they also allow for non-binary characters to be onscreen - and it just means the most to me, being non binary myself.
And to not have such a dark past. We don't explore a traumatic past, as we see so often with LGBTQ+ characters. We just get to see Bobbie flourish and be themselves and be their best self. It's just so exciting. And we get to celebrate diverse voices this season, for sure.
Rutherford Falls Season 2 Synopsis
In Season 2 of Peacock’s hit comedy Rutherford Falls, life-long best buds Nathan Rutherford (Ed Helms) and Reagan Wells (Jana Schmieding) help each other tackle work, romance, and major changes to their small town and the Native American reservation it borders, initiated by Tribal Casino C.E.O. Terry Thomas (Michael Greyeyes).
Check out our interview with Rutherford Falls stars Ed Helms & Jana Schmieding, as well as showrunner Sierra Teller Ornelas & actor Michael Greyeyes.
All 8 episodes of Rutherford Falls season 2 will be available to stream on Peacock starting June 16.