Peacock’s ‘Rutherford Falls’ invites you to a charming new home

Summary (IA Generated)

Ed Helms as Nathan Rutherford, Dana L.

Schur, Ed Helms, and Sierra Teller Ornelas co-created Rutherford Falls, whose entire delightful first season is now streaming.

There’s Nathan (Helms), intent on preserving the founders’ legacy that runs in his bloodlines — and physically obstructs the town square in the form of a statue called Big Larry.

His best friend Reagan (Jana Schmiedling) yearns to grow the Minishonka cultural center and also repair her relationship with the tribe after a sudden breakup.

And then there’s Terry (Michael Greyeyes), a self-proclaimed shark who runs the casino and possesses unparalleled clout in both Rutherford Falls and the Minishonka reservation.

If there’s an obvious weakness in Rutherford Falls, it’s the big picture of where these conflicts are going and how they can continue — but recall Schur’s own Parks and Recreation, which started with Leslie Knope investigating a pit and turned into something so much bigger and more beautiful than those early episodes could even imagine.

Peacock only made four episodes of Rutherford Falls available for review, but they share the endearing DNA that has made Schur’s name synonymous with beloved comedy.

Michael Greyeyes plays Terry, whose casino overshadows Reagan’s cultural center on Peacock’s ‘Rutherford Falls.

Schmiedling, also a writer on the show, exhibits perfect chemistry with any costar; old friendship with Nathan, fearful respect with Terry, just the right mix of fluster and flirting when she spends time with Josh.

In Nathan, Schur and Helms illustrate the inherent conflict of a white American attached to symbols and legacy, and his doubling down on protecting the statue is the first step on a much longer, harder personal journey.

Rutherford Falls is now streaming on Peacock.