“The higher you go, the greater the fall,” Gloria Holiday (Julia Jones) tells her son Jimmy (Kauchani Bratt) early in Rez Ball.
Gloria was a basketball star on the Navajo Reservation team in Chuska, New Mexico, when she was Jimmy’s age, but life interrupted her bigger dreams. Now that her son is the star of the Chuska High School Warriors, she wants to manage his hopes: “We always find a way to lose. It’s in our blood.”
Rez Ball is a sports film co-written and directed by Sydney Freeland (known for Drunktown’s Finest and Echo) and Sterlin Harjo (co-creator of Reservation Dogs). The movie is based on the nonfiction book Canyon Dreams by Michael Powell.
It covers themes we often see in sports films, but it also shows more than just sports. Freeland and Harjo focus on the beauty and struggles of life on a reservation and the community that grows there, along with the challenges that come with it. Although Rez Ball follows a typical sports film structure, the details around the main story make it an engaging experience.
What Is ‘Rez Ball’ About?
The Chuska Warriors aim for the state championships with their star player Nataanii Jackson (Kusem Goodwind) leading them. While celebrating their first season win, Nataanii and his teammate Jimmy chat as they look over the reservation. Nataanii mentions trying to “escape” from their situation.
Even during his success, Nataanii feels a heavy burden he cannot ignore. However, the next day at their game, Nataanii is missing. After their loss, the team learns that their star player has taken his own life.
Jimmy feels the loss of his friend very deeply. His struggles at home, where his mother still fights against alcoholism and asks him to work at a local burger place for extra money, only add to his pain. But Jimmy’s coach, Heather (Jessica Matten), sees potential in him and makes him the team captain after Nataanii’s death.
Heather is also trying to escape her role as coach, but her long-distance relationship ends, and she struggles to find a new job, keeping her stuck.
Together, Jimmy, Heather, and the Chuska Warriors strive to succeed without their star player by embracing their unique identity and culture among other teams aiming for the state championship.
‘Rez Ball’ Isn’t Particularly Interested in Being a Sports Film
As a sports movie, Rez Ball follows the usual storyline that fans expect. Without Nataanii to hold the team together, they begin to struggle. After a team-building event and Jimmy taking charge, they start to succeed again. Freeland captures the excitement of basketball with slow-motion moments during the games.
However, it is clear that the film focuses less on the games themselves and more on what the victories and losses mean for the team. The highs and lows feel familiar. If someone watches Rez Ball expecting a typical sports film experience, they might leave disappointed.
Freeland and Harjo’s script does not shy away from the sadness and challenges faced by people living on a reservation. Besides Nataanii, Gloria deals with the pressure from herself and her community. Coach Heather faces calls for her dismissal when the team struggles to win.
However, we mainly see this darkness in Jimmy. He stands at a crucial point in his life, mourning his friend and learning to lead his team after the tragedy. Throughout Rez Ball, themes of grief are prominent, sometimes heavily, but they help to shed new light on this kind of story.
‘Rez Ball’ Is Best When Its Characters Embrace Who They Are
Rez Ball stands out as a sports film because it emphasizes embracing individuality and using unique traits to achieve success. This is primarily shown through Jimmy, who once thought about leaving the reservation while working with Nataanii. Now, he seems likely to stay like his mother.
While Nataanii might have seen the reservation as a trap, Jimmy starts to see the opportunities it offers. He grows closer to his coworker Krista (Zoey Reyes) at the burger shop, who teaches him Navajo. The team uses this language to call plays during games that other teams won’t understand.
At one point, Jimmy feels down about his job at the restaurant, but Krista points out the positives. She explains that even though she does not want to be there forever, the job allows her to connect with people in town and build friendships. Although people might feel stuck in their situations, there is often a silver lining, and what seem like weaknesses can actually become strengths.
Rez Ball understands that its story follows familiar patterns. While it contains the highs typical of a sports film, the lows are where Freeland’s movie finds its strength.
The film thoughtfully show Navajo culture, life on the reservation, and the beauty and challenges of that community, tackling difficult topics without suffocating the underdog story at its core.
Still from Rez Ball (Credit: Netflix)
Rez Ball tells the story of Jimmy (Kauchani Bratt), a star basketball player at Chuska High School, and his struggles after the tragic loss of his friend Nataanii (Kusem Goodwind). Guided by his mother Gloria (Julia Jones) and Coach Heather (Jessica Matten), Jimmy learns to embrace his identity and the unique culture of his Navajo community.
While the film follows the familiar structure of a sports movie, it prioritizes themes of grief, resilience, and community over the actual games. Ultimately, Rez Ball highlights the importance of recognizing one’s strengths and finding hope within challenging circumstances.
ABC’s glamorous new series, Doctor Odyssey, launched last night, right after the exciting Season 8 premiere of 9-1-1. This show takes place on a luxury cruise ship, led by Captain Massey (Don Johnson).
The series aims to be a thrilling procedural, and from its fast-paced premiere, it looks like ABC might have found a new show similar to Grey’s Anatomy.
Fast-Paced Introduction of Characters
In just the first few minutes, Doctor Odyssey presents its lively cast. We meet the ship’s nurses, Avery (Phillipa Soo) and Tristan (Sean Teale), who are eager to see what Captain Massey will do after their former doctor made a mistake. Avery is also hoping to get the newly-opened doctor position. Dr. Max Bankman (Joshua Jackson), an impressive and overqualified doctor, joins the crew.
The cruise ship crew’s motto is to “preserve the fantasy,” which Max finds amusing. He learns that patients on cruise ships have unique issues, unlike those in hospitals. The premiere introduces various odd medical cases, like iodine poisoning and penile fractures, giving the audience a preview of what the crew will face.
Doctor Odyssey may also adopt a guest-star-of-the-week format, with Saturday Night Live’s Rachel Dratch appearing as the anxious wife of the premiere’s first patient. The show has a vibe similar to The Love Boat, but without the pure sitcom feel.
Romance Developments in Doctor Odyssey
Romance is an important part of any good network procedural. While some cases may be memorable, the relationships keep viewers interested.
The premiere hints at a love triangle, which is exactly what the show needs. Tristan has a crush on Avery, but the real chemistry appears to be between Avery and Max. Their first case shows Avery’s skills, leading to some playful rivalry between them.
One afternoon, away from patients, Max and Tristan talk about Tristan’s crush on Avery. This results in a funny dance-off between Tristan and Max to “Despacito.” Although Tristan shows off his dance moves, Avery chooses Max as her partner, leading to a heated moment in Avery’s quarters.
However, they quickly realize they are crossing ethical lines and decide to bond over Max’s traumatic past instead. It is too soon to tell how these relationships will develop, but Doctor Odyssey seems ready to have fun with the dynamics introduced in the premiere.
Mysterious Past of Dr. Max Bankman
Over the past four years, the industry has struggled with how to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Some shows pretend it never happened, but network television often includes it in their stories. Since Doctor Odyssey is a medical drama, it is not surprising that the pandemic is part of Max’s backstory.
While talking with Avery, Max shares his near-death experience with COVID, where he was the first patient at his previous hospital. This experience deeply affected him, just like it did many people in real life. He learned to “pursue joy at all costs,” which motivated him to take a dance class and work on the cruise ship.
Joshua Jackson Shines on Network Television
Joshua Jackson has been a well-known face on television since Dawson’s Creek started in 1998. His return to network television comes with Doctor Odyssey, after his role in Fox’s Fringe, which ended in 2013. While he has worked in other series, this show allows Jackson to return to playing a leading role.
Don Johnson also feels at home in Doctor Odyssey. His role is different from his past crime-solving characters, like in Miami Vice and Nash Bridges, but he delivers a strong performance. Both actors excel at turning standard episodes into entertaining and memorable experiences, making their performances enjoyable to watch again.
Expectations for Doctor Odyssey
ABC placed Doctor Odyssey in an ideal time slot, right after the weekly excitement of 9-1-1 and just before Grey’s Anatomy begins its 21st season. The pilot does a good job of introducing the characters and hinting at future storylines. Captain Massey, played by Johnson, is a mysterious character who seems dedicated to maintaining the magic of the cruise experience.
The trailer for the next episode suggests that Episode 2 will show Captain Massey’s character further. One concern about the pilot is that it felt too packed with information. Hopefully, future episodes will focus more on the main cast instead of just the rotating guest stars facing medical emergencies.
With its first episode, Doctor Odyssey gives a great preview of what’s to come, promising an exciting ride ahead—even if Captain Massey insists that the cruise ship is the farthest place from hell.
ABC’s new series Doctor Odyssey premiered after the Season 8 debut of 9-1-1. Set on a luxury cruise ship, it follows Captain Massey (Don Johnson) and his medical crew, including Dr. Max Bankman (Joshua Jackson) and nurses Avery (Phillipa Soo) and Tristan (Sean Teale).
Still from Doctor Odyssey (Credit: Hulu)
The show combines medical drama with romance, hinting at a love triangle involving Avery and her coworkers. Max’s mysterious past includes a near-death experience with COVID-19, influencing his decision to work on the cruise ship. The premiere sets up a fun, fast-paced series filled with unexpected medical cases and character dynamics.
Doctor Odyssey airs on ABC on Thursdays at 9 PM ET and is available on Hulu the next day.
