As a dedicated fan of Yellowstone, I have been truly captivated by the powerful portrayal of the Indigenous community through the characters of Chief Thomas Rainwater and Mo, brilliantly brought to life by Gil Birmingham and Mo Brings Plenty respectively. Their friendship on-screen not only enriches the storyline but also serves as a testament to the importance of authentic representation in media.
As a gamer, I’m deeply invested in the struggles of the Dutton family to save their ranch on “Yellowstone,” but what truly resonates is the fight of the Broken Rock Reservation people to safeguard their land. At the helm are Chief Thomas Rainwater and his trusted comrade, Mo, portrayed by Gil Birmingham and Mo Brings Plenty. Recently, I was fortunate enough to chat with the actor behind Rainwater about the final episodes of “Yellowstone’s” fifth season, and naturally, I inquired about his bond with Mo. In return, he shared why this friendship means so much to him and underscored its significance for Indigenous representation on television.
Before the airing of Season 5B on TV schedules for 2024, I had an interview with the cast of “Yellowstone.” During my conversation with Gil Birmingham, we delved into the portrayal of Indigenous stories in the series and the significance of depicting them thoughtfully and empathetically. This sensitivity is reflected to some extent through the on-screen bond between Rainwater and Mo as Birmingham explained:
For approximately a decade prior to our collaboration, I had already known Mo well. Over this time, he always came across as an authentic and spiritual individual to me. Working with him was a great blessing for us both, since many native characters on the show were often isolated.
He makes such a good point here. It is common to only see one Indigenous character in a project. However, on Yellowstone, the Broken Rock Reservation plays a big role in the story, and over the years the friendship between Mo and Rainwater has become an imperative part of the show.
Moreover, they possess an exceptional camaraderie in their performances. Initially, Mo was just a minor figure, but he has since blossomed into a cherished addition to the Yellowstone ensemble. I revel in every instance where he graces the screen, and his friendships with characters such as Rainwater and Kayce are delightful.
Additionally, it’s important to note that the fellow actor from Birmingham isn’t only active in front of the camera. He also contributes significantly off-camera, ensuring the depiction of indigenous characters on the show remains authentic.
Previously in the conversation, the actor from Wind River mentioned that Mo Brings Plenty, who also appears in the show, serves as a consultant. He shared that this co-star was born and brought up on the Lakota Reservation, where he worked as an advisor. They are particularly careful when portraying their culture, especially regarding rituals and sacred matters, and the actor expressed deep respect and gratitude for the efforts his colleague puts in to ensure accurate representation.
During our chat later on, he emphasized this point to me once more. He highlighted the significance of Rainwater and Mo’s on-screen bond, but he also underscored Brings Plenty’s impact behind the scenes, as Birmingham put it, his off-screen contributions are just as significant.
The studio commented, “They appear like a genuine consultant.” Whether they truly are or not remains uncertain. It’s impossible for anyone to be knowledgeable about 575 tribes that exist here. So, it was great to stand together in this situation. As I mentioned earlier, Taylor is receptive to any authentic representations and performances.
Mo Brings Plenty fulfills dual roles as the Native affairs coordinator for “Yellowstone” during its fifth season and the American Indian affairs coordinator in the prequel series “1923,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. A significant part of his responsibilities involves ensuring that fluent language speakers from the depicted tribes are present on screen, and he collaborates with numerous tribes to accomplish this objective.
Looking forward to the second season of a show that originally aired in 1923, which is one of Yellowstone’s upcoming offerings, I speculate that Brings Plenty will carry on his role behind the scenes. Yet, as discussions about spinoffs featuring characters like Rip and Beth are underway, there might be opportunities for us to watch Mo and Rainwater again!
Currently, if you want to watch these two individuals in Yellowstone, you can tune in to fresh episodes every Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on the Paramount Network. Additionally, you can access all past seasons by subscribing to Peacock for streaming.
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2024-12-05 07:37