Ep 3. Aunt Ida's 90th Birthday

In Rutherford Falls season 1 episode 3, titled "Aunt Ida's 90th Birthday," the titular character of the show, Nathan Rutherford, is tasked with organizing a birthday party for his great aunt Ida, who is turning 90 years old. Nathan sees this as an opportunity to promote the history of his town and is excited to show off the newly renovated museum with an exhibit celebrating his family's role in the town's founding. However, things quickly spiral out of control due to a clash of cultures between Native American and white settlers.

The episode begins with Nathan and his best friend Reagan discussing the party plans, and Nathan shows her the exhibit he's created for the museum, which consists of a large display of his family's possessions and documents from the time of the town's founding. Reagan points out that none of the exhibit features the contributions of indigenous people in the area, upsetting Nathan as he believes he's done his research and included all the necessary information. Later, they visit local Native American reservation to seek permission for a blessing ceremony as part of the birthday celebration, but Nathan unintentionally offends the tribal leader with his lack of understanding of their customs.

Meanwhile, Nathan's father and business partner, Terry, is dealing with another crisis - the town's only casino has been forced to close after a mold infestation in the building. Terry sees this as an opportunity to push forward with his plan to build a larger casino resort on the land with the help of a wealthy investor, but he's met with resistance from the town's mayor who is trying to preserve the town's history and culture.

As the day of the party draws nearer, tensions continue to rise between the two sides until it boils over during a confrontation at the museum opening. It's only when Aunt Ida steps in and reminds everyone of the importance of family and history that some semblance of peace is restored, and the birthday party becomes a celebration of both their families' histories.

Finally, the episode ends with Nathan apologizing to Reagan for his lack of understanding and promising to do better in the future. He also turns to Reagan for help in building a more culturally sensitive exhibit for the museum, showing that he's learned from his mistakes and is willing to be better.

Overall, "Aunt Ida's 90th Birthday" is a thought-provoking episode that tackles issues of cultural identity and heritage without being preachy or heavy-handed. The interplay between the characters is engaging, and the writing strikes a good balance between humor and drama. Fans of the show will undoubtedly enjoy this episode for its exploration of the town's complex history and the unique challenges faced by small, rural communities.