On Monday evening, numerous enthusiasts crowded NeueHouse Hollywood for a discussion panel during the Emmys consideration period, featuring the cast and crew of AMC’s dark mystery series Dark Winds. Attendees included stars Zahn McClarnon, Jenna Elfman, Jessica Matten, Kiowa Gordon, Jeremiah Bitsui, Deanna Allison, and executive producer John Wirth.
The third season of this series presents the lives of Navajo police officers in the 1970s, who are portrayed solving contemporary mysteries while grappling with past traumas. In a recent interview, the lead actor, Gordon (playing Officer Jim Chee), shared that embodying his character has assisted him in finding harmony with his diverse ancestry.
Gordon stated that he’s drawn significant aspects of his life experiences and transformed them into what [Chee] encounters as a Navajo man, despite [Chee] being partly Irish. Gordon, on the other hand, has a mixed heritage; his mother is Hualapai from Arizona, while his father is Scottish and has roots in Europe. Growing up, he often felt caught between worlds, belonging neither fully to one side nor the other. Now, with this family here, he feels a sense of acceptance, expressing the most authentic, emotional, and open version of himself.
In simpler terms, Series lead McLarnon revealed that the strong camaraderie among the cast members provided support for him when portraying scenes where his character, Joe Leaphorn, recalls the painful memories of his past as a Navajo boy who was separated from his culture following his enrollment in a Christian boarding school.
He shared that he had faced similar situations as Joe’s dream, trauma, and childhood hardships. Because of this, he could easily connect to those emotions. He explained this to the crowd, adding that it’s essential to use your personal experiences and be surrounded by people who care about you when dealing with such situations.
In the third season, Elfman became part of the cast, taking on the role of FBI agent Sylvia Washington. This character investigates a death that Joe might be connected to. She publicly thanked AMC for giving her an opportunity to move away from comedy roles she’s been typecast in since the 1990s.
She gratefully acknowledged AMC for allowing her to explore different aspects of her artistic abilities, as such chances aren’t always presented to artists. She noted that if you’ve demonstrated skill in one genre, they often prefer to keep you within it and limit your exploration. However, AMC, from ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ to this project, has been extraordinarily open-minded and generous in providing her with opportunities to display various facets of her talent.
In a difficult period for her, Allison’s character Emma Leaphorn found herself grappling with significant marital issues when she discovered Joe’s part in the death of a crucial figure. She reflected on how her upbringing within a Native American community equipped her to portray a character dealing with intense personal struggles.
Allison pointed out that her mother had always warned her since she was a child that she would encounter hardships. She explained that this is one of the lessons the coming-of-age ceremony imparts – how to persevere through adversity when it arises. The ceremony holds great significance because it prepares you for what lies ahead – four consecutive nights without sleep, running east. During this time, you also contribute to your community by doing various tasks at home and learn about the individuals who have gone through the same ritual. This knowledge, Allison added, was something she passed on to Emma, helping her endure difficult situations.
In the evening’s lineup was a performance by the musical duo, Mozart and Gabriel. The third season of ‘Dark Winds’ concluded in April, with its fourth season set to debut in 2026.
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2025-06-10 22:24