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- What Is Dark Winds About?
- Jim Chee in the Dark Winds Books vs. the TV Show, Explained
- The 1991 Movie Dark Winds Is a More Accurate Depiction of Jim Chee
As a dedicated fan of Tony Hillerman’s Navajo mysteries, I must say that the character of Jim Chee, portrayed by Zahn McClarnon in Dark Winds, has left me a bit perplexed. While I appreciate the exceptional acting skills that McClarnon brings to the table, the Chee we see on screen seems to be quite different from the one I’ve grown attached to over the years.
As “Dark Winds” garners more popularity on Netflix, there’s a growing concern among fans that the AMC original series might be missing out on the most captivating character dynamic present in Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn & Chee novel series. Readers of the books have pointed out alterations made to Jim Chee’s character, which seem to diminish his spirituality and interest in his Navajo heritage. The changes are so significant that some fans recommend watching the 1991 film adaptation, “The Dark Wind,” for a more authentic portrayal of Jim Chee.
In a different wording: Instead of that, the main character Joe Leaphorn maintains his tough exterior and employs his sharp, unyielding reasoning to solve numerous crimes across the American Southwest. This is consistent with the character portrayals created by Hillerman in 18 books published between 1970 and 2006. Although it’s expected for a book character to be altered when adapted to TV, viewers of the Dark Winds series should be aware that the relationship between Leaphorn and Chee may dilute the investigative tension between the principal characters.
What Is Dark Winds About?
The TV show titled “Dark Winds” is an American psychological crime thriller with a blend of modern Western themes, produced by Graham Roland for AMC. It made its debut on the network in June 2022, and after 12 episodes (six per season), it was renewed for another season in September 2023. Notably, this series is adapted from Tony Hillerman’s “Leaphorn & Chee” novel series, although it wasn’t until the seventh book, “Skinwalkers,” that characters Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee started working together as detective partners.
Prior to the Skinwalkers series, Jim and Joe were protagonists in separate novels, offering readers a rich collection of six books that delved into their characters, painted their pasts, highlighted their beliefs and values, and established a distinct investigative dynamic between them. To clarify the distinctions between these books and the less-acknowledged Western TV show, the series features Zahn McClarnon as Joe Leaphorn and Kiowa Gordon as Jim Chee. Leaphorn is an Indigenous Navajo American who serves as a lieutenant in the police force of Kayenta, a town within Navajo County. He is known for his stoicism, serious demeanor, lack of humor, and intolerance for foolishness.
Instead of letting emotions guide him, Leaphorn approaches crime-solving with a strict sense of logic. He maintains a formal and disciplined image as he strives to keep order in Kayenta. In the books, Leaphorn’s character is portrayed accurately on screen, with McClarnon delivering a strong, intense performance throughout all 12 episodes so far. However, for fans of “Leaphorn & Chee,” there seems to be a noticeable absence of Jim Chee’s curious spirituality in the TV show, which was a key aspect that added depth and tension to their dynamic on-screen partnership.
Jim Chee in the Dark Winds Books vs. the TV Show, Explained
In “Dark Winds”, we meet Jim Chee, who initially appears as a Deputy Police Officer working alongside Joe Leaphorn’s team in Gallup, New Mexico. However, it is revealed that Chee is actually an undercover FBI agent, given the cover by Leaphorn at the behest of their superior, Leland Whitover (played by Noah Emmerich). While Leaphorn portrays a seasoned and tough exterior, Chee exhibits a youthful innocence and spiritual curiosity in the books, although this aspect seems less prominent in the TV show.
In his 2001 autobiography Seldom Disappointed, Hillerman explained that he created the character Chee as a contrast to Leaphorn’s gruff personality, making Chee more gullible to fit the narrative. The books reveal that Chee is given his Navajo name, “Long Thinker,” by his uncle, and he is a former anthropology student who is naturally curious, deeply spiritual, open-minded, and possesses an exceptional memory. An intriguing aspect of the stories revolves around Chee’s relationship with his uncle, Hosteen Frank Sam Nakai, who taught him various Navajo rituals. Since childhood, Chee has memorized tapes containing numerous Navajo words and concepts that strengthen his spirituality.
In Dark Winds Season 1, the character Nakai (Eugene Black Rock) is present, but he’s missing from Season 2. This omission leaves viewers without the wisdom that Nakai imparts, which influences Chee’s actions during investigations, causing him to challenge Leaphorn more in the books than on screen. The on-screen tension between Leaphorn and Chee is significantly reduced due to this absence. Fans have pointed out these noticeable discrepancies between the novels and the TV adaptation online. A Reddit post discussing why Chee’s backstory seems incomplete in the show suggests:
I’m really enjoying the series, but there’s one aspect I find lacking – the exploration of Chee’s connection to his Navajo spiritual background, which was a significant part of the books. This seems to be largely absent from the TV show, at least in the episodes I’ve watched so far. It appears that Bernie delves deeper into this topic compared to Chee based on what I’ve seen.
In agreement with this viewpoint, another Reddit user commented that “Leaphorn’s character seems quite consistent with the books, though there are changes. On the other hand, Chee appears to be a significantly different character.” Many of the other Redditors concur that Chee has been transformed in some way, lessening the conflicts between Leaphorn and Chee. However, it’s speculated that when Dark Winds comes back, Chee’s spiritual side will be delved into more deeply by some Reddit users. As one Redditor points out:
I’m curious to know if they will manage to bring him (Chee) on board with their plans, considering all that he has witnessed and been through, along with the fact that he needs time for his own healing process.
The response prompted support, with another adding:
It seems like they’re gradually leading towards something significant. He carries a deep-seated anger towards his community, which he’s been dealing with and addressing during the initial two seasons.
It seems that ConsciousAnimator87 offers a plausible explanation for the changes in Chee’s character, suggesting that by merging Hillerman’s novels, the storyline has been simplified at the expense of Chee’s deeply rooted spiritual aspects.
At present, I’m engrossed in the newly released Anne Hillerman novel. It appears as though the storylines of 1 to 3 books are being compressed into a single television season, which is intriguing. Indeed, the characters Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito portrayed on screen seem distinct from their book counterparts.
The 1991 Movie Dark Winds Is a More Accurate Depiction of Jim Chee
To better portray the character of Jim Chee as depicted in Hillerman’s novels on screen, fans are encouraged to watch Lou Diamond Phillips’ performance in the 1991 movie titled The Dark Wind. In the mentioned Reddit thread, one of the highest-rated replies from AltseWait suggests, “Experience a more spiritual Jim Chee by watching Dark Wind (1991).
In the 1990s Western film adapted from Tony Hillerman’s novel, we find Joe Leaphorn (portrayed by Fred Ward) and Chee teaming up to unravel a complex web of crime, which includes drug trafficking, vandalism, robbery, and murder. The plot thickens when a plane crashes in the Southwestern U.S.’s Navajo territory. In the television series Dark Winds, Phillips’ mystical elements align more with Chee’s character rather than Gordon, as pointed out by an original Reddit user upon recommending the movie The Dark Wind.
Absolutely, I concur with your statement. I own that film on DVD as well. The original movie captured Chee’s warm nature quite well, but it appears that trait might be missing from his character in the current television series.
Although the third season of “Dark Winds” hasn’t been officially announced with a release date, it’s anticipated to air on AMC in 2025. Keep an eye out for its return to see if Chee’s spirituality is portrayed more authentically. By the way, you can catch up on “Dark Winds” by streaming it on Netflix and AMC+.
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2024-09-28 02:01