Why ‘Yellowstone’ Fans Are Raving About AMC’s ‘Dark Winds’ This Season!

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Dark Winds, starring Zahn McClarnon and Kiowa Gordon as Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, respectively, is a psychological thriller set in the American Southwest during the 1970s. Now headed into its third season, Dark Winds is based on novels written by Tony Hellerman and follows the two lawmen in their efforts to unravel wrongdoing and mysterious events in the Four Corners area of the United States.

Dark Winds blends history, Native American culture, crime-solving, and the spiritual in a way that stands out from shows like Yellowstone. The stellar ensemble cast of Dark Winds, with appearances by the likes of Rainn Wilson as a used car salesman and Jeri Ryan as an ailing widow, adds depth to the layers of strong performances and intriguing stories.

The first two seasons of Dark Winds introduced audiences to life on a Navajo reservation where cultures collide. Law enforcement, family loyalties, and diverse belief systems interact to make Dark Winds a multifaceted and suspenseful watch.

The Main Characters in ‘Dark Winds’ Highlight Layers of Cultural Tension

At the beginning of Dark Winds, audiences meet Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) of the Navajo Tribal Police and Deputy Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon). The two lawmen banter while simultaneously flexing their investigative skills. It becomes clear to Leaphorn that Chee is actually an undercover FBI agent and, with relatively little effort, he manages to convince him to work as a double agent.

Leaphorn’s loyalties to the Navajo nation, land, and traditions contrast with the struggle Chee feels attempting to navigate his obligations to federal law enforcement and his heritage. Chee and Navajo tribal police sergeant Bernedette Manuelito (Jessica Matten) have a professional relationship that similarly emphasizes the former’s struggles. Gordon talked about Jim Chee and his inner strife in 2022:

“I think it was hard for him at first because he had left. There were these traumatic things that happened in his past and he had to get out of Dodge, and he assimilated into white society. Then he goes to a very prestigious college. That prevents him from going to Vietnam, and he gets to hone his mentality there and gain these skills that get him recruited by the FBI. He has the ambition to go as far as he can with that…. I think going back home probably opens up all these old wounds… returning to the res… He’s just shoehorned in there because he’s Navajo, and they need that.”

While all of this unfolds, a mysterious helicopter crash, the discovery of mutilated bodies, and a money-laundering scheme play out through the rest of the first season. Season 2 of Dark Winds focuses on a cult conspiracy, with Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito fighting to protect the Navajo way of life.

One additional factor in how well the chemistry and dynamics work between the three main characters is that Dark Winds isn’t the first time they had worked together. As McClarnon explained in 2023,

“I’ve known Kiowa and Jessica for over a decade now. We worked together on The Frontier. And Kiowa and I worked on The Red Road together, so I’ve known these two for quite a long time. So it’s pretty easy to fall back into it.”

‘Dark Winds’ Is a Fascinating Glimpse Into Native American Traditions and Practices

Emma Leaphorn (Deanna Allison) is another fascinating character in Dark Winds who straddles various traditions and practices. As a nurse, Emma sees how Native Americans are treated and the types of resources available to them while simultaneously functioning within that inherently flawed system. She works at a hospital but is also present for Native American healing and mourning rituals that, on the surface, seem to fly in the face of modern medicine.

Emma embodies the dual nature present in all the characters of Dark Winds. Throughout the series, traditional Native American rituals such as purification rites to expel negative energies, vision quests, and the practices of medicine men showcase Navajo beliefs. Together, these elements introduce viewers to a spirituality that is seldom depicted in mainstream culture.

Great care was taken to portray Navajo culture accurately and respectfully. George R. Joe served as cultural advisor on the show during the second season of Dark Winds and told the Los Angeles Times in 2023 that he “pushed for accuracy” at every turn. He explained that he wasn’t the only one,

“It truly took a village. About 95% of the “Dark Winds” cast is Indigenous as is the majority of the production team, including the writers, producers, props team, stunts team, wardrobe and more. Keeping accuracy across the series was important to all of us.”

In the production of Dark Winds, the cast and team paid close attention to details such as dialogue, outfits, and hairdos to make sure they accurately reflected the time period.

‘Dark Winds’ Highlights the Breadth of Talent in the Cast

There is no paucity of powerful performances on Dark Winds. Rainn Wilson was stellar as the used car salesman “Devoted Dan,” while Jeri Ryan was a mysterious force that brought a dark energy to the show. Deanna Allison found a character that was refreshing in Emma Leaphorn because she was a “combination of being traditional and educated.”

The powerhouse in Dark Winds is Zahn McClarnon, however. McClarnon took the lead role of Joe Leaphorn after decades of acting. With over 80 television and film credits, McClarnon was an ideal choice because, as Chris Eyre, a director of Dark Winds, said,

There’s a sense of depth about Zahn, stemming from his personal background as a Native individual and his extensive career in film and TV.

There’s nothing McClarnon can’t do on Dark Winds as Alan Sepinwall explained in Rolling Stone:

“He is whatever a given moment needs: charismatic, dangerous, vulnerable, stoic, even funny.”

There are so many reasons to watch Dark Winds but anyone who’s seen any of McClarnon’s earlier work will not be disappointed

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2025-03-15 18:35