Dark Winds | |
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Genre | |
Created by | Graham Roland |
Based on | Leaphorn & Chee series by Tony Hillerman |
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Starring |
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Country of origin | United States |
Original languages |
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No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 12 |
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Executive producers |
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Production location | New Mexico |
Running time | 39–53 minutes |
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Original release | |
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Release | June 12, 2022 – present |
Dark Winds is an American psychological thriller television series created by Graham Roland based on the Leaphorn & Chee novel series by Tony Hillerman. [1] It premiered on AMC and AMC+ on June 12, 2022, with the first season consisting of six episodes. [2] After its premiere, the series was renewed for a six-episode second season, which premiered on July 30, 2023. [3] In September 2023, the series was renewed for a third season. [4]
The series follows two Navajo Tribal Police officers, Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, in the 1970s Four Corners area of the American Southwest. [5] [6] The first season is primarily based on Listening Woman (1978) and elements of People of Darkness (1980). [7] The second season adapts People of Darkness. [8]
Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
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First released | Last released | |||
1 | 6 | June 12, 2022 | July 17, 2022 | |
2 | 6 | July 30, 2023 | September 3, 2023 |
![]() | This section's plot summaries may be too long or excessively detailed.(May 2023) |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Teleplay by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
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1 | 1 | "Monster Slayer" | Chris Eyre | Graham Roland | June 12, 2022 | 1.38 [15] | |
In Gallup, New Mexico, robbers pilot a helicopter to rob an armored truck, killing two guards. The fleeing helicopter flies over the nearby Navajo reservation, where it is seen by an older man named Hosteen Tso. Three weeks later, Tso is found dead in a motel room along with Anna Atcitty, the granddaughter of a Medicine Woman he was visiting due to ailments since seeing the helicopter. Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Tribal Police investigates the murders; Tso's body is mutilated, while Anna's body is unmarked. Leaphorn has a personal history with Anna's family, which he does not disclose to his colleagues. The medicine woman is blind, and in a catatonic state since witnessing the murders. Leaphorn's wife, Emma, a nurse, convinces him to investigate the living conditions of a pregnant girl named Sally Growing Thunder, who visited her clinic. Leaphorn's deputy Bernadette Manuelito visits Sally's home but is intimidated by her mother, a witch, and convinced the woman cursed her. As Leaphorn begins his investigation, his department is joined by Deputy Jim Chee, who is, in reality, an undercover agent for the FBI. Agent Whitover, who was responsible for planting Chee, believes the armored truck robbery was committed by a Navajo radical group called the Buffalo Society and wants Chee to use the motel killings as a cover to investigate this lead on Navajo land. Leaphorn visits Tso's property, where he finds that his water supply has been contaminated - the helicopter is at the bottom of his reservoir with a dead body inside. | |||||||
2 | 2 | "The Male Rain Approaches" | Chris Eyre | Anthony Florez | June 19, 2022 | 0.984 [16] | |
Flashbacks reveal that Anna Atcitty was dating Leaphorn's son Joe Jr., who worked at an oil drilling site with her father, Guy. At a Peyote ritual, a friend who had a premonitory vision warned Guy not to go to work that day. Guy warned several others, but not Joe Jr., who was killed in an explosion at the drilling site. Lester, the trading post owner, overhears the warning and tells Leaphorn about it. Leaphorn confronts Guy. The two fight. Leaphorn shoots Guy in the leg as he approaches with an axe. In the present, Leaphorn quickly identifies Jim Chee as an undercover FBI agent and convinces him to work as a double agent using the FBI's resources to assist in the double homicide case. Chee has water from Tso's property tested and confirms Leaphorn's suspicion that the helicopter is in Tso's well, and an autopsy report reveals that Anna was apparently "scared to death". Emma convinces Sally Growing Thunder to stay at the Leaphorns' home, believing her family's property is unsafe. The armored truck robbers revealed to include a man posing as Tso's Catholic priest grandson and a scarred man living on the Growing Thunder property, chase down and abduct a Mormon tourist family who unknowingly purchased a painting at a local gift shop where the money from the heist was stashed. | |||||||
3 | 3 | "K'e" | Sanford Bookstaver | Maya Rose Dittloff & Razelle Benally | June 26, 2022 | 1.02 [17] | |
Money from the robbery is funneled through Devoted Dan's car dealership. Wanda, the painter wife of gift shop owner Lester, is also part of the money laundering. Leaphorn and Chee ask Raymond Begay to dive the pond on Tso's property, looking for evidence of the helicopter. Emma invites her niece, Nanobah, to stay at the Leaphorns' home as she celebrates her Kinaaldá. Leaphorn retrieves Anna Atcitty's and Hosteen Tso's bodies when the coroner releases them. Manuelito and Chee investigate the whereabouts of the missing Mormon family. Chee shows Manuelito where he lived on the reservation before he and his mom left because of his mom's abusive boyfriend. Manuelito invited Chee to the celebration at the end of Nanobah's Kinaaldá. Sally gets scared when Father Benjamin Tso comes to thank Leaphorn for burying his grandfather and has to be taken to the hospital. While there, Sally gives Emma the name of the scarred man, Frank Nakai. | |||||||
4 | 4 | "Hooghandi" | Sanford Bookstaver | Billy Luther | July 3, 2022 | 0.823 [18] | |
Raymond finds a helmet, but is shot by Father Tso. He and Frank Nakai are revealed to be buying up land around the mine with the Buffalo Society. Leaphorn suspects all of the crimes on the reservation are related. He and Chee talk to Father Tso, who admits he has a brother who attended Catholic school. Leaphorn and Chee look through the school records and discover there are twin Tso brothers. James wears glasses, while Benjamin does not. They realize James has been impersonating Father Benjamin Tso. Leaphorn and Chee make a plan to arrest James, while James and Frank make plans to ambush them. Chee tells Agent Whitover about Frank and James, who the FBI knows as Hoski. Leaphorn invites Chee over for dinner. At dinner, Emma tells Leaphorn she wants Sally to stay with them when she gets out of the hospital. The next day, Manuelito goes to the pond looking for Raymond and hears the shoot-out between Leaphorn, Chee, James, and Frank. She helps to arrest Frank, but James escapes on Manuelito's horse, Taco. During the arrest, it is revealed that Frank and Chee had met before, which Leaphorn did not know, and Manuelito finds out Chee is an FBI agent. Outside the tribal police station, Chee tells Leaphorn the FBI will put in a request to have Frank transferred. Chee and Leaphorn fight. | |||||||
5 | 5 | "Ha'íínlni" | Chris Eyre | Erica Tremblay | July 10, 2022 | 1.07 [19] | |
Chee leaves the reservation, saying goodbye to Manuelito on his way out. He tends to a stranded motorist, who clues Chee into the too-good-to-be-true deals at Devoted Dan’s car lot. Chee interviews Dan, who explains he is being blackmailed in order to help Buffalo Society launder money. Chee also learns that Dan was previously interviewed by Whitover, however, the FBI has nothing on file. Chee is able to retrieve the file from another agent, whom Whitover had asked to destroy the file, and returns to the reservation; the file reveals Whitover knew about Tso. Leaphorn interviews Frank, trying to discern Tso’s location. Frank implies that there is more to the accident that killed Joe Jr. than meets the eye. Leaphorn asks Guy Atcitty about the day of the accident, and learns that there may be uranium in the area. Leaphorn and Guy make amends as they each mourn their lost child. Manuelito, alone at the station, hallucinates, and awakens to find that Frank has escaped. Whitover arrives, intending to take custody, and he and Manuelito set out to search for Frank. Leaphorn tracks Tso on foot, and arrives to see Frank tending to a fire. | |||||||
6 | 6 | "HózhóoNaasháa" | Chris Eyre | Maya Rose Dittloff | July 17, 2022 | 1.26 [20] | |
A flashback shows Whitover and Tso discussing the armored car heist, revealing that Whitover was in on the robbery. Chee radios Manuelito to warn her about Whitover, speaking Diné so Whitover cannot understand. Tso and Frank make a plan to escape by using the Mormons as cover, however the father crashes while going to retrieve a van; he is spotted and rescued by Guy Adcitty. Chee confronts Whitover, who shoots Chee, though not fatally. Tso and Frank discover Leaphorn in their cave hideout and try to smoke him out, but Leaphorn is able to evade them and disable their vehicle. Leaphorn manages to capture the two Buffalo Society members, but is then ambushed by Whitover, who shoots Frank and leaves with half of the robbery money. As Whitover tries to talk his way past Chee, he is shot and killed by Guy. Leaphorn tracks Tso, but Tso commits suicide. Meanwhile, Manuelito and Chee rescue the Mormons and dynamite the cave, burying Frank and Whitover’s bodies. Three months later, the cave has been excavated, with Frank’s body gone missing, possibly still alive. Leaphorn offers Chee, who has left the FBI, a position and the two shake hands. |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Teleplay by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
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7 | 1 | "Na'niłkaadii" | Chris Eyre | John Wirth & Rhiana Yazzie | July 30, 2023 | N/A |
8 | 2 | "Wonders of the Unknown" | Chris Eyre | Max Hurwitz & DezBaa' | August 6, 2023 | 0.788 [21] |
9 | 3 | "Antigonish" | Michael Nankin | Steven Paul Judd | August 13, 2023 | N/A |
10 | 4 | "The March" | Michael Nankin | Jason Gavin | August 20, 2023 | N/A |
11 | 5 | "Black Hole Sun" | Billy Luther | Billy Luther & Max Hurwitz | August 27, 2023 | N/A |
12 | 6 | "Hózhó náhásdlįį" | Chris Eyre | Graham Roland & John Wirth | September 3, 2023 | N/A |
In July 2021, it was announced that AMC had greenlighted Dark Winds for a six-episode order. [5] The series is created by Graham Roland, who executive produces with Zahn McClarnon, George R. R. Martin, Robert Redford, Tina Elmo, Vince Gerardis, Vince Calandra, and Chris Eyre. [5] [9] Redford previously produced four other adaptations of the Leaphorn & Chee series: The Dark Wind (1991), Skinwalkers (2002), Coyote Waits (2003), and A Thief of Time (2004). Calandra served as showrunner, and Eyre directed the pilot. The series is produced by AMC Networks and Dark Winds Productions. [9] [22] In May 2022, Sanford Bookstaver was announced as an additional director. [23]
In June 2022, AMC renewed the series for a six-episode second season. [7] John Wirth replaced Calandra as showrunner for the second season. [24] Billy Luther, who wrote for season 1, directed an episode of season 2. [25]
In September 2023, the series was renewed for a third season, which is expected to premiere in early 2025. [4]
The writers' room is all Native American. [26] In addition to Roland, writers on the series include Anthony Florez, Maya Rose Dittloff, Razelle Benally, Billy Luther, Erica Tremblay, John Wirth, Rhiana Yazzie, Max Hurwitz, DezBaa', Steven P. Judd, and Jason Gavin. [27]
Alongside the series announcement, Zahn McClarnon and Kiowa Gordon were cast as Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. [5] [9] In August 2021, Noah Emmerich was cast as Whitover. [6] Jessica Matten was cast as Bernadette Manuelito. [10] Rainn Wilson was cast as Devoted Dan in early September. [13] In February 2022, it was revealed that Deanna Allison would make her television acting debut on the show as Leaphorn's wife, Emma. [12]
In the second season, Nicholas Logan and Jeri Ryan joined the cast as Colton Wolf and Rosemary Vines, respectively. [28]
Filming took place in numerous locations in the Navajo Nation (Navajo : Naabeehó Diné Biyaad), [22] which occupies portions of northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southeastern Utah. Filming for the first season took place in all three states, beginning on August 23, 2021, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. [29] [30] Location shooting in New Mexico occurred in Española, Tesuque Pueblo, Cochiti Pueblo and Abiquiú. [31] [32] In mid-October, the series filmed in Mexican Hat, Utah, and Arizona's Monument Valley and Kayenta. [33] Filming was expected to wrap on November 11, 2021. [29] [30]
The second season began filming in November 2022 in Santa Fe and Tesuque Pueblo and wrapped in March 2023. [34] [35]
For the first season of Dark Winds, review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 8.1/10, based on 36 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Zahn McClarnon is riveting as a coiled cop in Dark Winds, a solid procedural that derives much of its texture from an underrepresented cultural milieu." [36] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 80 out of 100 based on 19 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [37]
For the second season, Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 8.2/10, based on 17 reviews. The critical consensus reads, "Dark Winds' sophomore season is just as captivating as its predecessor, with Zahn McClarnon reaffirming his indispensable gravitas as a leading man." [38] Metacritic assigned a score of 84 out of 100 based on 9 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". [39]
The Navajo Times criticized the series for lacking authenticity in its representation of Navajo people and language. [40] Series director Chris Eyre responded to the criticism, and commented, "It's critically important to all of us that we represent the culture correctly. If there's course-correction to be made, we're happy to do that." [41] For the second season, the series hired Navajo cultural advisor George R. Joe to help create more accurate portrayals of the Navajo culture. [42]
In April 2023, the first episode of the first season, "Monster Slayer", was honored as an Outstanding Fictional Television Drama by the Western Heritage Awards of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. [43] [44]
In May 2023, Dark Winds received several Vision Awards from the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC). It received the award for Best Drama, and for Best Performance in a Drama Series, awarded to Zahn McClarnon. [45]
Anthony Grove Hillerman was an American author of detective novels and nonfiction works, best known for his mystery novels featuring Navajo Nation Police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. Several of his works have been adapted for film and television.
Jim Chee is one of two Navajo Tribal Police detectives in a series of mystery novels by Tony Hillerman. Unlike his superior Joe Leaphorn, the "Legendary Lieutenant", Chee is a staunch believer in traditional Navajo culture; indeed, he is studying to be a traditional healer at the same time that he is a police officer.
The Navajo Nation Police is the law enforcement agency on the Navajo Nation in the Southwestern United States. It is under the Navajo Division of Public Safety. It is headed by a Chief of Police, six Police Captains and eight Police Lieutenants. It includes: Internal Affairs, Patrol, K-9 Unit, Police diving, Tactical Operations Team, Traffic Unit, Fiscal management, Recruitment, and Training Divisions. The Navajo Nation Police are responsible for seven districts: Chinle, Crownpoint, Dilkon, Kayenta, Shiprock, Tuba City, and Window Rock. There are also several substations in each district ranging from one-man substations or up to five officers each. Currently, there are 210 sworn police officers, 28 criminal investigators, and 279 civilians acting as support staff for the department. There are approximately 1.9 police officers per 1,000 people and one officer is responsible for patrolling 70 square miles (180 km2) of reservation land. The Navajo Nation Police are funded by federal contracts and grants and general Navajo Nation funds. This police department is one of only two large Native American police Departments with more than 100 sworn officers in the United States.
Chris Eyre, an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, is an American film director and producer who as of 2012 is chairman of the film department at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design.
The Fallen Man is a crime novel by American writer Tony Hillerman, the twelfth in the Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee Navajo Tribal Police series, first published in 1996.
Skinwalkers is a crime novel by American writer Tony Hillerman, the seventh in the Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee Navajo Tribal Police series, published in 1986. The film version, Skinwalkers, was adapted for television for the PBS Mystery! series in 2002.
The Dark Wind is a crime novel by American writer Tony Hillerman, the fifth in the Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee Navajo Tribal Police series, published in 1982. It is the second of the novels to feature Officer Jim Chee.
A Thief of Time is a crime novel by American writer Tony Hillerman, the eighth in the Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee Navajo Tribal Police series, first published in 1988. It was adapted for television as part of the PBS Mystery! series in 2004.
Skinwalkers is a 2002 mystery television film based on the novel of the same name by Tony Hillerman, one of his series of mysteries set against contemporary Navajo life in the Southwest. It features an all-Native cast, with Adam Beach and Wes Studi playing officers Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn. It was produced as part of the PBS Mystery! series, filmed on the Navajo reservation and directed by Chris Eyre.
Coyote Waits is a crime novel by American writer Tony Hillerman, the tenth in the Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee Navajo Tribal Police series, first published in 1990.
The Wailing Wind is a crime novel by American writer Tony Hillerman, the fifteenth in the Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee Navajo Tribal Police series, first published in 2002. It is a New York Times best-seller.
The Sinister Pig is a crime novel by American writer Tony Hillerman, the sixteenth in the Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee Navajo Tribal Police series, first published in 2003. It was a New York Times best-seller.
Kiowa Joseph Gordon is a Native American actor of Hualapai heritage. He is best known for his role as shapeshifter Embry Call in The Twilight Saga, as well as Junior in the TV series The Red Road. Since 2022, Gordon has played Jim Chee in the AMC series Dark Winds.
Graham Roland is an American writer and producer. In 2022, he created the crime thriller series Dark Winds on AMC.
Zahn Tokiya-ku McClarnon is an American actor known for his performances in the Western crime drama series Longmire, the second season of Fargo, and the second season of Westworld. Since 2022, he has played the lead role of Joe Leaphorn in the AMC series Dark Winds. He features in the FX on Hulu series Reservation Dogs, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe series Hawkeye (2021) and Echo (2024).
The Dark Wind is a 1991 American mystery drama film based on The Dark Wind by Tony Hillerman, one of a series of mysteries set against contemporary Navajo life in the Southwest. It stars Lou Diamond Phillips as Jim Chee and Fred Ward as Joe Leaphorn.
The Son is an American Western drama television series based on the 2013 novel of the same name by Philipp Meyer. The show was created and developed by Meyer, Brian McGreevy, and Lee Shipman. Twenty episodes over two seasons aired from April 8, 2017, through June 29, 2019.
61st Street is an American legal drama television series created by Peter Moffat that premiered on AMC on April 10, 2022. A second season was produced; however, in January 2023, AMC decided against airing it. In May 2023, The CW acquired the series, airing season one again in the US on July 22, 2023, on The CW app exclusively and then airing it on linear TV in October 2023. Season 2 premiered on July 22, 2024.
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