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Season 1 – Dark Winds

Play trailer 1:58 Poster for Season 1 – Dark Winds 2022 Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 37 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Set in 1971 on a remote outpost of the Navajo Nation near Monument Valley, Dark Winds follows Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn of the Tribal Police as he is besieged by a series of seemingly unrelated crimes. The closer he digs to the truth, the more he exposes the wounds of his past. He is joined on this journey by his new deputy, Jim Chee. Chee, too, has old scores to settle from his youth on the reservation. Together, the two men battle the forces of evil, each other and their own personal demons on the path to salvation.
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Dark Winds — Season 1

Dark Winds — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

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.

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Critics Reviews

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Graeme Virtue Guardian It is a knotty, atmospheric mystery that still feels fleet enough to be tackled in one or two binges. Rated: 4/5 Oct 18, 2023 Full Review Graeme Blundell The Australian Certainly, Dark Winds, created by Graham Roland, rewards the effort. Jul 21, 2023 Full Review Kristen Lopez IndieWire “Dark Winds” may seem similar to other detective shows but it’s more than that. With well-written and sharply defined characters, plus an invigorating and tightly wound story, it’ll be hard to wait a week for each episode to drop. Rated: A Jun 16, 2022 Full Review Christian Jones Starburst Although the series is set in the early 1970s, the show effectively incorporates elements of ancient traditions that resonate with the surrounding landscape’s timeless quality. Rated: 4/5 Dec 26, 2024 Full Review John Townsend Starburst Dark Winds is atmospheric stuff. Rated: 4/5 Feb 1, 2024 Full Review Charlotte Harrison Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies We’re finally – yet still slowly – seeing more Native American voices on the big & small screen. Nov 22, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member A nice police procedural exploring a hitherto-uncharted NA genre that ended up being too familiar in its TV plot point delivery and could have benefited from going a bit off the reservation in terms of utilizing black magic and farting. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 04/29/25 Full Review Mike H A bit of a slow burn, but terrific characters and a compelling story make for a worthwhile watch. Fortunately they kept the "White Man Bad" stuff to a minimum and it didn't detract too much from the story. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/07/25 Full Review Fr. Eric H Zahn McClarnon is a middle-aged-going-on-elderly Diné (Navajo), the lieutenant and therefore the big cheese in the 1970 Navajo Reservation Police. Despite the fact that 1970 (when the show is set) was just the beginning of the American Indian Movement, this show focuses on a microscopic community in the desert. The cultural touches and frequent dialogue in the Diné language, the homes, clothes, traditions are excellent. It is a cops and robbers routine, therefore it is a cop show. But as my Native relatives always used to say, "the Indians ARE the good guys." This is very good and I hope it continues for many years. That is all I have to say. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/28/25 Full Review Benjamin S Got sucked in a lot faster than I was expecting. I love love love this. Well done everyone. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/11/25 Full Review Magnus A Binge watched season 1. Excellent. Detailed and engaging characters. Good script and an intriguing story. All the cast seem to play this well. First class cinematography, the locations are great which helps, but look closer at the framing and composition of the component scenes and shots - a well made production. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/11/25 Full Review gail s This is an-the edge-of-your seat thriller! Different and completely compelling. Do not miss! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/10/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Dark Winds — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Zahn McClarnon

Joe Leaphorn

Kiowa Gordon

Jim Chee

Jessica Matten

Bernadette Manuelito

Deanna Allison

Emma Leaphorn

Rainn Wilson

Devoted Dan

Elva Guerra

Sally Growing Thunder

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jun 12, 2022 Monster Slayer Navajo Tribal Policeman Joe Leaphorn must solve a series of crimes; he partners with new deputy, Jim Chee, who is back on the reservation for the first time since he was a child; together they face down evil forces, both earthly and supernatural. Details Episode 2 Aired Jun 19, 2022 The Male Rain Approaches Leaphorn and Chee interview the surviving witness to the Big Rock Motel murders; Chee meets with the coroner; the cause of death remains a mystery; Sgt. Manuelito makes a chilling discovery of her own. Details Episode 3 Aired Jun 26, 2022 K'e Leaphorn's niece celebrates her Kinaaldá as Leaphorn retrieves the bodies of the murder victims; Manuelito and Chee investigate the whereabouts of the missing Mormon family. Details Episode 4 Aired Jul 3, 2022 Hooghandi Leaphorn suspects all of the crimes on the reservation are related; there is a big break in the case; Leaphorn invites Chee over for dinner; Manuelito makes a discovery of her own. Details Episode 5 Aired Jul 10, 2022 Ha'íínlni With a major suspect in custody, Leaphorn discovers that there is more to this crime than he would have ever imagined; Manuelito faces her worst fears; Chee must make a choice between his career and his people. Details Episode 6 Aired Jul 17, 2022 HózhóoNaasháa Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito descend on the hiding place of the Buffalo Society, only to be confronted with hard decisions that could change the outcome of the rest of their lives. Details

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Dark Winds — Season 1

Dark Winds: Season 1 Teaser - Tribal Police Dark Winds: Season 1 Teaser - Tribal Police 0:29 Dark Winds: Season 1 Trailer Dark Winds: Season 1 Trailer 1:58 Dark Winds: Season 1 Episode 1 Sneak Peek - Chee's First Day Dark Winds: Season 1 Episode 1 Sneak Peek - Chee's First Day 1:24 View more videos
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Dark Winds — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Chris Eyre, Sanford Bookstaver
Executive Producer
Chris Eyre, George R.R. Martin, Graham Roland, Robert Redford, Tina Elmo, Vince Calandra, Vince Gerardis, Zahn McClarnon
Screenwriter
Graham Roland, Maya Rose Dittloff, Billy Luther, Erica Tremblay, Razelle Benally
Network
AMC
Rating
TV-MA (V|L)
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Western
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jun 12, 2022
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