“Dark Winds” Season 3 (2025) starring Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten, Deanna Allison and A. Martinez / Z-View

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Dark Winds Season 3 (2025)

Created by: Graham Roland

Director:  Chris Eyre (Eps 1, 4, 8), Michael Nankin (Eps 2, 3), Billy Luther (Ep. 5); Erica Tremblay (Ep. 6); Steven Paul Judd (Ep. 7)

Teleplay by:  John Wirth & Steven Paul Judd (Eps. 1, 5, 8), Rhiana Yazzie (Ep. 2),  Max Hurwitz & Billy Luther (Eps. 3, 6), Thomas Brady & Erica Tremblay (Eps. 4, 7) // Based on the Leaphorn & Chee novels by Tony Hillerman

Starring:  Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten, Deanna Allison, A Martinez, Tonantzin Carmelo, Alex Meraz, Derek Hinkey, Terry Serpico, Jenna Elfman, Flora Amanda, Raoul Max Trujillo, Christopher Heyerdahl, Carly Roland, Joseph Runningfox, Bodhi Okuma Linton, Robert Knepper, Ryan Begay, Bruce Greenwood and Jeri Ryan.

Tagline:  None

The Plot… (beware of spoilers)

Sheriff Joe Leaphorn (McClarnon) and his deputy Jim Chee (Gordon) are trying to locate a missing Navajo boy.  Leaphorn and Chee learn the missing boy witnessed a murder.  The killer is on the kid’s trail as well.  Matters are complicated when FBI agent Sylvia Washington shows up to investigate a murder case.  Joe Leaphorn is her main suspect.  Leaphorn’s marriage begins to fall apart when Special Agent Washington informs Leaphorn’s wife that her husband may be a murderer.  

Bernadette Manuelito is settling in to her new job as a border patrol cop.  Any job is hard when you’re the rookie. Manuelito is put into a tough situation when she discovers that an influential, rich landowner may be involved with drug running.  Advised to back off, she digs deeper.  Learning that at least one person in her department is on the take, Manuelito doesn’t know who to trust.  Her time is running out, since she’s now a target of a former CIA assassin.

Thoughts 

Dark Winds: Season 3 builds on the actions Joe Leaphorn took in season 2.  It’s not often we see the ramifications of a character impacting others.  The relationship between Joe and Emma seems real.

I liked the dual mysteries presented this season.

Dark Winds provides the best creep/scary villains.  Raoul Max Trujillo as Budge Baca continues the tradition.

Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten and Deanna Allison have real chemistry.  I look forward to Season 4.