
Dark Winds Season 2 (2023)
Director: Chris Eyre (Eps 1, 2, 6), Michael Nankin (Eps 3, 4), Billy Luther (Ep. 5)
Teleplay by: John Wirth & Rhiana Yazzie (Ep 1), Max Hurwitz & DezBaa’ (Ep 2), Steven Paul Judd (Ep 3), Jason Gavin (Ep 4), Billy Luther & Max Hurwitz (Ep 5), Graham Roland & John Wirth (Ep 6) // Based on the Leaphorn & Chee novels by Tony Hillerman
Starring: Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten, Deanna Allison, Elva Guerra, Nicholas Logan, A Martinez, John Diehl and Jeri Ryan.
Tagline: None
The Plot… (beware of spoilers)
A car explosion kills a terminal cancer patient, and injures Emma Leaphorn (Allison). Emma’s husband, Sheriff Joe Leaphorn (McClarnon) arrives to check on his wife. Once assured her injuries are minor, Leaphorn checks out the scene of the explosion and quickly finds evidence of a car bomb. Why would anyone want to kill someone with little time to live?
Jim Chee (Gordon), no longer on the force, is now a private investigator. Chee is hired by Rosemary Vines (Jeri Ryan). Rosemary is the wife of B.J. Vines (John Diehl), the richest man in the state. Rosemary wants Chee to recover a box stolen from her husband. She refuses to say what is in the box.
When Chee visits Leaphorn to get background information, Chee learns that Vines owns the property where six men were killed in a mining explosion. One of those men was Leaphorn’s son. Leaphorn and Chee drive out to the remote desert property. They are attacked by Cotton Wolf (Logan). Chee is shot and badly wounded. Leaphorn returns fire, but Wolf escapes. They discover that Wolf was burning the contents of the box that Chee was hired to find. One of the items in the box was Leaphorn’s son’s belt buckle.
Leaphorn and Chee find themselves the target of a psycho-killer who murders without hesitation. They have also ignited the ire of B.J. Vines who is hiding more than one dark secret.
Thoughts
Dark Winds: Season 1 provided an excellent mystery from a perspective not often seen in television/film. There was a feeling of respect and authenticity to Navajos due to the writers being Native American. I was happy to see this continue in Season 2.
I’ve been an A. Martinez fan since I first saw him in John Wayne’s The Cowboys. Loved seeing him here. Jerri Ryan is excellent as Rosemary Vines. She reminded me of a fem fatale from the 40s. Perfect. Nicholas Logan was spot on creepy as the killer Cotton Wolf. Logan was scary even in his quiet moments.
Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten and Deanna Allison have real chemistry. I look forward to Season 3.

