Season 1 - 6 episodes (2022)
Season 2 - 6 episodes (2023)
Rent Dark Winds on Amazon Video (paid link)
Created by: Graham Roland
Starring: Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten, Deanna Allison, Elva Guerra, Rainn Wilson
Rated: TV-MA
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Plot
Follows Leaphorn and Chee, two Navajo police officers in the 1970s Southwest that are forced to challenge their own spiritual beliefs when they search for clues in a double murder case.
Verdict
Both seasons feature a convoluted mystery that comes together by the end of the season. The setting helps distinguish the mystery, adding a layer of cultural relevance. This case takes place on the reservation so there's tension between that culture and outside ideas. The number of episodes keeps the pacing tight, though I do wish this expanded on some of the supernatural elements we see. I didn't like the second season as much. It was too outlandish for the basis of the show. McClarnon does a great job in both seasons.
It depends.
Review
The first episode of the first season is busy. There's an armed robbery and a death related to a medicine woman. There's tension between the FBI and local cop Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon). McClarnon does a excellent job of leading the series. He soon deduces that his newest deputy is a plant from the FBI. This generates a lot of questions that thankfully are eventually resolved. With the short number of episodes, this remains focused.
The show introduces a number of supernatural elements. Since only a few character see it, we don't know if it's their imagination or truly happening. The show doesn't elaborate. Setting this on a reservation adds some depth as we see characters with various opinions on the old traditions and whether they remain relevant.
The first season mentioned multiple times how nothing crazy every happens. What would a second season do? Something crazy happens again with Leaphorn chasing a lock box and a blonde man that seems to have the determination of a Terminator running around committing crimes. The threads connect to mine owner B.J. Vines and the mine explosion years ago. This season picks at threads introduced in the first season that forces Leaphorn to choose between upholding the law or vengeance.
This season is more personal for Leaphorn, and that works well as he's the best character.The mysteries in both seasons aren't very unique, but setting this on the reservation helps an interesting element. Characters disagree on whether old traditions are relevant while some remain vigilant in observing traditions.
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