AMC+ has unleashed Dark Winds, a riveting Navajo crime thriller that’s swiftly becoming 2025’s must-watch obsession. Set against the stark, sun-baked landscapes of the 1970s Southwest, this series—based on Tony Hillerman’s beloved Leaphorn & Chee novels—blends cultural authenticity, noir tension, and raw performances into a narrative that’s being compared to True Detective‘s brooding intensity and Shetland‘s atmospheric chill. Starring Zahn McClarnon and Kiowa Gordon, Dark Winds isn’t just a whodunit; it’s a haunting exploration of identity, legacy, and the shadows cast by colonialism on Navajo land.
The story unfolds in 1971, where Joe Leaphorn (McClarnon), a stoic Navajo Tribal Police lieutenant haunted by personal loss, teams up with the idealistic Jim Chee (Gordon), a young officer torn between tradition and modernity. Their investigation into a string of brutal murders—a priest’s execution-style killing and a daring bank robbery—unearths a web of secrets buried deep in the reservation’s red mesas. As they navigate jurisdictional clashes with the FBI and unravel ties to a cultish conspiracy, the duo confronts not only killers but the ghosts of their own pasts. Leaphorn’s grief over his son’s death fuels his relentless drive, while Chee’s flirtation with Navajo mysticism adds layers of spiritual intrigue.
McClarnon’s portrayal of Leaphorn is a masterclass in quiet fury—his weathered face conveying volumes of unspoken pain, earning him Emmy buzz after Season 1. Gordon matches him as Chee, infusing the role with youthful fire and cultural nuance, their chemistry crackling like a desert storm. The ensemble shines too: Jessica Matten as Bernadette, Leaphorn’s sharp-witted partner; Deanna Allison as Emma, his resilient wife; and guest stars like Noah Wyle as a duplicitous FBI agent. Creator Graham Roland and showrunner Vince Gerardis, drawing from Hillerman’s 18-book series, infuse the show with Navajo perspectives, consulting tribal elders for authenticity—making it a rare spotlight on Indigenous stories.
Filmed on location in New Mexico’s Shiprock and Monument Valley, Dark Winds uses the Southwest’s scorching sands and haunted canyons as a character itself. The cinematography, with its golden-hour glow and shadowy night shots, evokes a noir fever dream, while Hans Zimmer’s score pulses with Native flutes and ominous drones. Critics rave: The Hollywood Reporter calls it “a revelation for crime TV,” praising its “cultural soul and noir grit.” Season 2, which dropped September 9, 2025, ramps up the stakes with even darker twists, exploring Vietnam War scars and reservation injustices.
Fans on X are obsessed, with #DarkWinds trending as viewers dissect the symbolism of crow feathers and medicine pouches. “More gripping than True Detective, more soulful than Shetland,” one tweet declares. With a third season greenlit, Dark Winds proves crime dramas can honor marginalized voices without sacrificing edge. A shadowy storm is brewing on AMC+—dive in now, before the secrets spill.
