Based on prolific author Tony Hillerman's series of "Leaphorn & Chee" novels, AMC's Dark Winds immediately separated itself from the sea of Westerns that fans have been treated to in the wake of Yellowstone's enormous success.
On top of being adapted from the popular books, the show is executive produced by Hollywood heavyweights Robert Redford and George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones) and features a stellar cast of main characters and supporting players. Toss in the fact that most of the creative forces — both behind and in front of the camera — are Native artists, and it's easy to see why the 1970s-set crime thriller has earned such a passionate following.
Of course, if you've yet to take in the neo-Western's original six episodes, you may be wondering what you need to know about its stories and characters ahead of the new season — premiering July 30. And while we highly recommend bingeing Season 1 before the next batch of episodes lands, we're also happy to catch you up with a full recap. So whether you're a potential new fan craving a crash course or an existing Leaphorn and Chee follower in need of a quick refresher, read on for the good, the bad and the ugly of Dark Winds' debut season.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for Dark Winds Season 1.
Setting the Stage
Dark Winds' first episode sets up a seemingly simple crime story involving an elaborate bank robbery in 1971 Gallup, New Mexico. As the episode and season move forward, however, twists and turns add considerable complexity — and plenty of questions — to this core plot.
Those additional wrinkles and surprises include a mysterious double murder in a hotel room, a corrupt FBI agent, a Navajo militant group dubbed the "Buffalo Society," a deadly mining accident, a black-magic-wielding witch, a kidnapped Mormon family, a money-laundering used car salesman and much, much more. Thankfully, you needn't be up to speed on all the nitty-gritty details of these connected narrative elements to understand the larger story and, more importantly, where they take things in Season 2.
Leaphorn and Chee Join Forces
Michael Moriatis/Stalwart Productions/AMC
While the central, complex crime story is at the season's core, it also serves as a solid foundation to introduce the series' characters. The bank heist — and its many related elements — is pretty much wrapped up by the time the credits roll on the finale. But the characters, their relationships, and how the various criminal activities have impacted their lives are all aspects that will carry into Season 2.
Of course, key characters Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) and Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) are at the center of the action. They investigate both the bank heist and double murder, although the former is technically the FBI's jurisdiction. Which introduces us to that aforementioned corrupt agent, Leland Whitover. Played by prolific character actor Noah Emmerich, Whitover is Chee's boss at the FBI. He plants his protégé among the Navajo Tribal Police, where Chee presents himself as Leaphorn's new deputy. Leaphorn gets wise to the ruse pretty quickly, though, and he and Chee agree to help/use each other with their respective cases, the hotel murders and bank robbery.
But Leaphorn faces some personal challenges as well. His son, Joe Jr., was a victim of that mining accident we mentioned earlier, and Leaphorn and his wife Emma (Deanna Allison) are still deeply mourning the loss of their boy. And while the mining explosion happened a few years prior, the emotional wound is freshly opened by the hotel murders; one of the victims of that double homicide is none other than Joe Jr.'s girlfriend, Anna Atcitty. Anna is also the daughter of Guy (Get Shorty's Ryan Begay), a member of Joe's community who often butts heads with the tribal police lieutenant. The source of their conflict is some hidden knowledge Guy may possess about the mining accident, but the pair ultimately sort out their differences.
Additionally, Joe's wife has taken in Sally Growing Thunder (Reservation Dogs' Elva Guerra), a young pregnant girl who's also connected to the larger, criminal plot. Sally is the daughter of Ada (1923's Amelia Rico), a Navajo witch who has shacked up with one of the men behind the bank robbery, James Tso. By the season's end, it's revealed that Tso abused Sally and is actually the father of her coming child. Feeling she might be better served at a shelter, Leaphorn is reluctant to take Sally in. By the season's close, however, it seems the girl's still being cared for by Joe and Emma.
Bernadette Holds Her Own
Michael Moriatis/AMC
Speaking of the curse-casting Ada, the witch goes after Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten), Leaphorn's second in command at the tribal police. Thanks to her strong beliefs in her people's culture, she takes Ada's seemingly supernatural threats seriously, ultimately evading her and having her curse lifted by season's end.
But like Leaphorn, Bernadette also faces some personal issues, primarily with Chee. The pair begin a budding romance early in the season, but when she learns of his betrayal — posing as an FBI agent — she quickly cuts personal ties with him. She's also not thrilled with Leaphorn for keeping this information from her after he initially learns of it himself. Bernadette isn't the only one being betrayed, however, as Chee's mentor, Whitover, winds up being one of the masterminds involved in both the bank robbery and covering up the hotel murders.
Do the Bad Guys Get Away?
In terms of the "bad guys," most wind up dead — including Tso, Whitover, and presumably, Ada the witch, who's trapped in a fire — but a couple of baddies evade capture before the season concludes. Tso's partner in crime, Frank Nakai (The Dirty Black Bag's Eugene Brave Rock), is left for dead but mysteriously disappears, taking much of the bank heist money with him. Another criminal collaborator, Pete Samuels (Duke and Dammit's Rob Tepper), also escapes the season with his life. That said, he's more of a bit player, ousted by his crew, so his return in Season 2 seems unlikely.
The bigger, open-ended mystery on the bad guy front is B.J. Vines, a wealthy man who purchased the oil rig that Joe Jr. worked at when he was killed. We know the bank robbers, collectively known as the Navajo militant group "Buffalo Society," were using their stolen loot to buy up all the Navajo land around the mining facility — which also contains valuable uranium. However, the season doesn't close the book on B.J. Vines' true intentions and whether he was involved in the accident that robbed Leaphorn of his son.
Meanwhile, comic relief and sleazy used car salesmen Devoted Dan (The Office alum Rainn Wilson) lives as well. A low-level criminal blackmailed by the Buffalo Society to launder its money, Dan is a colorful character we could certainly see, once again, in way over his head next season.
Where Do We Leave Leaphorn, Chee and Bernadette?
Michael Moriatis/Stalwart Productions/AMC
The season concludes with Chee leaving the FBI and returning to his childhood home on the reservation. He and Joe have mostly ironed out their differences and, since Chee's sticking around, Leaphorn offers him a job with the tribal police. Chee seems interested but is leaving his options open for now.
As far as Bernadette's situation at season's end, she's not only free of the witch who'd been hunting her, but she and Leaphorn are cool. And she somewhat reconciles with Chee, at least professionally. The pair team up to take on the robbers and Whitover, cover up the crime scene to protect Guy — Anna's father, who ultimately kills Whitover — and generally save the day. While the season ends without their potential romance rekindling, Bernadette seems at least open to working with Chee.
While some mystery still lingers around the accidental death of Joe and Emma's son, the couple does find some closure as the season concludes. Anna had Joe Jr.s jacket with her when she was killed, allowing Leaphorn to ultimately take ownership of his deceased son's coat. The couple holds a small ceremony, along with Anna's parents, and he and Emma burn the jacket, paying respects to their son while attempting to move on from their grief.
Dark Winds Season 2 premieres on AMC on Sunday, July 30.
