Anyone heading into Dark Winds' second season finale hoping for an epic showdown between the blonde man (Nicholas Logan) and Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) will want to adjust their expectations. At long last, the seemingly unstoppable assassin is indeed eliminated, but he's taken out early, unceremoniously, and not by the Lieutenant who's been doggedly pursuing him for five episodes.
The season's final chapter, titled "Hozho nahasdI?? (Beauty is Restored)," kicks off with the escaped killer seeking refuge at B.J. Vines' (John Diehl) residence. The pair share a quick exchange, but one that proves what we've suspected all along: Vines hired the assassin to blow up Drumco Oil, killing six Navajo men - including Leaphorn's son - in the process. The blonde man tells B.J. that Leaphorn is on to them but has no proof. Any evidence connecting them to the explosion was in Vine's lock box, which the killer "took care of."
B.J. responds by giving his hired gun some supplies, 5k in cash, and keys to an old Jeep to aid his escape. But as the assassin walks towards the vehicle, Vines shoots him in the back. As the blonde man succumbs to the sizable hole blown through his chest, Vines fishes his victim's prized metronome needle from his pocket. With his last breath, the assassin gasps, "Linda," referring to the mom he regrettably murdered. And just like that, the season's seemingly un-killable killer is dealt with once and for all.
Connecting the final dots
Michael Moriatis/AMC
Following that shocking, yet revealing cold opening, we catch up with Joe, who's visiting Sena (A. Martinez) in the hospital. The Sheriff apparently survived blondie's attack but feels conflicted about playing possum as his prisoner escaped. Leaphorn also returns Sena's pen, which the killer used to pick the lock on his handcuffs.
Meanwhile, Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) is looking for the Navajo woman/Rosemary Vines' (Jeri Ryan) maid whom he lost the previous evening at the People of Darkness ceremony. When he arrives at the Vines' home, B.J. is just exiting his vehicle, rifle and shovel still in hand, following his, er, meeting. Chee confronts him about leading the PoD ceremony, to which Vines angrily replies, "My spiritual ventures are none of your business." Chee fires back, "I'd advise you not mess with what you don't understand." Still bloodied from murdering the blonde man, B.J. also tells Chee that Rosemary "has dug her own grave." He tosses the private eye a blood-stained stack of cash for his troubles and walks away.
Still seeking concrete proof to tie the killer to the Drumco explosion, Leaphorn heads to the scene of the original crime with his explosives-savvy father. He also fills his dad in on his theories involving Vines and Dillon Charley's shady friendship and deadly collaborations. He believes Dillon's brother Emerson - episode 1's car bomb victim - knew of his sibling's misdeeds and didn't want to take that info to his grave. With his cancer creeping up on him, he sent his son Tomas to steal Vines' lock box, which contained the only evidence tying Vines and Dillon to the Drumco explosion. Of course, the blonde man's path of death and destruction took out Emerson, Tomas, and the lock box's contents - save for the charred geology report recovered by Bernadette (Jessica Matten.)
The pair search the oil site, where Joe's father quickly recovers some wiring consistent with the killer's previous explosive devices. With this solid proof secured, they head back to the police station, where Leaphorn intends to get the ball rolling on bringing B.J. to justice. But his father warns of the differences between "Indian" and "white" justice and tells his son Vines - a wealthy white man - will never truly be held accountable for his crimes.
Meanwhile, Chee is back at his hotel room, searching through the contents of the bag left behind by Rosemary and her maid at the People of Darkness ceremony. It contains an envelope of cash, passport, Acapulco travel brochure, and a camera. He develops the pictures from the latter and brings his findings to Leaphorn and Bern. The photos confirm Rosemary and Tomas Charley were indeed having an affair. But there's more. The pics also contain evidence that the Drumco geology report - handled by Dillon and B.J. - was doctored to incorrectly state the site contained no uranium. Joe surmises Vines had the assassin blow up the actually-uranium-rich site to spook Drumco into selling it cheap. He immediately calls for B.J.'s arrest.
Soon after, several police cruisers - led by Leaphorn - arrive at the Vines mansion. When they storm in, their suspect is receiving a nude massage. Seeing old man Vines' bare backside was not on our bingo card this season, but it was satisfying watching him get arrested for "conspiracy to commit homicide" sans pants.
While Leaphorn and his men are apprehending Vines, Chee's still attempting to track down Rosemary. The two meet unexpectedly at the trading post, where Chee shows her the photos of her and Tomas. He also tells her he's sussed out that she wanted her husband's lockbox recovered not to help him but to incriminate him in the Drumco explosion. He accuses her of plotting to put her husband in prison to be free of him. "Who'd believe a frail thing like me could be capable of all that?" she says before using her considerable charm to try and convince Chee to join her in Acapulco.
Joe takes matters into his own hands
Michael Moriatis/AMC
With Rosemary driving off into the sunset, her husband in jail, and the blonde man dead, the episode takes a breather to tie up some supporting storylines. At the Leaphorn's home, Joe bonds with Sally's (Elva Guerra) baby, even eliciting an adorable laugh from the infant for the very first time. As is Navajo custom, the joyous moment - which marks the baby "becoming a person" - calls for a ceremony. Emma (Deanna Allison) has been wanting to bring balance back to her family for some time, so the timing is perfect for them to gather for this special occasion. Joe's brief moment of happiness is cut short, however, when he sees a news broadcast reporting Vines has been released on bail.
The finale also concludes Emma's conflicted relationship with the L.A. Times reporter. Having read a draft of the journalist's article on the illegal sterilizations happening on the reservation, she has a change of heart: "To treat a whole race of people like cattle and just cull the herd because you're afraid they'll be too many of us...what kind of person do you have to be to do that? What kind of country?" The reporter discloses running the story could put Emma at risk, but the latter doesn't care. "Publish it.," she says with conviction. "Staying quiet is more risky."
When we catch up with Leaphorn, he's simmering, sitting in the dark...in B.J. Vines' home office. Vines is surprised when he discovers the uninvited guest, but Joe hardly lets him get a word out. Holding the metronome needle - which he'd found on his suspect's desk - Joe doesn't just call him out for all his crimes but also his stupidity for keeping trophies, like the needle and Joe Jr.'s belt buckle. Vines continues to deny any involvement and threatens legal action, to which Joe menacingly responds in Navajo before clocking him across his smug face and hand-cuffing him.
He then puts Vines - who's in a bathrobe - in his vehicle and treats him to the terrifying tale of "The Long Walk," a tragic event that saw 200 of Joe's ancestors forced to cross the desert barefoot without food and water. After a lengthy drive to the middle of nowhere, Leaphorn forces his prisoner to the ground, puts a pistol to his head, and cocks it. Vines offers his executioner three million dollars to let him go. But Joe doesn't pull the trigger. Instead, he removes the cuffs and tells B.J. the last thing he wants him to see is the spirits of The Long Walk's victims. The Lieutenant then leaves a relieved Vines "free" in the dark, snow-covered desert.
When we next see Joe, he's home in his workshop, melting down his son's belt buckle. With just one hand - due to breaking the other while pursuing the killer - he carefully pours the hot liquid into a mold, ultimately crafting a beautiful feather from his son's keepsake. We then cut back to the desert, where Vines has also undergone a dramatic transformation - he's now a popsicle. Still in his silky bathrobe and barefoot, he's huddled on the ground, frozen solid. Appreciating he's finally achieved some semblance of closure, Joe gets in bed with his sleeping wife and holds her hand.
A heartfelt finale
Michael Moriatis/AMC
With the season's main antagonists receiving a well-deserved dose of frontier justice, the finale spends its remaining minutes in happier, if somewhat bittersweet, moments. The Leaphorns' family and friends joyously gather for Sally's baby's ceremony. Emma leads a prayer, signaling balance being achieved and beauty being restored. And, in a rare moment of levity, the baby farts on Joe. On a more serious note, Sena tells Joe of Vines' mysterious disappearance. The two share a knowing glance, and the Sheriff puts it to bed with a shrug: "Well, it's somebody else's problem now." Sena even suggests Joe run for his office after he soon retires, but Joe confesses he's no politician.
Bern also approaches Joe at the ceremony to inform him she's accepted the Border Protection job. Seeing a man like Vines get away with his crimes has helped make her decision - she wants to seek a position that'll allow her to effect more change in the broken legal system. Joe does not reveal Vines' real fate but instead hugs his "daughter" and wishes her well.
The next morning, Sally has her bags packed and is leaving the Leaphorn's a letter. Having found her strength and independence this season, she seems ready to start a new life with her baby. Bern is also moving on, packing up her car and getting ready to embark on her new career. Chee drives by to say farewell and offer a goodbye gift - the medicine protection pouch Bern gave him at the season's start. The two also, finally, share a passionate kiss. While they are equally enthusiastic over the lip-lock, it's too late - Bern's already committed to starting a new life. But Chee's beginning anew as well, trading his leisure suits for a Tribal Police officer uniform and joining Joe on the job.
As the two drive off in separate directions, an emotional smile stretches across Bern's face. She turns up the radio, and the camera pans to reveal the silver feather Joe made from his son's belt buckle dangling from her rear-view mirror. And just like Bern, we're now barely holding back tears.
The emotional gut punch doesn't let up in the season's final scene either, as we find Joe riding the motorcycle he's been tinkering away at all season. Emma's on the back, hugging her husband tightly, and the couple seem to be at peace for the first time since the series began. As they ride through the picturesque, snow-dotted desert, Emma leans forward to kiss Joe while Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Have You Ever Seen The Rain?" plays us into the credits.
