Dark Winds: AMC’s Crime Drama Puts the Navajo Nation in the Spotlight

“Backup. What backup? We have 50 tribal officers for over 27,000 square miles.” Dark Winds captures the isolation of the Navajo Nation in 1971 amidst the murder of two native residents. At the same time, a brazen bank robbery in Gallup, N.M. and the getaway helicopter has brought that investigation onto tribal lands and the FBI along with it. It appears these seemingly unrelated crimes are intertwined. AMC has aired the 3rd episode (Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. Pacific time, 4th episode available now on AMC+), so the mystery is still unfolding.

Dark Winds is based on the Leaphorn and Chee book series by Tony Hillerman. Zahn McClarnon (Longmire, Fargo #2) stars as Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn. It’s inspiring to see McClarnon as the lead after his long career of supporting roles. On patrol in tribal lands, his stoic gaze can’t completely mask the underlying pain, uncertainty, and determination. His Deputy, Kiowa Gordon (The Twilight Saga), is a college boy returning to the reservation after 10 years. He has more in mind than just helping solve the local murders. Sgt. Manuelito (Jessica Matten) is rightly skeptical of the returnee, but they seem to be hitting it off as time goes on. Noah Emmerich is playing an FBI agent again (The Americans). And Episode Three briefly introduced Rainn Wilson (The Office) as a sleazy, criminal used car salesman.

The first season, and already greenlighted second, are just six episodes each. So far, it’s concise storytelling encompassing multiple perspectives in a standard murder mystery. Native American traditions, augmented by spiritual mysticism, convey a genuine picture of an underrepresented people. While George R.R Martin and Robert Redford are among the producers, the cast and crew are Native American from the actors, writers, to the film studio. Adding to the authenticity, Dark Winds is filmed on location in New Mexico, Native American Pueblos, and Navajo Nation, which includes the iconic movie backdrop of Monument Valley.

We’ve seen these crime procedurals many times before, including the jurisdictional conflicts between the Feds and local authorities. Only this time, it’s the FBI and Navajo tribal police. The show’s appeal is this dynamic culture clash, but also the complicated relationships within the Navajo Nation. The three tribal cops were all born on the reservation and struggle to balance Native allegiances with their law enforcement role. Leaphorn’s personal dilemma is evident – the more he probes, the more he uncloaks the wounds of his past. Dark Winds is an absorbing cultural immersion into the land of the Navajo.

D² Rating ◼◼◼◩☐

Trivia: What famous movie director filmed in Monument Valley nine times starting with 1939’s Stagecoach starring John Wayne.

Answer: John Ford