Rotten Tomatoes
Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Season 1 – Dark Winds

Play trailer 1:58 Poster for Season 1 – Dark Winds Jun 2022 Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Western Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 38 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Set in 1971 on a remote outpost of the Navajo Nation near Monument Valley, Dark Winds follows Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn of the Tribal Police as he is besieged by a series of seemingly unrelated crimes. The closer he digs to the truth, the more he exposes the wounds of his past. He is joined on this journey by his new deputy, Jim Chee. Chee, too, has old scores to settle from his youth on the reservation. Together, the two men battle the forces of evil, each other and their own personal demons on the path to salvation.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

Dark Winds — Season 1

Dark Winds — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Zahn McClarnon is riveting as a coiled cop in Dark Winds, a solid procedural that derives much of its texture from an underrepresented cultural milieu.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Craig Mathieson The Age (Australia) Sep 18
4/5
McClarnon was a wry supporting player on Disney+’s Reservation Dogs, but his lead performance here is quietly magnetic. Fans of Deadwood and Mare of Easttown, take note. Go to Full Review Graeme Virtue Guardian 10/18/2023
4/5
It is a knotty, atmospheric mystery that still feels fleet enough to be tackled in one or two binges. Go to Full Review Graeme Blundell The Australian 07/21/2023
Certainly, Dark Winds, created by Graham Roland, rewards the effort. Go to Full Review Christian Jones Starburst 12/26/2024
4/5
Although the series is set in the early 1970s, the show effectively incorporates elements of ancient traditions that resonate with the surrounding landscape’s timeless quality. Go to Full Review John Townsend Starburst 02/01/2024
4/5
Dark Winds is atmospheric stuff. Go to Full Review Charlotte Harrison Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies 11/22/2023
We’re finally – yet still slowly – seeing more Native American voices on the big & small screen. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
steph y @shutupnerd Feb 1 Feels amateurish. Weird pacing, patronizing representation of the Navajo people. Relies too heavily on "White man bad" with no nuance or thoughtfulness. See more A O. @aeova Jan 28 Engaging and well scripted. See more Nalaya C @Nalaya Jan 14 Incredible show. I love the nuance between the Native American tradition vs modern life and how elegantly it's woven together into a story that reveals many subtle messages. Highly recommend it See more Chris B Jan 9 I enjoyed S1. Felt a little like a really well done "B" production. Solid story and great characters/casting. See more Fifty T Nov 25 A Mystery Worth Following: Season 1 of Dark Winds is everything you want from a character-driven mystery... tight, atmospheric, and genuinely gripping. From the first episode, the series builds a world that feels lived-in and textured, with Zahn McClarnon delivering an incredible performance as Leaphorn, combining quiet intensity with emotional depth. The mystery unfolds at just the right pace: each episode adds substance, not filler, and the story threads come together in a way that feels both natural and satisfying. Kiowa Gordon and Jessica Matten round out a trio that’s easy to root for, and the show’s respect for Navajo culture elevates the setting instead of slowing the momentum. Season 1 remains sharply focused, packing tension, personal stakes, and meaning into every hour. A truly strong debut season. 8.5/10. See more Craig B @Boundsy Nov 23 A very good series. Great characters, acting and an intriguing storyline. See more Read all reviews
Dark Winds — Season 1

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All

Zahn McClarnon

Joe Leaphorn

Kiowa Gordon

Jim Chee

Jessica Matten

Bernadette Manuelito

Deanna Allison

Emma Leaphorn

Rainn Wilson

Devoted Dan

Elva Guerra

Sally Growing Thunder

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jun 12, 2022 Monster Slayer Navajo Tribal Policeman Joe Leaphorn must solve a series of crimes; he partners with new deputy, Jim Chee, who is back on the reservation for the first time since he was a child; together they face down evil forces, both earthly and supernatural. Details Episode 2 Aired Jun 19, 2022 The Male Rain Approaches Leaphorn and Chee interview the surviving witness to the Big Rock Motel murders; Chee meets with the coroner; the cause of death remains a mystery; Sgt. Manuelito makes a chilling discovery of her own. Details Episode 3 Aired Jun 26, 2022 K'e Leaphorn's niece celebrates her Kinaaldá as Leaphorn retrieves the bodies of the murder victims; Manuelito and Chee investigate the whereabouts of the missing Mormon family. Details Episode 4 Aired Jul 3, 2022 Hooghandi Leaphorn suspects all of the crimes on the reservation are related; there is a big break in the case; Leaphorn invites Chee over for dinner; Manuelito makes a discovery of her own. Details Episode 5 Aired Jul 10, 2022 Ha'íínlni With a major suspect in custody, Leaphorn discovers that there is more to this crime than he would have ever imagined; Manuelito faces her worst fears; Chee must make a choice between his career and his people. Details Episode 6 Aired Jul 17, 2022 HózhóoNaasháa Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito descend on the hiding place of the Buffalo Society, only to be confronted with hard decisions that could change the outcome of the rest of their lives. Details

More Like This

View All
Black Bird 98% 95% Black Bird Watchlist TRAILER for Black Bird Mr. Robot 94% 93% Mr. Robot Watchlist TRAILER for Mr. Robot Briarpatch 79% 84% Briarpatch Watchlist TRAILER for Briarpatch Dexter: New Blood 77% 74% Dexter: New Blood Watchlist TRAILER for Dexter: New Blood Dexter: Original Sin 70% 78% Dexter: Original Sin Watchlist TRAILER for Dexter: Original Sin Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related TV News

View All
12 TV and Streaming Shows About the Native American Experience and that Celebrate Indigenous Culture Dark Winds Cast and Producers on Bucking Tropes With Native Stories The Most Anticipated TV and Streaming Shows of 2022: New and Returning Shows We Can’t Wait to See
View All

Dark Winds — Season 1

Dark Winds: Season 1 Teaser - Tribal Police Dark Winds: Season 1 Teaser - Tribal Police 0:29 Dark Winds: Season 1 Trailer Dark Winds: Season 1 Trailer 1:58 Dark Winds: Season 1 Episode 1 Sneak Peek - Chee's First Day Dark Winds: Season 1 Episode 1 Sneak Peek - Chee's First Day 1:24 View more videos
View All

Dark Winds — Season 1

View more photos

Season Info

Director
Chris Eyre, Sanford Bookstaver
Executive Producer
Chris Eyre, George R.R. Martin, Graham Roland, Robert Redford, Tina Elmo, Vince Calandra, Vince Gerardis, Zahn McClarnon
Screenwriter
Graham Roland, Maya Rose Dittloff, Billy Luther, Erica Tremblay, Razelle Benally
Network
AMC
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Western
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jun 12, 2022
More Top TV Picks Netflix