Picking up after the first season's tense climax, Season 2 takes a more personal and darker turn. Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) and Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) pursue interconnected investigations: Leaphorn into a suspicious explosion tied to his son’s death, and Chee into a mysterious cult manipulating Navajo spirituality—both converging on a deadly Armenian hitman named Colton Wolf and wealthy landowner B.J. Vines. Jessica Matten’s Bernadette Manuelito also receives a deep storyline, while the series continues to faithfully adapt Tony Hillerman’s novels, especially People of Darkness
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Zahn McClarnon commands every frame. His portrayal of Leaphorn—a man haunted by grief, duty, and justice—is mesmerizing. A harrowing desert chase leaves him bloodied, embodying a man nearing his breaking point .
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Cultural authenticity shines. With a predominantly Indigenous cast and crew, the show treats Navajo traditions as lived experience, not background texture .
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High-stakes, neo-Western tone. A shocking bank-style bombing kicks off the season, establishing a sustained tension and noir energy across New Mexico’s landscape
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Character arcs evolve richly. Chee becomes a more spiritual man, Manuelito challenges her career path, and Leaphorn grapples with familial and moral legacies
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Pacing and structural imbalance. The season occasionally introduces secondary arcs—like reporting on forced sterilization or teen motherhood—that feel underdeveloped and slow the main narrative pace
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Clunky dialogue and plotting. Though the atmosphere and acting remain strong, occasional tough dialogue lines and awkward plot decisions weaken immersion
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Villain lacks depth. Colton Wolf, while dangerous, is a standard “blond assassin” trope and doesn't offer thematic richness beyond being a threat
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Critical acclaim: Earned 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and an 84 Metacritic score—praised for deepening its narrative and retaining its atmospheric intensity .
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Collider calls it a neo-Western “in conversation with No Country for Old Men”, noting its haunting monologues and moral voids
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RogerEbert.com highlights its “neon-soaked” hospital chase and its expansion of colonialism and sovereignty themes .
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NPR/Guardian applaud its treatment of Navajo perspectives and quiet internal conflict while acknowledging some weak mystery plotting
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Reddit responses vary: some hail Zahn’s performance and the cultural detail; others criticize pacing and uneven execution
Dark Winds: Season 2 is a powerful, culturally immersive crime thriller anchored by Zahn McClarnon’s haunting lead. Its neo-Western aesthetics, moral depth, and Navajo-centric storytelling make it standout TV. Some structural unevenness and underused subplots prevent it from reaching perfection—but it remains among AMC+’s most compelling offerings.
Rating: 8 / 10
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Fans of character-driven noir with cultural resonance
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Viewers drawn to Native-authored storytelling and modern Westerns
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Anyone who appreciates deep emotional arcs and moral complexity
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Viewers seeking tightly plotted, action-heavy series
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Those averse to slow burns or unresolved side stories
