‘Dark Winds’ Recap: ‘The March’

8/21/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Zahn McClarnon as Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn in Episode 204 of ‘Dark Winds’ – ‘The March’. (Photo Courtesy of Michael Moriatis/AMC.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 204 of ‘Dark Winds’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

It is definitely safe to say that every single parent out there, makes a powerful vow when their little one or little ones are born. In that, they do will what they must to protect them, and if by chance they fail in that endeavor, they will do what they must to make sure that justice is served upon the person that does them wrong. Which is a vow that we all back and applaud, for children are indeed the future and should be protected at all costs, and that is why we turn the other cheek, when we hear about a parent that has crossed lines to bring forth justice when that worst-case scenario takes place. But what’s fascinating about this vow, is that so many firmly believe that justice entails an eye for an eye, or the ultimate price, and that is simply not the case.

For sometimes, justice is served by ensuring that the person that brought great harm to a little one, spends the rest of their lives behind bars and away from the world, where they receive no agency or the freedoms they once enjoyed. For that… can bring forth a lifetime of suffering in exchange for what was lost, and that is an important lesson/reminder that was brought to bear in the next episode of Dark Winds on AMC. That is, after ‘The March’ informed us of what followed that shootout at the Blond Man’s creepy hideout. As it turned out, both Joe and Bern were fine, if not shaken, and that gunfight pushed them to lay in pursuit and hunt the Blond Man and that in turn… led to quite the harrowing decision for Joe. In that, this creepy dude was so desperate to escape justice, that he dove into a canyon, and rather than let him escape or delay the search… Joe went after him and into an uncertain future.

Which allowed for the story to offer up some other plot advancement along the way. The kind that saw Emma grapple with that reporter once again, since she tried to get to Sally, while trying to handle Sally’s post-partum depression. Since she truly found herself struggling in this tale and with this being a show set in the 1970s… Emma may not know what to do here. Plus, this story also caught up with Jim Chee and his strange arrangement with the Vines family, since big B.J. Vines opted to push Jim to take a huge payday to follow his wife and see if by chance cheating was on the docket for her. A deal that Jim deeply considered in this tale, but possibly for other reasons. Since Rosemary may have some information regarding the Charley case, and that would indeed provide closure for Jim.

A Martinez and Jessica Matten as Sheriff Gordo Sena and Sergeant Bernadette Manuelito in Episode 204 of ‘Dark Winds’ – ‘The March’. (Photo Courtesy of Michael Moriatis/AMC.)

But truly, where this episode shined, was via Joe’s plight. Because it turned out that he hurt himself badly in the pursuit of Blondie, to the point where he likely needed to stay put and wait for help. Which was being assembled by Bernadette and Gordo at the ridge of the canyon. But Joe wanted justice, and wanted his man, so he set a break in his wrist and controlled the bleeding from his head and set out to find the monster that hurt his boy, and well… when he found him… it seemed as though this story was going to go to where our minds go regarding justice. Since Joe got the drop on Blondie and cuffed him and tied a rope around his neck. To control him and to get him to march his way back to civilization, and well… this brought about one tense and ugly sequence for certain.

Wherein the Blond Man tried to compare himself to Joe, because of the brutality put on display by the Lieutenant and where Joe, had to work out what kind of justice he wanted. Because it would have been quite easy to kill the Blond Man here in the desolation of the canyon and have his revenge and move on with his life, and in fact… he came quite close to doing so. But something within Joe made him realize, that a man this disgusting would welcome death. As though it was some kind of release, and of course such an act would bring Joe to his level and help the monster feel good about his end. So, the only way to truly punish him, was to put him behind bars. Wherein he would suffer in silence and never find the release or agency or attention he so craved. Which was no easy epiphany to reach since Blondie did everything within his power to either kill Joe or push Joe to bring an attack to bear. But in the end… Joe wanted that perfect justice for his boy and resisted giving into the darkness.

Which allowed for Bernadette to rescue Joe and his prisoner, and it also allowed for Joe to put the Blond Man behind bars… and now, the real work can begin. Since Joe needs something solid to put this man in prison until the day he dies. But while we wait to see how Joe hopefully makes that happen through evidence and investigation, we can celebrate one incredible tale. One that did remind us that there are better paths to vengeance than wanton violence and the ultimate line, and it did so in the most compelling manner possible. By putting Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn to the test like never before. Because he suffered here, and we truly came to learn just how tough he truly is and well… it was just wonderful to see him finally square off against the man that caused him so much pain in such a noble manner. Since it finally allowed for Joe to confront his pain and his fury… and transform them into something positive and worthwhile. Until next time.

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