‘Dark Winds’ Recap: ‘Wonders of the Unknown’

8/7/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Zahn McClarnon as Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn in Episode 202 of ‘Dark Winds’ – ‘Wonders of the Unknown’. (Photo Courtesy of Michael Moriatis/AMC.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 202 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.

There was a time, where the cliffhanger was reserved for penultimate episodes or season finales when it comes to television. Simply because that really seemed to be the perfect time to startle the audience and leave them hanging with an ending that took their breath away and/or left them worried about the fate of a particular character. But as peak television continues along, writers and other creatives are starting to understand that with a little care, cliffhangers can find their way into regular season storytelling and be impactful and move us in an epic manner and for proof… then look no further than what the AMC series, Dark Winds, is doing in its second season. After all, the season two premiere brought forth a cliffhanger to kick off the new season.

One that saw Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee stranded in the desert after that creepy dude blew up Leaphorn’s cruiser, and to complicate matters further… Jim was badly injured. Leaving all of us to wonder how they were going to get out of this mess and whether or not Jim would survive his injuries, and that was quite the impactful cliffhanger. One that thankfully, the next episode resolved quickly. For ‘Wonders of the Unknown’ immediately informed us that Joe basically willed his and Jim’s way to safety, by dragging Jim through the desert, and he did not slow down except when needed and that led… to a roadside rescue that brought them to the hospital. Where Jim could finally get the medical attention he needed, and this also allowed for Joe to enjoy a moment of respite.

Which he desperately needed since he had to process the fact that the past was being dredged up and that there might be more to his son’s death than he ever knew. And that was so overwhelming and so powerful, that it bled over into his investigation briefly. To the point where Joe made sure to push those negative emotions down, to properly understand the nature of the People of Darkness and their involvement in this mess. However, while Joe did indeed cool down as needed, that didn’t help the investigation. For he received conflicting information on the POD and their motivations. To the point where it seemed as though, there was nothing to go upon and that brought forth, a touch of downtime in this story. Wherein we were able to see the characters grow and live their lives during this unsettling time.

Zahn McClarnon, Jessica Matten, and Jet James Grant as Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, Sergeant Bernadette Manuelito, and Benny Charley in in Episode 202 of ‘Dark Winds’ – ‘Wonders of the Unknown’. (Photo Courtesy of Michael Moriatis/AMC.)

That brought forth, a surprise from Bernadette, since she revealed to Joe that she was ready to move forward in her law enforcement career. Which was why she applied for a position with the Border Patrol, which was hiring Indigenous Americans soon, and we also saw Emma deal with the hardships and impact of bad laws on the reservation, and this downtime and ironically the case… allowed for us to really dive into Joe’s life and past. And learn about the kind of father he was and learn about the tense dynamic he shares with his own dad. Since his father had information about the POD and whom Joe should speak to regarding them, and that required an uncomfortable visit, and it was fascinating to see the tense dynamic between these two and come to understand how that shaped Joe into the man he is today. All of which, just enriched this universe further.

But eventually… the case progressed in a shocking manner. For while Jim was healing and while life was being lived… that creepy dude was up to no good. For he assembled a new explosive designed to kill Thomas Charley’s son. And that, and the cliffhanger at the end of this story here… made it clear that this case is going to be… quite racially motivated in nature. Because clearly, this mystery man is targeting Indigenous Americans on the reservation, for reasons we do not quite know, and what’s scary… is that this may not be his first time in doing so. Since Benny Charley revealed, that this man had been around about the time that Joe’s son died, making him the prime suspect in Joe’s mind for what happened regarding that explosion, and that reveal set the stage for grave concerns going forward.

Since it meant, someone sanctioned such actions and had no qualms targeting Indigenous Americans, and clearly… all parties involved seem ready to move forward in causing more harm to a people that have seen plenty. And next up in harm’s way appears to be Jim Chee, since creepy and pasty guy made his way to the hospital in disguise with malice in his heart, giving us another powerful cliffhanger. Which of course, is one of many good reasons to celebrate another brilliant chapter in this saga. Because this episode really did showcase the wonder of the cliffhanger and how it can work in everyday storytelling, twice over even. Plus, it also did a fine job of expanding this universe and grew the characters and set the stage for the investigation to come in a powerful and engaging manner and well, all we can sadly do now… is wait for more of this magnificent series, and all the incredible storytelling it sends our way. Until next time.

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