Written by John Edward Betancourt Zahn McClarnon and Kiowa Gordon as Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn as Sergeant Jim Chee in Episode 301 of ‘Dark Winds’ – ‘Ye’iitsoh (Big Monster)’. (Photo Courtesy of Michael Moriatis/AMC.)
Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Three Premiere of ‘Dark Winds’. To revisit the Season Two Finale, click here.
Over the course of its first two seasons, the hit AMC series, Dark Winds, has done a phenomenal job of plunging us into a uniquely spiritual world. Wherein the legends and the majesty of the Navajo people have been put on display through our travels on the reservation, alongside Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, but they’ve never been the sole focus of the journey. For the story has never outright stated, nor deeply explored, that there are spirits in this world or mysterious elements that influence our lives. It’s simply been respectful of the many beliefs of the Navajo people and the spirituality that permeates their culture, all while offering up some magnificent stories that provide us with a majestic police serial, one that captivates through and through. But it would seem that the third season of this show is prepared to go to new places and offer up stories that blur that line and dive deeper into the spiritual majesty of the Navajo people. To perhaps reflect our own fears in the modern world, since we are all curious if dark things are conspiring to drive our world in such a hideous direction, and the season three premiere accomplished such a feat… after making us comfortable in ‘Ye’iitsoh (Big Monster)’. For this story caught up a little while after the events of ‘Hózhó náhásdlii (Beauty Is Restored)’. Wherein we came to learn that life had moved on. For Jim Chee settled into the role of sergeant nicely and Leaphorn was back to his usual routines as well, and down south, Manuelito was also working hard as a border agent. Granted, it wasn’t as warm a place as the old office, but she was doing fine, until the story started to lean into the mystical. For she came across a mother and a daughter that were trying to escape a creepy white van, and they appeared to be running toward Mexico. Which prompted Bernadette to really try and help them and bring them to safety, at the cost of her own weapon, which appeared to be picked up by the van’s driver, who sped away. But the fear those women expressed, really left Bernadette curious as to what the hell happened out there. To the point where she thought that maybe, these women were being trafficked. But a personal investigation, revealed fear of some THING, not someone, leaving Bernadette to wonder if something far more powerful happened to be at play here.  Jessica Matten as Officer Bernadette Manuelito in Episode 301 of ‘Dark Winds’ – ‘Ye’iitsoh (Big Monster)’. (Photo Courtesy of Michael Moriatis/AMC.)
Something that was reinforced by Joe’s storyline. For despite really settling in with Jim, to the point where Sergeant Chee was opening up about his life more and more, revealing some of the pain he’s endured in this life… something dark was surrounding Leaphorn. For Joe was struggling to sleep and was battling flashes of something sinister in the night. In fact, the strange air around him led to strange occurrences that made it seem as though, something from beyond had crossed over to punish him, and the arrival of FBI Agent Sylvia Washington, seemed to confirm that the spirit of BJ Vines was somehow terrorizing him. For she was here to look into Vines’ disappearance, and while Joe did not kill him, he did leave him to his own weak devices. All of which added a real spiritual element to this.
But before we dive into that further, we do need to talk about the other case in this story. Because this is at its core a police procedural and the other important case this season appears to relate to something hideous happening on the reservation. Simply because, two teenage boys went missing in this story, and it was up to Joe and Jim to try and find them with mixed results. In part because one put himself on the run, since he clearly knew something and wanted no trouble. But more so because the other… turned up dead in a scary manner. For he was dumped down a drainage line, and a spear tip was found in his mouth. Which means that this duo will have to find the murderer post haste, before he either strikes again or escapes. If anything, all of these elements brought forth a supremely unique premiere for this show for certain. Because truly, the cases, while important, poignant and powerful… since trafficking worries and hurt children are issues, we grapple with now… they were slightly overshadowed by those spooky moments. For there was real gravity to them, real power and a real sense that we are about to dive into something powerful regarding them. Such as say, an exploration of their meaning and power, to educate the audience further on Navajo legends, but to also perhaps ponder upon how we turn to those ideas in times of strife or perhaps… that these things exist. All of which was set up via an amazing story that engaged us in new ways, and it will be interesting to receive Watch ‘Dark Winds’
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