Dark Winds – Review by Maureen McCabe –
Fans of Tony Hillerman’s beloved Joe Leaphorn mystery novels will be thrilled with AMC/AMC+ ‘s new series Dark Winds. Based on Hillerman’s works, especially his third novel Listening Woman, the series was created by Graham Roland and expertly combines aspects of the detective story, psychological thriller, western and noir genres to create a fascinating show that is unlike anything else on TV right now.
Set in a remote outpost of the Navajo Nation near Monument Valley in 1971, the series follows the adventures of Joe Leaphorn, a Navajo Tribal Policeman, and his new deputy, Jim Chee, a young man who left the reservation years ago and has complicated reasons for being back. Leaphorn is a serious, dedicated man, whose job sometimes inspires scorn among some of the residents of the reservation at the same time as his personal rectitude earns respect. A pair of gruesome murders hits too close to home for Leaphorn, and as the two men and their co-worker Sgt. Bernadette Manuelito probe the riddle of the homicides and a series of seemingly unconnected crimes, they encounter witches, dark forces, eco- terrorists and FBI malfeasance. They also come face to face with their deepest fears, and the most grievous wounds of their pasts. Their bravery in the face of such evil, and their determination to confront, and if not heal, at least manage, their pain, makes for riveting, moving drama.
There have been prior adaptions of Hillerman’s work before: a film with Fred Ward and Lou Diamond Phillips called “The Dark Wind,” was released in 1991 and PBS did three fine adaptions starring Wes Studi and Adam Beach in 2002 and 2003. But Hillerman’s novels, which are as much about exploring Navajo culture and spirituality as they are about solving crimes, are perfectly tailored for a longer format. Dark Winds boasts famous names like Robert Redford, and George R.R. Martin as executive producers, but the majority of artists associated with the production, including the writing staff, are Native American, which gives the show a nuanced, insider authenticity. Chris Eyre, famed for the groundbreaking films Smoke Signals and Skins, directed the pilot and three other episodes. Dark Winds is a production of Camel Rock Studios, the first Native- American owned film studio, which was converted from a 1950’s casino on Tesuque Pueblo Land. The small tribe there hoped that turning their outdated building into a movie studio instead of a water park or some other attraction would allow them to play a role in creating a less stereotyped, more genuine, portrayal of Native Americans in film and television, which Dark Winds certainly provides. Grim truths of reservation life are carefully woven into the plot: assimilation schools, forced sterilization and the barely survivable poverty even characters with full-time jobs deal with are all highlighted. But just as importantly, Native American spiritual beliefs and rituals are filmed with a respect rarely, if ever, before seen in westerns. Sometimes the plot zigs away from following clues to showcase a Navajo ritual, as when Joe and his wife Emma’s niece has her Kinaalda, an empowering coming -of -age ceremony for young women. It is not essential to the plot, and the niece’s character is barely shown before or after, but it affords the chance for some lovely moments between Joe and Emma, and beautifully illustrates the sense of community and deep interconnectedness of the Navajo people.
Zahn McClarnon is incredible as Leaphorn, a grieving man nevertheless resolved to do his job and what he feels is the right thing despite overwhelming obstacles. He gives a muscular, yet subtle, performance, the occasional wry grimace punctuating his otherwise stoic expression managing to convey multiple deeply held emotions. Deanna Allison is perfectly cast as his beloved Emma, a beautiful, sweet, intelligent woman who can more than hold her own with Joe. They have a wonderful chemistry as a long-married couple who still manages to love each other despite the pain the years together have brought them. Jessica Matten does a fantastic job as the feisty Sgt. Manuelito, a tough, independent woman who lives alone with her horses and proudly declares she invites no one to her home. And yet, her tenderly developing romance with Jim Chee never feels forced or unbelievable. Kiowa Gordon lends Chee a thoughtful energy, which plays off very well against McClarnon’s mature doggedness. Besides the excellent acting, one of the many pleasures of Dark Winds is the breathtaking scenery. The series was filmed entirely in New Mexico, close to Santa Fe and on and near tribal lands. The panoramic vistas of Monument Valley are nothing short of stunning, and they are featured, with a wonderful, cinematic sweep, in almost every shot.
At times the pacing gets a bit bogged down (some of the flashbacks prior to the armored truck heist that opens the series aren’t particularly well-placed) and the editing can be a bit abrupt at times, but these are tiny quibbles set against the many delights of this series. In excellent news for fans, Dark Winds has already been renewed for a second season. Tony Hillerman wrote eighteen Leaphorn/Chee novels and after his death his daughter Anne has written seven more, so there’s plenty of material for future seasons. Here’s hoping we’ll get to see many more of Joe and Jim’s adventures unfold.
-Maureen McCabe
