AMC's 4-Part Thriller With No Bad Episodes Is Finally Weekend Binge Material

4 days ago 7

Titus Welliver as Dominic McNair on 'Dark Winds' Season 4

Published Apr 17, 2026, 9:14 PM EDT

Erin Konrad's love for everything entertainment dates back to elementary school when she became obsessed with classic Hollywood musicals. When she's not catching up on all her favorite television shows, she's advising her friends and family on what they should binge watch next.

She has her Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Creating content for Collider gives her the opportunity to combine her writing skills with her passion for television and movies. She spends her free time trying to beat her personal record of reading 137 books in a year and cuddling with her dog, Gracie.

There's nothing better than finding a good show to binge over your weekend, but it can be a complete bummer if you end up watching something disappointing. Luckily, there's an AMC thriller, with four seasons, that is a total masterpiece. With all 28 episodes out now, you can easily get caught up on this incredible series before it comes back with a brand-new season next year.

What Is 'Dark Winds' About?

Dark Winds is based on a series of novels by Tony Hillerman called Leaphorn & Chee, and was brought to the screen by Graham Roland (with incredible executive producers like George R.R. Martin and the late Robert Redford). With the first season premiering in 2022, the Western series is centered around Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon), a Navajo Tribal Police officer who works on a reservation in the 1970s.

Joe is a taciturn, stoic man who is dedicated to keeping the people who inhabit the reservation safe. He is also committed to preserving the traditions of his tribe, which becomes increasingly difficult as time wears on. He ends up also becoming a mentor to two younger officers named Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) and Bernadette Maneulito (Jessica Matten). But Joe is carrying his own baggage after the loss of his teenage son; he's haunted by grief, and this makes it even more challenging to solve the mysteries that arise each season.

Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton in 'Marshals'

10 Western Shows To Watch if You Love 'Marshals'

The Taylor Sheridan universe continues to expand.

'Dark Winds' Has Released Four Seasons of Perfect Episodes

Dark Winds would be fun enough to watch if it were merely a psychological thriller, providing viewers with suspense and some cases to solve. But the series offers so much more by weaving in supernatural elements rooted in Navajo spiritual traditions. Joe isn't just trying to take down different villains every season; he's also forced to battle mystical forces (like a horrific monster in Season 3). By utilizing these intriguing and unique antagonists, Dark Winds rises above other standard dramas. Every single episode is gripping to watch while we see Joe grapple with his own demons — whether it's his grief over losing his son and his troubled marriage or the consequences of his own actions as a sometimes morally grey character.

Much of Dark Winds' success has to do with the stellar acting of its leading man, who ensures that Joe is the ideal protagonist in that you root for him even when he's making some questionable choices. McClarnon effortlessly blends a tough exterior with a good heart, and his often subtle performance is awe-inspiring (especially when he's doing something mundane like riding a horse or tracking a bad guy's footprints). However, the supporting cast of Dark Winds is every bit as impressive. A true standout is Deanna Allison, whose performance ensures that Joe's loyal, yet aggrieved wife, Emma, is a fully-fledged character with her own wants and needs. Dark Winds also showcases some fantastic guest stars, including Noah Emmerich, Jeri Ryan, Jenna Elfman, Titus Welliver, and Franka Potente (who plays Season 4's terrifying villain). Each actor helps weave a captivating narrative that instantly draws you into the time period and the setting, and it's truly a crime that no one has landed an Emmy nomination for their work in the show yet.

If you needed any other reasons to watch Dark Winds, perhaps a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score would entice you even more? This score is just additional evidence that there are no bad episodes to be found in the entire masterful series. The fourth season just wrapped up a few weeks ago, which means you can complete the entirety of the show released to date. Season 5 won't be released until sometime in 2027, which gives you plenty of time to catch up. Queue up a binge of Dark Winds this weekend, and there's no way you'll be disappointed.