Dark Winds: The Captivating Native American Western On AMC+

If you're looking for a new Western TV show to watch, you can't go wrong with Dark Winds, a 2022 ongoing series with a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes​​​​. There have been some great Western TV shows in the past couple of years, with Yellowstone breaking the dam for a Renaissance of the genre on TV.

If you've gotten through all the classics, the Yellowstones, the Deadwoods, the neo-Westerns like Justified, you might be looking for something a little different. If you have access to AMC+ or Netflix, or have other methods of viewing, check out Dark Winds, which has another season on the way.

What Is Dark Winds About?

Dark Winds is based on the Leaphorn & Chee novels by Tony Hillerman, a series of 18 Western detective novels. The series stars Zahn McClarnon as Joe Leaphorn, a tribal police lieutenant in Kayenta, a town in Navajo County. Kiowa Gordon plays Jim Chee, an undercover FBI agent.

The beginning of the series sees Chee planted within the Navajo police force to secretly investigate an armored truck robbery in New Mexico. Leaphorn catches on quickly and convinces Chee to work as a doubleagent, using his FBI contacts and information to help solve a double homicide.

By the end of the season, Chee has become disillusioned with the FBI and decides he'd rather work full-time with Leaphorn as a member of his police department. The next two seasons see Leaphhorn, Chee, and Sergeant Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten) traveling around the 1970s Four Corners of America, solving crimes.

How Dark Winds Is Different From Other Westerns

Dark Winds is a much different kind of Western than most fans will be used to. Dark Winds is a captivating and multi-textured procedural. It feels like a throwback to the Westerns of the 20th century, while still utilizing modern storytelling tropes and styles. The biggest difference, however, is the cast.

Dark Winds features a primarily Native American cast. That is no small thing. Native Americans are crucial to the history of Westerns, and even in shows that make them more than props, there are usually only a handful of characters. Dark Winds tells a story you couldn't possibly tell without a cast of Native American actors.

Dark Winds Season 4 Is Coming

Dark Winds season 4 is on its way, so it is a great time to get caught up on the 20 episodes of the first three seasons. The eight-episode season will premiere on February 15, 2026, with the finale set for April 5, 2026. It's a high bar, but fans will be hoping for another 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.