The season one finale of Dark Winds culminates in a high-stakes struggle for the upper hand between veteran tribal police lieutenant Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon), Buffalo Society extremist James Tso (Jeremiah Bitsui), and Leland Whitover (Noah Emmerich), a burned-out FBI agent who has served as Jim Chee’s (Kiowa Gordon) handler throughout the season.
While Chee eventually gives much-needed help, Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten), Leaphorn’s keen tribal police sergeant, remains Joe’s right-hand person. Before the end, Dark Winds season 1’s brief six-episode run is jam-packed with twists and turns.
The psychological thriller-meets-Western noir drama is a perfect True Detective substitute, focussing on two seemingly connected killings in Navajo County. Hosteen Tso, an elderly man, was discovered dead in a motel room with the teenager Anna Atcitty, the granddaughter of the local Medicine Woman who had been treating Tso since he watched a post-robbery chopper hover over the reserve.
Leaphorn, whose late son Joe Jr. was associated with Anna, heads the investigation, though Chee later joins him. Chee, an undercover FBI agent, believes the Buffalo Society, a Navajo extreme group, was behind the murders.
Leaphorn Faces Off With James Tso & Frank
After discovering that Whitover knew about James Tso, a Buffalo Society radical acting as a priest, Leaphorn pursued Tso on foot. Meanwhile, Frank (Eugene Brave Rock), who had been detained at the tribal police station, escapes, causing Manuelito and Whitover to join forces to find him. In the sixth and final episode of Dark Winds’ first season, Leaphorn visits Frank and Tso’s cave retreat, where the former is tending to a fire. While Leaphorn listens, Tso and Frank contemplate using the Mormon family they had kidnapped as cover to flee.
However, after releasing their hostages onto the road, the duo discovers Leaphorn in their cave shelter. A brief gunfight occurs, but Leaphorn climbs further into the cave’s tiny network of tunnels. Recognising that shooting at Leaphorn is pointless, Tso and Frank utilise their fire to try to smoke Joe out of concealment.
As Tso fanned the flames, it appeared that Leaphorn may have died from smoke inhalation. With no other options, Leaphorn jumps from his hiding location atop the fire and slips outside to sabotage the duo’s getaway car using his knife.
Whitover Was In On Tso’s Robbery The Whole Time
After slashing one of Tso and Frank’s tyres, Leaphorn sneaks back into the subterranean refuge. Inside, the Buffalo Society members are hastily packing the money from their robbery, which occurred a few weeks before the first episode of Dark Winds, into bags. Leaphorn apprehends Tso and Frank, holds them at gunpoint, and confesses to Frank that Tso murdered his grandfather for their cause. Suddenly, Leaphorn is ambushed by Whitover, who was present during Tso’s robbery. When Frank lunges for his pistol, Whitover shoots and (apparently) kills him before fleeing with half of the robbery proceeds.
Guy Kills Whitover In Dark Winds Season 1’s Finale
When the Mormon father crashes, Anna’s father, Guy Adcitty (Ryan Begay), spots him. Guy and Leaphorn are at odds during the first season of Dark Winds due to their late children. In episode 5, the alienated members of the Dark Winds cast of characters can reconcile and mourn together. Guy continues his habit of assisting Leaphorn and his pals in the finale, particularly with Whitover.
Before going into the cave hideout to get his share of the robbery money, Whitover shoots Chee in the arm. Chee, armed with Manuelito’s firearm, is determined to exact retribution.
When Whitover says some terrible things about Anna, Guy pulls the trigger, killing Whitover.
Chee locates Whitover and holds his former FBI handler at gunpoint. Whitover tries to talk his way past Chee, but the FBI agents are unaware that they are being watched by Guy Adcitty. Guy, with his rifle trained on Whitover, listens in on their talk.
When Whitover says some terrible things about Anna, Guy pulls the trigger, murdering him. In the aftermath, he informs Chee that no one may speak ill of his late daughter. Chee asks for Guy’s weapon, orders him to leave the crime scene, and enlists Manuelito’s assistance in moving Whitover’s body into the cave.
Manuelito & Chee Set Off The Dynamite In Tso’s Hideout
Chee and Manuelito collaborate to plant Whitover’s body, Guy’s gun, and other damning evidence in Frank and Tso’s subterranean hideout. While inside, the two observe the dynamite that has been half-rigged throughout the cave, which inspires an idea. Instead of planting Whitover at the crime scene, Chee and Manuelito decide to blow up the cave and destroy the evidence, which will help them protect Guy and themselves. Later, it is discovered that Frank’s body — or whatever remains of it — was not retrieved from the damaged hideout, implying that he may have survived.
Leaphorn & Tso Discuss The Future Of Navajo County
Meanwhile, Leaphorn tracks James Tso down to his late grandfather’s house, where part of Dark Winds takes place. When James finds Leaphorn first, he forces the tribal official into the cabin. Tso, with his gun aimed at Leaphorn, confesses that he intended to avenge the deaths of their people, especially Joe’s kid. Leaphorn maintains that Joe Jr.’s death was an accident and that he would prefer not to focus on his rage. “It’s your methods, James, that put us at odds,” Leaphorn replies, implying that they could have been comrades on opposing sides of the debate.
“We make our future. That’s survival. That’s our strength.” — Joe Leaphorn, Dark Winds season 1 finale
James was transported to one of many boarding institutions where Indigenous children were abused and died. Although he attempted to escape once, his grandfather returned him. James informs Leaphorn that he is fighting not only for ghosts but also for their ancestors and that he is “the champion of ghosts,” motivated by what has been lost to seek a more just world. When Leaphorn insists that James may preach his message even from prison, Tso declares that there is nothing more “righteous” than being a martyr — and commits suicide.
How Dark Winds Season 1’s Finale Sets Up Season 2
In the aftermath, Joe and his wife, Emma, gather around a ceremonial fire to honour their late son, Joe Jr. As part of the process, the couple sets fire to their son’s jacket. A few members of the community, including Guy Adcitty, join the Leaphorns in their moment of release. The episode then shifts to three months later, when Leaphorn discovers Chee, who has been lingering around Navajo County since leaving the FBI. While Leaphorn interrogates Chee about what transpired in the cave, Joe offers Chee a position with the tribe police, setting up Dark Winds season 2.
