Dark Winds, AMC’s critically acclaimed crime drama, recently returned with its highly anticipated third season in March 2025. Based on the Leaphorn & Chee novel series by Tony Hillerman, the television series follows the lives of Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and his fellow officers in the Navajo Police Force. The television series is an exciting amalgamation of the Western and detective genres, using the archetypes and tropes of each style in fresh new ways. Most importantly, Dark Winds gives Native Americans, specifically the Navajo, a unique and comprehensive voice to express their stories.

Taking place in the Navajo nation in the 1970s, Dark Winds unapologetically shows the United States’ mistreatment of the Navajo people while also portraying the joyous elements of Indigenous lives and culture. Instead of taking the sidekick role common in Westerns, the story centers on Indigenous protagonists and stories. By creating a cast of Native American characters in addition to the entirely Indigenous writer’s room, the show provides a nuanced portrayal of this under-represented group. Additionally, it explores the complexities of surviving in a legal system built to fail. Each character struggles with their sense of morality as they search for justice in spite of powerful forces of oppression.

Updated on March 18, 2025, by Ajay Aravind: The first two seasons of Dark Winds were critically acclaimed, earning 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Although Season 3 has only released two episodes until now, it’s clear that the series will continue to maintain its spectacular combination of narrative subtlety and plot tension. With many characters reprising their roles, this article is updated to include more relevant information and reflect CBR’s latest style guide.

Colton Wolf Is the Mysterious Villain Leaphorn Chases

Played by: Nicholas Logan (Season 2)

Initially framed as the main antagonist of Season 2, fans learned little about the mysterious Colton Wolf. His backstory offered a glimpse into the trauma directing his violent actions, as Colton forced himself to shoot his own mother for having killed his father and sister. Despite the great pain he must have been carrying around in his heart, viewers lost all sympathy for him after discovering he was the man who caused the bomb explosion that killed Joe Leaphorn, Jr.

Colton’s open hatred for Native Americans made him even more obnoxious, leaving fans calling for his just deserts. Although BJ Vines had ordered Colton to plant a bomb at the Drumco Oil Factory, Wolf emitted an aura of villainy that Leaphorn could smell from a mile away. Unfortunately, Vines erased the chance for Leaphorn’s vengeance by personally killing Colton Wolf. Despite his single-season role, Wolf’s characterization was one of the best-developed in Dark Winds.

James Tso, AKA Hoski, Nearly Destroys His Own Community

Played by: Jeremiah Bitsu (Season 1)

Image via AMC

Bitsu, of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul fame, plays Tso, the primary antagonist of Dark Winds Season 1. Also known as Hoski, he served as the leader of the Buffalo Society, a fictional militant group that fights against any attempts at colonialist settlement culture. The Buffalo Society comes from a real-life group called the American Indian Movement, which Tony Hillerman mentions as the crew’s parent group in his Leaphorn & Chee novels.

Also appearing in the original books, Hoski disguises himself as his identical twin brother in order to carry out his secretive goals. After connecting him with Sarah’s pregnancy, Leaphorn only realizes the truth, leading to severe consequences. Hoski had earlier expressed gratitude for Leaphorn, hinting at the possibility of a redemption arc, but the demons he was bearing became too powerful to ignore. In the end, Hoski took his own life to end the nightmare plaguing him.

Frank Nakai Proved to Be Smarter Than He Looked

Played by: Eugene Brave Rock (Season 1)

Image via AMC

Frank Nakai appears to fulfill the dumb muscle trope in Dark Winds, with his Vietnam War experiences making him a fierce and thorough combatant. And yet, fans soon discover that Nakai isn’t just a brute with a gun. The nuances provided to every character arc in this show, no matter how insignificant, make Dark Winds such a powerful piece of television. Like everyone else, Nakai contains multitudes, including a moral compass contrasting with Hoski’s mindless violence.

Nakai’s attempts to stand up to Hoski generally fail until the end of Season 1, which reveals the secret alliance between Leland Whitover and Hoski. Nakai was supposed to die in the final shootout and cover-up explosion. Still, the finale later mentioned that he had successfully decamped with the stolen money from the first episode. Fans were excited to see him in Season 1, but Nakai’s too busy enjoying his winnings somewhere safe.

Bernadette Manuelito Is a Detective with Unrivaled Skills

Played by: Jessica Matten (Seasons 1-3)

Bernadette Manuelito is a police sergeant in the Navajo Police in AMC’s Dark Winds. Bernadette is one of Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn’s best officers, often acting as his right hand. She is an expert horseback rider, marksman, and survivalist. Bernadette’s knowledge of the local wilderness allows her to go off the beaten path to pursue people. She easily climbs over the rocky, desert terrain of the American Southwest, running circles around the Scarborough County police. Extremely perceptive and quick-thinking, Bernadette is one of the most skilled detectives in the Navajo Police.

Rosemary Vines Is Trapped Within a Gilded Cage

Played by: Jeri Ryan (Seasons 2-3)

Image via AMC

Rosemary Vines was the wife of one of the wealthiest men in New Mexico, BJ Vines. Emotionally abused and neglected by her husband, Rosemary looks for comfort in extramarital affairs. In Season 2, Rosemary hires Jim Chee to find a box that her husband stole from her. Chee’s search for the box leads to an investigation of Vines’ cult, the “People of Darkness,” a group that takes extreme artistic liberties with Navajo culture and religion. The box contains evidence of Vines’ connection to multiple deaths in the area.