“Dark Winds ”recap: Leaphorn tracks the killer and makes a disturbing discovery
“Dark Winds ”recap: Leaphorn tracks the killer and makes a disturbing discovery
Jordan HoffmanMon, March 2, 2026 at 3:08 AM UTC
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Zahn McClarnon as Joe Leaphorn on 'Dark Winds'Credit: Michael Moriatis/AMCKey Points -
Chee and Manuelito get caught smooching at work — but later get into a fight when Manuelito reveals Leaphorn's retirement plans.
The assassin makes a move on Leaphorn.
Billie hops on a bus headed to Los Angeles.
Last week's episode of Dark Winds ended with Jim Chee entering a death hogan in order to confirm his suspicion that Albert, the California-based Diné aiding young runaway Billie, was dead inside. Indeed he was (and R.I.P. to him), but encountering him in such a sacred space caused Chee's nose to bleed and for him to experience startling visions.
We don't yet know what those visions were — flashes of his childhood? — but hopefully episode 3, "Ahááldláádígíí (That Which Has Been Torn Apart)," will bring some clarity.
The episode begins with a slight rewind. Albert, bloody from his gunshot wounds, busts into the wooden dwelling where an older Diné man — his and Billie's grandfather — welcomes him.
"She's coming," Albert says right before he croaks, referring to the mysterious assassin played by Franka Potente.
Next, we see the older man preparing the small building as a death hogan (taking an axe to make a hole), as the nasty villain rides up in her van. She barges in and removes a photo from Albert's pocket as the old man runs off. She picks up her rifle and coldly shoots him in the back while he shouts, "No!" Rough stuff!
After the credits, our Navajo Tribal Police crew (plus some others) are at the scene of the crime, gathering evidence. Leaphorn suggests that Chee join him for a "quick sweat." Chee, who doesn't adhere to Diné customs as much as the others, shrugs it off, but Leaphorn reminds him that he entered a death hogan and is messing with chʼį́įdii spirits.
Leaphorn realizes that Chee's desire to stay focused on his work reminds him of himself as a younger man, and also knows this is part of the reason why his wife Emma has left him. (It may also have something to do with the fact that he basically murdered a guy, even if that guy sucked, but let's not get into that right now.)
Kiowa Gordon as Jim Chee on 'Dark Winds'Credit: Michael Moriatis/AMC
The group goes to examine the dead elder, recognize similar ballistics to the deaths at the diner, but see that his body has been prepared with some attention to traditional Diné customs, though not all are correct. Whoever did this has some kind of connection or understanding of the community.
Back at NTP HQ, Manuelito lets Billie know that her cousin and grandfather are both dead. This scene is shot with some visual flair; Chee is in the foreground, while Bern, Billie, and Leaphorn are out of focus behind him. Chee is crestfallen when he hears Billie's cries of sorrow. The camera then closes in on him, as his nose bleeds once more.
The police press Billie for info about all that is happening. She says that she hadn’t seen Albert since she was a kid, then explains that Albert was looking for "Leroy."
We've heard that name before! Who is Leroy?
Leroy is Billie's other cousin, Albert's brother. He doesn't live on the rez, but he was once here, and Albert had a photo of him (which we just saw Franka Potente steal). Billie then sobs, hands them the maps she was holding, and asks the gang to find Leroy: "He’s the only family I have left."
But we still don't know why he's in trouble or why she split from her school. You figure one of these three officers would ask these questions, but I guess they don't want to push her too hard? They're the professionals.
Chee and Manuelito analyze the maps and Billie's description of the picture, and put together where the picture was probably taken. Then they start smooching in a side room, thinking no one can see them. (Of course, someone else on the force walks in on them—whoopsie!)
Leaphorn takes the GMC back to the service station from the other night, where the assassin got radiator fluid, and starts analyzing tracks. Elsewhere, our assassin is scoping out someone's home with binoculars. She approaches (and picks a cherry tomato off a plant and eats it) while we cross-cut with Leaphorn poking around in the dirt. It's as if they are in one another's minds somehow.
Wait, this isn't just any house she's in, it's Leaphorn's house! She opens the fridge and there's the thing we've been looking for: a six-pack of RC Cola. The crowd goes wild!
As she looks at photos of Joe and Emma and rifles through his mail, Joe positions himself among the rocks then has a revelation of some kind.
"Son of a bitch!" he says.
What did he realize? Whattttt?
Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) has a revelation on 'Dark Winds'Credit: Michael Moriatis/AMC
Meanwhile, Chee and Manuelito are in a squad car, and Chee seems happy that they got caught making out.
"Guess we can move in together now?" he asks.
And, poof, just like that, Chee has self-cucked himself.
She chuckles and says, "We just talked about it yesterday."
Slow your roll, there, Jim! Now, we know that she is secretly worried he's going to freak out that she might become his new boss, but let’s face it, he is not playing it cool right now.
Manuelito then digs herself in a little deeper: Chee says that he suspects Leaphorn may want to retire soon. When he asks if she's noticed anything, Bern lies and says no.
Oh, if only they would open up to one another and lay all their cards on the table, this would all work out. But that's not always how human relationships work. Alas, these two are suddenly on rocky terrain. Sad!
Anyway, they arrive at the spot where they think Leroy's photo was taken and find some other guy living in a trailer. He's a skinny dude in a towel with a big smile who says he's been expecting them. He says his name is Philip. He doesn't know Leroy, but "a lot of folks come and go in these parts.” He confirms that he saw a green van driven by a "white chick" about a week ago. Chee and Manuelito leave, clearly not liking this guy, but have learned that the assassin was snooping around for Leroy before Albert and Billie got on the scene.
Back at HQ, the phone rings. It's the assassin and she's looking for Joe Leaphorn. He knows who it is, but asks for her name. She won't give it, and adds that "the loss of an elder is a tragedy, even in my culture." She says that she tried to "do it right" and be respectful, thus explaining how Billie's grandfather’s body ended up in a partially customary Diné state.
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Leaphorn asks her to come to the station, to end the bloodshed, though he knows that she won't stop until she finds Leroy. She tells him to "be careful."
Joe fires back, saying that if whoever is paying her to find Leroy realizes she failed, she will have a big problem.
She gets angry, and tells him to "drop the case, and leave it to the Feds," for the sake of Billie's safety. Then she hangs up.
The assassin (Franka Potente) has her eye on LeaphornCredit: Michael Moriatis/AMC
None of this really makes any sense, to be honest. I can't imagine why a brilliant assassin would contact Leaphorn like this — and do it from his house. Was it to try and figure out how much he knows? I don't know!
Nevertheless, Chee soon reports that he's tracked down Leroy's movements to Flagstaff, Ariz., and then California. Clearly, he was in trouble and went looking for help from Albert. When Manuelito asks what they should do with Billie, Leaphorn shrugs, thinking maybe she should head back to school. Billie hears this, freaks out, and runs out of the station.
Honestly, our team is not on their A-game right now.
Manuelito catches up with Billie and they have a little heart-to-heart out in the desert. Bern confesses that when she was a kid she ran away from St. Catherine's 15 times. Billie realizes that some of Manuelito's exploits have become legendary at the school.
"That was you?" Billie asks when she hears Bernadette say she once climbed the flagpole and refused to come down.
Manuelito then burns some brush and the two speak in Diné as we hear guitar music with Diné chants in the background. Shazam is no help in naming the track, alas, but it is a nice bonding moment for the two.
Leaphorn then heads home, pops open a bottle of RC, and sees that some photos of he and Emma have been messed with. He jumps to attention, holding his pistol and flashlight out, but the house is clear.
We then cut to Bernadette's place. She's got Billie in protective custody for now, but both are worried about her safety, and the safety of her cousin Leroy out in California. Chee then pops by, and the two snuggle under the moonlight. And then…
She tells him. Bern tells Jim that Leaphorn is planning to retire, and he's asked her to take his place when he goes, but wanted her to keep mum until it was official.
As she predicted, Chee gets annoyed that she's been keeping it a secret. He calls her a liar, even though it was only a few hours ago (and during work!) when he asked if she noticed anything.
Honestly, he's acting like a bit of a bozo. He should be happy for her. And what's more, when these two first met, he was keeping his work for the FBI a secret. I guess it's different for men? I have no sympathy for Jim Chee! Bernadette Manuelito is the catch of all time and he should be a little more supportive. Bad form.
Chee leaves in a huff like a big baby. Bernadette begs him to stay, but no dice.
Then his mouth starts to bleed because he's got the ghost sickness. (Has he been telling her about these issues? No! So stop being hypocritical about secrets, Jim!) Anyway, one of his teeth falls out. That can't be good.
The next day, Chee pops up at Leaphorn's place and makes it known he's aware of the upcoming retirement. He's really upset.
"I didn't want you to find out this way, Jim," Leaphorn says.
"I'm a detective, Joe, it's what I do," Chee replies. Uh, not really, Jim. Bernadette just came out and told you — you did no detective work. Stolen valor!
Chee (Kiowa Gordon) is not happy with Leaphorn on 'Dark Winds'Credit: Michael Moriatis/AMC
Leaphorn explains that he couldn't give the position to Chee because they are too similar, and he doesn't want him to follow the same dark path.
"When I look at you, I see me," says Leaphorn. "That's exactly why it can't be you."
Back at Bernadette's trailer, she's cooking up breakfast when she realizes Billie has split. We then see the teen girl on a bus headed to L.A. to look for Leroy.
Meanwhile, Leaphorn is ready for his sweat. As he lets his hair down and opens his shirt (!!!!) he sees the horned elk he did not shoot back in the first episode. Man and beast share another moment, until we hear a click. It's the assassin, holding a gun! She picks up Joe's axe, and seems genuinely thrilled to see the Diné teepee Joe has readied for his ceremony.
"Men don't build things with their bare hands anymore," she comments.
She then brings her gun to Leaphorn's face and… kinda gets all up in his business? She starts kissing him, claiming they are part of a spiritual union. "I will not say good bye, I will say until we see each other again," she laughs. It's super weird. Then she backs away slowly while we hear Harry Nilsson's version of the song "One."
And that’s it until next week.
Tracks:
What is the deal with this Diné-fetishizing assassin? Sure, she looks cool in her ninja gear, but I do not like her getting up in Joe Leaphorn's face like that. She deserves a comeuppance and soon.
Will Jim Chee realize he's acting the fool? Maybe it's the ghost sickness that's clouding his mind?
And what about those visions from the last episode? Will we see more of those soon?
Is the whole gang going to follow Billie to Los Angeles, or just Bernadette?
Most importantly: Will the success of Dark Winds make RC Cola more widely available at convenience stores near me? I could go for one right now.
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
