Entertainment

‘Dark Winds’ carries a moody Native-American crime thriller onto AMC

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Counting Robert Redford and “Recreation of Thrones’” George R.R. Martin amongst its producers, the six-episode present creates a welcome starring car for Zahn McClarnon (“Fargo,” “Westworld”) as Joe Leaphorn, who’s one of some dozen cops assigned to patrol hundreds of dusty, visually putting acres.

Leaphorn is joined by a brand new deputy, the formidable Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon), who’s ominously informed by a colleague, Bernadette (Jessica Matten), “Out right here, generally your finest safety is not your .38.”

Created by Graham Roland and tailored from Tony Hillerman’s novels about Navajo detectives, the marginally convoluted plot entails a vacationer household that buys the flawed portray, and an unsolved financial institution heist that left behind unfound loot and nonetheless instructions the curiosity of an FBI agent (“The Individuals’” Noah Emmerich) working within the space.

Leaphorn and his spouse (Deanna Allison), in the meantime, are recovering from a private tragedy, with McClarnon’s pained expressions each time his household historical past comes up doing numerous work in conveying the mileage that the character carries.

As famous, “Darkish Winds” is distinguished extra by its introduction to a selected place and time than the central thriller, a second far sufficient again the place references to magic really feel extra believable. There are additionally pointed reminders of previous transgressions towards this group, reminiscent of a pregnant lady being warned about compelled sterilization if she has her child within the hospital.

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The collection serves as one other stable showcase for Native-American expertise in a approach that has confirmed traditionally elusive in Hollywood, becoming a member of latest productions just like the FX collection “Reservation Canines,” through which McClarnon co-stars, and “Rutherford Falls.” (Redford acquired the rights to Hillerman’s books within the Eighties and spent years buying the undertaking earlier than aligning with Martin and discovering a taker.)
AMC is at one thing of a crossroads, with two of the community’s signature collection, “The Strolling Lifeless” and “Higher Name Saul,” quickly coming to an finish. These sort of franchises aren’t simply changed, however with one thing like “Darkish Winds,” the community’s improvement efforts not less than seem like drifting in the proper path.

“Darkish Winds” premieres June 12 at 9 p.m. ET on AMC, with advance entry on AMC+.

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