The third season of the acclaimed series Dark Winds has begun, and the premiere episode introduced new faces and familiar ones to its expanding world. The first episode, titled “Ye’iitsoh (Big Monster),” brought the main characters back into separate but equally tense investigations.
The episode picks up the story six months after the events of the second season. Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and Sergeant Jim Chee are called to investigate the disturbing disappearance of two young Navajo boys. Meanwhile, Bernadette Manuelito is trying to settle into her new job with the Border Patrol, stationed hundreds of miles from home, where she uncovers a troubling situation. The season premiere also welcomes a powerful new FBI agent to the scene, linking a case directly to Leaphorn’s past.
The Core Investigators
The show continues to be anchored by its three lead actors, who bring the characters from Tony Hillerman’s beloved novels to life.
Zahn McClarnon as Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn: McClarnon returns as the series’ emotional center, the experienced and complex Tribal Police lieutenant. In the premiere, he leads the desperate search for the missing boys. The episode hints that decisions from his past, including the killing of BJ Vines in the Season 2 finale, may be coming back to affect him in unexpected ways.
Kiowa Gordon as Sergeant Jim Chee: Gordon plays Leaphorn’s deputy, who has left his work as a private investigator to rejoin the Tribal Police. Chee partners with Leaphorn on the missing persons case, which becomes deeply personal and professionally challenging.
Jessica Matten as Bernadette Manuelito: Matten portrays the former tribal police sergeant now navigating her new role as a Border Patrol agent. Stationed far from the reservation, her storyline in the premiere branches off as she makes a dark discovery related to smuggling operations. This new position creates a physical and narrative distance from her former partners.
Key Returning Characters
Several supporting characters from previous seasons reprise their roles, adding depth to the show’s established world.
Deanna Allison as Emma Leaphorn: Allison returns as Joe Leaphorn’s wife, a nurse who provides a grounding presence amid the turmoil of his work. Her role as his emotional support becomes even more critical as new pressures mount.
A Martinez as Sheriff Gordo Sena: Martinez plays the local sheriff, a measured lawman whose relationship with Leaphorn and Chee exists in a professional gray area. In the premiere, he calls on their help for the missing boys’ case.
Natalie Benally as Officer Natalie Bluehouse: Benally appears as an officer within the Tribal Police.
Andersen Kee as Officer Harold Bigman: Kee is back as another officer.
Wade Adakai as Officer Gary Felix: Adakai returns to his role.
New Faces in Season 3
The new season introduces a slate of guest stars who bring fresh conflicts and connections to the story, particularly within the Border Patrol and federal investigations.
Jenna Elfman as FBI Special Agent Sylvia Washington: Elfman joins the cast as a federal agent who arrives in town to look into a case connected to Leaphorn’s recent past, specifically the disappearance of BJ Vines. Her presence immediately puts Leaphorn on edge.
Tonantzin Carmelo as Border Patrol Agent Eleanda Garza: Carmelo plays a fellow border patrol agent who works alongside Manuelito. Her character offers a different, more by-the-book perspective that contrasts with Manuelito’s intuitive approach.
Alex Meraz as Border Patrol Agent Ivan Muños: Meraz portrays another agent in Manuelito’s new unit.
Terry Serpico as Senior Chief Ed Henry: Serpico plays Manuelito’s supervising officer at the Border Patrol, who is shown dismissing her early concerns in the premiere.
Derek Hinkey as Shorty Bowlegs: Hinkey guest stars as the father of the missing boys, a man deeply affected by his experiences in the Vietnam War.
Carly Roland as Teddi Isaacs: Roland appears as an anthropologist working at the Navajo station.
The premiere also sets up characters who will become more prominent in later episodes, including Bruce Greenwood as oil baron Tom Spenser and Christopher Heyerdahl as Dr. Reynolds.
Special Cameo Appearance
The first episode featured a notable and poignant cameo. Two of the show’s executive producers, George R.R. Martin and Robert Redford, appear uncredited in a brief scene as two detainees playing chess. This appearance marked Redford’s final on-screen role.
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Episode Release and Streaming Details
“Ye’iitsoh (Big Monster)” premiered on Sunday, March 9, 2025. The episode was an extended premiere, running for 69 minutes on AMC, starting at 9:00 PM Eastern Time.
For viewers who stream, the episode became available at the same time, 9:00 PM ET, on AMC+. It also aired on AMC Networks’ sister channels, BBC America and SundanceTV, that night.
- Live TV Streaming (with AMC channel): Services like Philo, Sling TV, DIRECTV STREAM, and YouTube TV offer live access to AMC.
- On-Demand Streaming: The episode is available for streaming with a subscription to AMC+, which can be accessed through its own app or as a channel add-on within Prime Video.
The first two seasons of Dark Winds are available to stream on Netflix and AMC+.
The Season Ahead
Season 3 of Dark Winds consists of eight episodes, making it the longest season so far. New episodes are scheduled to air weekly on Sundays at 9:00 PM ET on AMC and AMC+ through April 27, 2025. The show has already been renewed for a fourth season, which is expected to premiere in 2026.
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