Why you should watch the George R.R. Martin-produced show Dark Winds, now on Netflix

The AMC show Dark Winds is being exposed to a larger audience thanks to it arriving on Netflix, where you can stream both seasons yet produced right now. The show has both George R.R. Martin and Robert Redford listed as the headlining executive producers, and it is based on books written by the late novelist Tony Hillerman.

The action takes place on the Navajo Nation in Arizona and New Mexico in the 1970s. Dark Winds is told mainly from the point of view of a tribal police lieutenant named Joe Leaphorn.

Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin was smart to attach his name to Dark Winds

Crime thrillers are a dime a dozen on television and streaming services, but Dark Winds is unique in many ways. Its locale is definitely not one we often see. It's shot on location in Arizona, New Mexico, and southern Utah. This adds authenticity to the stories it is trying to tell.

Based on the Leaphorn and Chee books written by Tony Hillerman, Dark Winds focuses on the Diné (Navajo) community. The stories are rich in Navajo traditions and beliefs and explore their mysticism, spiritualism, and culture, including witchcraft.

Despite Martin being an executive producer, this is not a fantasy series. The witchcraft is not Harry Potter magic or anything so commercial as we see in that genre normally. It is based on a belief system of the Navaho people developed over centuries.

The tone of the show is dark and edgy. The cast, led by the brilliant Zahn McClarnon, is top notch. McClarnon might be best known for playing the Native American host Akecheta on the HBO show Westworld. He is well-supported by Kiowa Gordon as Jim Chee and Jessica Matten as Bernadette Manuelito.

Some recognizable guest stars have popped up in seasons 1 and 2, namely Rainn Wilson and Jeri Ryan. Six-decade acting veteran A Martinez also plays a key role.

While Dark Winds entertains with intense action scenes, it also educates audiences by exposing them to the Diné culture, with all of its rich traditions. The six-episode seasons are well-paced and offer strong character development. Maybe the biggest disappointment is the shortness of the seasons, but they are long enough to properly lay out the plotlines and to wrap up that particular case for the season.

There is something here for all audiences, and if you are a fan of phycological crime thrillers, this show should move to the top of your "must-watch" list. It's unclear how long Dark Winds will be on Netflix because sometimes AMC shows are only available on a temporary basis on the streaming platform. You don't want to procrastinate on this one and miss your chance.

Martin knew what he was doing with this one. He was a fan of the Leaphorn and Chee series and we're thankful he decided to lend his clout to getting the show made. This was a series that was long overdue to be made, and thankfully, entertainment heavyweights Martin and Redford were able to bring the fantastic books to life and stay true to the tone of Hillerman's work.

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