Dark Winds season 3 arrived in 2025, and it was yet another amazing installment of AMC's psychological neo-noir Western. Dark Winds adapts Tony Hillerman's Leaphorn & Chee novels which focus on the Navajo County tribal police. Making its debut on AMC in 2022, the first two chapters have already drawn a dedicated following. The finale of season 2 saw veteran officer Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) exact justice on B.J. Vines (John Diehl), the man responsible for his son's death — an explosive ending that left the door wide open for Dark Winds season 3.

Dark Winds season 3 picks up where the hugely successful second outing left off. The second season of Dark Winds saw a 146% viewership spike over the first (via Variety), and both AMC and the cast, crew, and creative team of Dark Winds returned to help make the third season just as successful. Dark Winds season 3 dove deeper into Leaphorn's soul, but also delivered a compelling mystery story set against the vibrant vistas of the American Southwest.

Dark Winds Season 3 Critical Reception

Another Stellar Outing For The AMC Original

Unsurprisingly, Dark Winds continued its hot streak with a critically beloved third season. Earning a rare 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the show's third outing was called one of the year's best by Rolling Stone, and the multimedia magazine wasn't the only outlet lavishing praise. Paste paid particular attention to the performance of Zahn McClarnon, while also noting the show's excellent attention to detail. Perhaps CBR put it best when they lamented how under-the-radar the AMC gem still is, describing it as "worthy of being emotionally invested in."

• I'm So Worried Dark Winds Season 3 Is Destroying The Best Part Of The Show, But It Would Still Be Better Than How It Ended In The Books
• Dark Winds Season 3 Just Showed Why Gordo & Joe Really Have Each Other's Backs
• I Hate How Dark Winds Changed Jim Chee From The Books (But I'm Glad Season 3 Is Hinting That's Finally Changing)

Dark Winds season 3 concluded on April 27, 2025.

Dark Winds Season 3 Cast

The New & Returning Faces Of Season 3

The cast of Dark Winds season 3 largely remained intact, and it came as no surprise that the main trio reprised their roles after season 2's shocking finale. Zahn McClarnon and Kiowa Gordon returned to their roles as Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, with Jessica Matten once again returning as Bernadette. A host of new guest stars also ed season 3, including Jenna Elfman as FBI Agent Sylvia Washington, and Bruce Greenwood as Tom Spenser.

The cast of Dark Winds season 3 includes:

• How Dark Winds Season 3’s Bernadette Story Perfectly Combines Two Leaphorn & Chee Novels Explained By Showrunner
• Dark Winds Season 3 Cast & Character Guide

Dark Winds Season 3 Trailer

Watch The Teaser Below

In anticipation of the show's March 2025 release date, AMC dropped a short teaser for Dark Winds season 3 in November 2024. The teaser, which mainly serves to reveal the release date, is narrated by Leaphorn as various scenes of violence play out against the show's noir-like Western backdrop. The narration sees Leaphorn grappling with his own morals as he must go to unethical lengths to protect what he sees as justice.

Following the first teaser, AMC dropped a second trailer in January 2025 that puts an emphasis on the creepy nature of the third season of Dark Winds. Set to narration by Leaphorn, who recounts his childhood belief in monsters from folklore, the teaser shows gruesome images that border on the surreal as the office seemingly descends into madness. The last clip includes the shadow of some sort of clawed monster looming behind a sheet, hinting that Leaphorn's imagination may manifest.

Dark Winds Season 3 Ending & Spoilers

A Glimmer Of Hope In All The Darkness

The trio cracked the case, as was expected, but it certainly took more from them than they were willing to give.

To say that Dark Winds is a generally dour program would be a bit of an understatement, but the ending of season 3 was a mixed bag of hope and tragic reality. The trio cracked the case, as was expected, but it certainly took more from them than they were willing to give. Nevertheless, forgiveness took center stage as Leaphorn, Chee, and Bernadette each tried to find their own way forward through the disheartening conclusion of the human trafficking case. Thematically speaking, Dark Winds season 3 was perhaps truest in its tone than either of its predecessors.

• Dark Winds Season 3 Confirmed It's Been Cleverly Misdirecting Us All Season In 2 Ways
• Dark Winds Season 4: Confirmation, Cast & Everything We Know