Dark Winds Showrunner Calls Season 4 ‘A Pretty Insane Thing to Attempt’

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Tony Hillerman wrote 18 novels featuring detectives Leaphorn and Chee, and the series has been turned into a neo-Western TV show on AMC. When choosing which book to adapt for television, showrunner John Wirth doesn’t go in publication order – he simply goes with what feels right.

The new adaptation gives more focus to the character of Jim Chee, portrayed by Kiowa Gordon. According to writer and producer Robert Wirth, the previous versions hadn’t explored Chee’s character enough. The story previously centered more on Joe Leaphorn’s personal struggles and Bernadette Manuelito’s experiences with leaving home and venturing out on her own.

I just finished watching Season 4 of Dark Winds, and it’s a really interesting shift for the show. This season is based on Tony Hillerman’s The Ghostway, and it puts Lieutenant Chee front and center as the lead investigator. The story sends him all the way to Los Angeles while he’s trying to solve a murder. Honestly, the showrunner, Robert Wirth, admitted it felt risky changing the focus like this, but it definitely opened up some exciting new possibilities and a fresh dynamic for the series. It was a gamble that paid off!

As a big fan of the show, I’ve always felt Chee is at the heart of everything, but Season 3 didn’t really give him the spotlight he deserved. I really wanted to dive deeper into his character, and The Ghostway felt like the perfect opportunity. What especially excited me was the idea of moving the story from the Navajo Nation to Los Angeles. Honestly, it turned out to be a huge undertaking! Trying to recreate what L.A. looked like back in 1972, all while filming in Albuquerque, was pretty crazy. But looking back, I’m really pleased with how it all came together, according to Wirth.

Even though season 4 hasn’t been released yet, Wirth is already planning for the future. When asked about his next book adaptation, he didn’t reveal the title, wanting to avoid spoiling anything. He did confirm that he has already chosen the next novel.

Dark Winds Season 4 Gets Raving Reviews From Critics

Even before it officially premieres on February 15th, the new season of Dark Winds is receiving excellent reviews. Currently, it holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on five reviews – a perfect score it shares with its previous three seasons. Critics describe the show as a gripping and intense mystery set in the Los Angeles area. Zahn McClarnon is earning praise both for his acting and his first time directing, while Kiowa Gordon is being highlighted as a particularly strong performer this season.

Okay, so Season 4 of Dark Winds finds Joe Leaphorn a bit lost after his wife Emma has left him. It’s a quieter start for him, while Bernadette and Chee are happily together. The central case this time around? A runaway student from a boarding school that quickly pulls them into something much bigger – a serious criminal network stretching all the way to Los Angeles. Thankfully, we’re getting another eight-episode season, just like last year, with the finale scheduled to drop on April 5th. It’s a compelling setup, and I’m eager to see where this case takes them.

Dark Winds Season 4 premieres Sunday, February 15, on AMC and AMC+.

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2026-02-12 00:14