Dark Winds - General Discussion

[GHScorpiosRule]

I am so, so, soooooo late to the party!

Zahn McLarnon will always, always be Walks on Clouds (second actor and recast and soooo much better) from Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman for me. In his first appearance, he didn't speak English, but communicated with Matthew via sign and his utter grief and pain were so visceral after what the Army did to his fiancee and other fellow Cheyenne. And of course, by the end of that season, he spoke English flawlessly, hee! But I will watch him in anything and everything.

That said, the first season was very good, though my spidey sense sussed out by his second appearance that "Father" Tso was sketchy, and of course knew Whitover was in it...somehow.

As for Frank Nakai surviving? The HELL?! Not only was he shot in the chest, but was he faking his open-eyed dead body by holding his breath and not moving for however long it was?

But the second season was just goddamned disappointing. I didn't give any bluedilly FUCKS about the blonde serial killer with Mommy issues. And I've read all the comments here, but don't see any resemblance to Crispin Glover/George McFly at all. But potato and potahto and all that. 

I should have gone to bed after finishing the first season, but noooo, I stuck and watched all of the second (and not gonna lie, fast forwarded all scenes of dead eye blonde serial killer, because I just didn't give a fuck).

And now I want to go and see if I can find SkinWalkers, because I do so love me some Wes Studi, though I hated him in my all time favorite, Last of the Mohicans and cheered when Russel Means' Chingachgook killed his Magua.

Edited July 24, 2024 by GHScorpiosRule

[AnimeMania]

Dark Winds Season 3     March 9, 2025    AMC/AMC+    9pm   8 episodes

[nachomama]

Saw that yesterday! So excited.

[Ottis]

On 7/24/2024 at 9:06 AM, GHScorpiosRule said:

I am so, so, soooooo late to the party!

Not as late as me! Never heard of these books, and just watched season one. And it was pretty bad, IMO. Huge plot holes and inconsistencies, surrounded by Native American porn that was supposed to appear either mystical or natural or both. The show never really fleshed it out enough to be sure.

That said, I liked Joe and Bern. Mixed feelings on Chee. The rest were all more or less interchangeable, and the bad guys and their plot was silly and not especially threatening.

I'm guessing the witch stuff was supposed to keep you guessing - is it real or is it Memorex? - but it mostly seemed ridiculous. Implying that a native elder has mysterious powers is intriguing. Having her make an adult police deputy pass out at her desk was about a half-dozen bridges too far.

I'll assume the books handle all this more adroitly and it hangs together better than the TV show, which had the feel of a "we'll edit this and make it fit!" effort.

I'll give season two a shot.

[Ottis]

Now in middle of ep 2 in season 2, and this show is getting worse. The plot is a mess, and it feels like the show is making stuff up as it goes along. It was obvious - OBVIOUS -

Spoiler

at the actual car bombing that the guy who was blown up had a terminal illness and had made a deal.

The show hasn't revealed that yet, but it's clear. 

And all the drama about Chee being shot and "bleeding out," but no biggie in the hospital with his shoulder wound.

Also, do all of these actors know the Navajo language? Because while I don't, their line delivery seemed halting and unsure.

[BetterButter]

 

[possibilities]

I'd hoped it owuld be back sooner than March, but I'll take it! 

[Nashville]

On 11/10/2024 at 8:19 AM, Ottis said:

Also, do all of these actors know the Navajo language? Because while I don't, their line delivery seemed halting and unsure.

Doubtful; while much of the cast is certainly of AI / AN / First Nations origins, most aren’t specifically Navajo and aren’t likely to be as fluent in the language of the tribe.  Just looking at the top names in the series credits:

• Zahn McClarnon / Joe Leaphorn: Hunkpapa Lakota (tribal member)
• Kiowa Gordon / Jim Chee: Hualapai (tribal member) and Choctaw (ancestral)
• Jessica Matten / Bernadette Manuelito: Red River Métis (Canadian - tribal member) and Cree (ancestral)
• Deanna Allison / Emma Leaphorn: Navajo (tribal member) and Zuni (ancestral)

So - short of some REALLY intensive time with a native Navajo speech/dialect coach, nobody besides Deanna Allison is likely to portray speaking Navajo fluently.

In all fairness, though: it’s not like a bunch of bilagáana are likely to pick up on any linguistic hiccups with the Navajo portions of the script in any case….  😁

[BetterButter]

 

[AnimeMania]

Jenna Elfman as FBI Special Agent Sylvia Washington who has been sent to the reservation to ‘close up some old cases.’ This dead-end assignment suits her as she at first comes across as harmlessly inept. But don’t underestimate Special Agent Washington, because she’ll reveal herself to be a cunning investigator putting Leaphorn directly in her crosshairs.

Bruce Greenwood as Tom Spenser, a New Mexico oil baron whose wells are running dry and has come up with a creative way to continue financing his empire.

[nachomama]

On 1/3/2025 at 5:01 PM, Nashville said:

In all fairness, though: it’s not like a bunch of bilagáana are likely to pick up on any linguistic hiccups with the Navajo portions of the script in any case….  😁

Navajo isn't a terribly fluid/romantic language anyway. It is kind stuttery/halting. They don't do inflections like we do, if they ask a question in navajo they don't go up at the end like we do. Kinda like german it just all sounds angry or flat when speaking...unless of course they're laughing at you, which they often do.

But I'm excited for the new season!

[BetterButter]

Native Noir: On set for Season 3 with the stars Of AMC's "Dark Winds"