Dark Winds Recap: Crossing the Line

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After Joe Leaphorn’s irrevocable decision, Dark Winds shifts its attention to a profound query: Should our identities be shaped by past choices or by how we behave in the current moment? Joe attempts to reach Emma through admitting that while he has endeavored to distance her from his decision, he cannot truthfully tell her he wouldn’t make it again. Joe’s internal struggle serves as the heart of the drama, and every character, regardless of their significance, undergoes moments of introspection, whether they are voluntary or not.

Previously, Joe’s unwavering integrity was unshakeable, now it seems he’s lost his way, appearing more troubled than ever. In “Tseko Hasani,” the shadows under Joe’s eyes grow darker and deeper, suggesting Joe is withdrawing within himself. It appears the burden of his guilt is taking its toll, but his distress also stems from a growing fear of Yé’iitsoh. Following Halsey’s brutal demise, Special Agent Washington waits for additional federal agents while Joe summons Margaret, a medicine woman and Anna Atcitty’s grandmother, whose death in the first season served as the series’ opening enigma, to purify the station. Recognizing Joe’s downward spiral, Gordo suggests he takes some time away to let things settle, but Joe remains resolute.

Later, following the purification ritual, Joe discusses Yé’iitsoh with Margaret. He recounts the legend of the Hero Twins, who were tasked with protecting people from the monstrous beings that roamed the land. Expressing his concern about possibly crossing a line that he described as dividing monsters from humans due to the increasing number of murders on the reservation, Joe directly asks Margaret if she thinks Yé’iitsoh might be responsible for these crimes. Instead of answering his query, she leaves him with food for thought, stating that one perceives monstrosity when there is a lack of balance or a straying from one’s path in life.

The dialogue in the show often leans towards symbolic, more abstract conclusions that may not be immediately clear. For now, it’s unclear if Yé’iitsoh is responsible for the violence around Joe or serves as a representation of his remorse; Emma warned him last week when he left Vines to die, suggesting he bears some responsibility. The show occasionally drives home its themes heavy-handedly: this week’s episode starts with Joe literally cleaning Halsey’s blood off his boots, badge, and uniform. This scene immediately follows a brief horror movie-like sequence, complete with eerie sounds and Joe’s eyes rolled back so far we only see the whites, his mouth wide open.

Agent Washington delegates additional federal agents to investigate Halsey’s murder, allowing her to concentrate on the mystery of Vines’ disappearance. The return of Rosemary Vines, whose likeness to Uma Thurman consistently startles me, continues to be a puzzle. Despite not being affectionate towards her late husband, Rosemary’s bitterness upon his death stands out. In her testimony, we uncover fresh details about the Vines’ history: BJ wed Rosemary’s sister who perished in a fire that razed their home, leaving Rosemary with lasting lung issues (explaining her use of oxygen). The circumstances surrounding this incident, BJ’s subsequent marriage to Rosemary, and his own disappearance all raise suspicions. Remarkably, Rosemary had been aware that a neighbor named Emily Quinn witnessed a police car departing from the Vines’ residence on the night of BJ’s disappearance, with BJ visibly terrified in the backseat. When asked why she didn’t disclose this information earlier, Rosemary answers that she was “keeping it” for “a moment like this.” Her actions are certainly peculiar.

Despite Washington’s caution to the NTP to stay away from the Halsey case, Joe and Chee decide to visit the diner as suggested by Halsey, where he claimed to have been on the night of Cata’s death. With numerous enigmas lingering, it’s simple to overlook the initial spark for this entire story: we are still unsure about George Bowlegs’ whereabouts or what transpired with Ernesto Cata. By the end of “Tseko Hasani,” we receive a partial response to one of these queries; here, we discover from the diner waitress that Halsey was indeed present in the restaurant that night, accompanied by “Mexican Norman Bates,” which can only refer to Budge.

In the quaint border town of Juarez, Chee communicates with Bern through contact who is identified as Muños, more than just a friend at this point. Together, they investigate a refinery owned by AGS Industries, where Bern suspects that Spenser’s smuggled drugs are hidden on his trucks. Despite reservations about venturing into uncharted territory, Muños agrees to accompany Bern when she suggests the idea of pretending to be a typical vacationing couple. If not for the events that unfold in this particular episode, it would seem as though Muños and Bern were taking steps towards a relationship. In their hotel room in Juarez, Bern shares with him her experience of spending 12 days in a coma, which led to her being taken in by the Leaphorn family, much like they took in Sally during the early seasons.

Bern communicates to Muños that Joe strictly follows a set of principles. Over the years, she’s adopted this mindset herself, which eventually leads her to tell Muños that she’s not the type of officer who will ignore corruption within her department. Meanwhile, back at home, Joe and Emma are discussing an instance where Joe’s principles faltered, and they debate on how to handle the aftermath. This is the third consecutive episode where Emma is contemplating what to say to Joe, feeling drained but powerless as they continue having the same discussion. However, this time, Emma has had enough: she’s in the process of telling Joe he needs to leave their home when a Special Agent named Washington arrives with a search warrant, making an already difficult situation even more complicated.

They didn’t discover anything, and despite Washington pushing Emma for more details, even hinting at a charge related to their shared secret, Emma refused to give in. The most heartbreaking moment was when she pulled away from Joe as he left the house to sleep in his truck; despite their relationship being damaged, she stayed loyal. Instead of resting, Joe re-examined George’s disappearance files and made a fresh link between the missing toolbox and George’s mother’s home in Reno, Nevada. He almost dozed off, but the possibility that Yé’iitsoh might be nearby kept him awake.

In the meantime, Chee sinks into despair at a bar following Muños’s request for toothpaste from Bern over the phone. Shorty stumbles upon him, slumped amongst beer bottles and barely coherent. Recognizing his friend’s plight, Shorty takes him home and offers him water to drink. In an attempt to shake Chee from his stupor, Shorty delivers a heartfelt speech reminding him that their son is still missing, and it’s Chee’s duty to find him. This moment forces both men to confront the question of self-judgment: should we measure ourselves by past actions or present acts of kindness? Despite their tumultuous history, Shorty demonstrates the transformative power of forgiveness and camaraderie, showing Chee that he is now an ally instead of an adversary.

The following day, Joe locates Chee in his trailer once more, managing his hangover with pickle juice. They exchange updates: Chee queries his federal contacts in Washington regarding Budge, suspected to be a CIA operative involved in assassinations in Guatemala. Concurrently, Joe formulates a theory about George that turns out to be accurate: he was stealing tools from his father’s toolbox to gather funds, possibly for a train ticket to Reno, where he could reunite with his mother. Utilizing the pawn shop owner’s details, Joe locates George in a desert area near the mine, where he resides alone with just a horse for company. The chilling sound of the wind follows Joe’s truck as he arrives. George’s horse becomes spooked and takes off; looking towards a hill, Joe spots Yé’iitsoh. He refrains from firing, but the scene ends with man and beast standing there, confronting each other.

In the story “Tseko Hasani,” there’s more than just one tense moment. Up on a vantage point in Juarez, Bern and Muños are keeping an eye on the refinery, yet their position seems unguarded to me. Just as they think they’re hidden, Budge and his gang spot them. To escape detection, Bern and Muños dart under a protruding rock. However, Budge’s bodyguard fails to capture them, leading to his demise at Budge’s hands for the failure. Instead of warning Bern and Muños, Budge throws him off the cliff, but he dies before he can reveal their location.

After returning to their hotel, Muños confides in Bern that if Ed Henry is truly involved in the plan, they should inform the DEA about it. Alternatively, they could choose to ignore it and carry on as usual, which might seem oddly innocent. However, despite Budge’s apparent disengagement, Bern remains intent on uncovering the truth. At that very moment, she notices a peculiar detail about Muños’s passport and ID badge lying on the hotel nightstand that almost makes her vomit. The close-up view is driving her mad. What exactly did she see? What was the clue that hinted at Muños potentially being the mole? It seems to be a blue ribbon with a fruit-related label connecting the passport and badge. I’ll be so elated if Muños is indeed colluding with Spenser. I predicted it!

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2025-04-07 06:54