Dark Winds Season 2 Episode 6 Review: Hózhó náhásdlįį

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Dark Winds wraps its second season with Dark Winds Season 2 Episode 6, “Hózhó náhásdlįį.” Unfortunately, despite some excellent moments, it doesn’t quite live up to the bar set by the rest of the season.

The episode was written by Graham Roland & John Wirth and directed by Chris Eyre

Too Much Story Left For One Episode

The season’s stumble in the finale isn’t exactly surprising. After watching the penultimate episode, Dark Winds Season 2 Episode 5, “Black Hole Sun,” it was hard to imagine how they would bring everything home in a satisfying way.

There is just too much to do in a single hour to do justice to the different storylines introduced throughout the season.

It’s not that the episode is entirely unsatisfying or by any means a failure. In some ways, they conclude things much better than I anticipated. I just wanted more from this story, which for five previous episodes, had so enthralled me.

The blonde man’s death is the perfect example of how the finale fails to live up to the bar set by the rest of the season but is still an engaging sequence taken on its own.

It makes sense that they would kill off the blonde man early on the episode. The real emotional climax of his story with Joe is Dark Winds Season 2 Episode 4, “The March.” Plus, the scene where Vine kills him is full of great tension. It works as a suitably dramatic ending for the character. 

At the same time, we spent all season investing in this character, his conflict with Joe, and his search for his mother. No matter how good the death scene is, not seeing Joe get some closure is a bit disappointing.

Similarly, having his search for his mother end up going nowhere is frustrating after they spend so much time on it on “Black Hole Sun.”

If that storyline wasn’t going to lead to anything, I would have much rather they used the precious little time they had to focus on other plotlines and characters.

The blonde man is a compelling enough villain on his own and doesn’t need a big backstory to make him memorable.

It’s the same with most other parts of the episode related to the season’s central case/mystery. Things that were built up so effectively during the season end with a well-executed scene that is still narratively underwhelming. 

Ultimately, the real problem with the season is that it is too short for the scope of the story they are telling. A ten-episode or even eight-episode season would have given the story more space to breathe.

Even more importantly, it would have given them the time they needed to wrap all those lingering threads and emotional beats that get short-shifted in the finale.

If the series gets renewed (its ratings give us every reason to be hopeful it will) and some of these loose ends continue into next season, my assessment here may soften in retrospect.

Until then, though, a valiant effort by all involved can’t completely overcome the fact that this story is bigger than six episodes. 

Character Moments Still Outstanding

The best moments of the episode are the character moments, which has been true for much of the season. 

The ceremony for the baby is lovely, as is the final scene of Joe and Emma riding into the sunset. Everything connected with Bernadette leaving is perfect. I love the scene between her and Chee. Plus, Joe calling her daughter during their goodbye hit me right in the feels. 

As much as I love everything about Bernadette’s goodbye to Chee and Joe, I didn’t love that it also feels like the series is saying goodbye to the character. If there is another season and Bernadette isn’t a part of it, I will be so bummed. 

There is so much left to explore with her character, her relationships, and her place within her community. I’m not sure the show will be the same without her, so I hope this isn’t her big swan song. 

Overall Impressions

Dark Winds Season 2 stumbles a bit at the finish line. Taken as a whole, the season loses some steam after a stellar start.

Still, even if Season 2 doesn’t quite come together as well as we’d hoped, the individual episodes are always beautifully filmed, with plenty of poignant emotion and tense action. 

The main flaw of the season is more about episode count than craft. While I can’t say it doesn’t impact the season’s overall quality, week-to-week Dark Winds tells an expertly executed, character-driven story. It is easily still one of the best shows on TV, despite a conclusion that feels incomplete.

Stray Thoughts

• Sally’s need to leave and strike out on her own is understandable. Emma and Joe, however, deserved more than a letter left on the table.
• I truly thought we would see the youngest Charley family member again—just another example of a side story that didn’t go anywhere.
• I would have loved to have seen Joe’s relationship with his father explored more.
• It is great to see Chee back in uniform.

What did you think of this episode of Dark Winds? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Dark Winds airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC, with early access for AMC+ subscribers on Thursdays.

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