‘Dark Winds’ Season 3 Debuts To More Than 50% Audience Growth Over Season 2 Premiere On AMC+

Dark Winds has returned to AMC+ with a strong debut for Season 3.

Per AMC, the third season’s premiere episode attracted 2.2M viewers in the first three days of availability, which is up more than 50% in viewership over the Season 2 premiere.

The latest season has also doubled subscriber acquisition compared to the previous season, indicating a strong growth trajectory and bodes well for the already renewed series as Season 4 begins filming this month.

“We are so proud of this series, and so thankful for the response from fans and critics to the storytelling, the performances and the authenticity that comes through in every frame,” Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks, said in a statement. “We knew Dark Winds had all the ingredients to become another important franchise for AMC and AMC+, but for Season 3 to attract more than 2.2 million premiere night viewers and again receive this level of critical acclaim – including a third straight 100-point score on Rotten Tomatoes – is truly remarkable. Thanks to everyone involved, starting with the incomparable Zahn McClarnon and our showrunner John Wirth. We can’t wait for fans to see the rest of this third season and here comes Season 4!” 

Dark Winds Season 3 picks up six months after the events of Season 2. It follows Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) and Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) as they investigate the disappearance of two boys, with only an abandoned bicycle and blood-stained patch of ground left in their wake.

Meanwhile, Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten) attempts to settle into her new life 500 miles from home with the Border Patrol, but stumbles across a conspiracy involving human and drug smuggling with far-reaching implications.

Guest stars this season include Jenna Elfman as FBI Special Agent Sylvia Washington, Bruce Greenwood as Tom Spenser, Raoul Max Trujillo as Budge, Tonantzin Carmelo as Border Patrol Agent Eleanda Garza, Alex Meraz as Border Patrol Agent Ivan Muños, Terry Serpico as Border Patrol Senior Chief Ed Henry, Derek Hinkey as Shorty Bowlegs, Phil Burke as Michael Halsey, and Christopher Heyerdahl as Dr Reynolds. This season also sees the return of guest star A. Martinez as Scarborough Police Department Acting Chief Gordo Sena.

Based on the series by Tony Hillerman, Dark Winds is created by Graham Roland. John Wirth serves as showrunner. The series is executive produced by Roland, Wirth, McClarnon, Robert Redford, George R.R. Martin, Chris Eyre, Tina Elmo, Jim Chory, Vince Gerardis and Anne Hillerman.