Dark Winds Season 3 Premiere Attracts 2.2 Million in Viewership
March 14, 2025Dark Winds returned this past Sunday with a glorious Season 3 debut. Critics raved once again calling for an Emmy for Zahn McClarnon, and praising the third installment of the series as the best one yet.
AMC released a press release stating the return of Dark Winds attracted 2.2 million viewers per the Nielsen live +3 ratings. The wave continued over on AMC+ where the viewership was up more than 50 percent from the previous season. The series also doubled subscriber acquisitions over both prior seasons.
“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 every frame.”-Dan McDermott President of entertainment and AMC Networks
Dan went on to say he always knew that Dark Winds had the ingredients to become another big franchise for AMC and AMC+, but to bring in 2.2 million viewers since premiere night and over three days is amazing. Not to mention Dark Winds has achieved another season of a 100-point score on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s a remarkable thing for the young show that is growing in numbers every year. More and more new fans finding this series while the recurring fans of the show remain in awe.
Zahn McClarnon as Joe Leaphorn and Joseph Runningfox as Henry Leaphorn – Dark Winds _ Season 3 – Photo Credit: Michael Moriatis/AMC
Dark Winds had already been renewed for a 4th season of the series ahead of its season 3 debut. Season 4 will begin filming this month. With a strong blueprint to work from the Tony Hillerman novels, Dark Winds can be a number-one franchise for AMC and Dan McDermott for years to come. For those who don’t know there are 26 books based on the characters Chee and Leaphorn. With that being said, the sky is the limit for how many seasons Dark Winds could be around. With the horror element the show brings many fans of The Walking Dead and other horror series are shifting over to watch the adventures of Chee and Leaphorn.
Dark Winds Season 3 picks up six months after the events of Season 2. This year it will consist of 8 episodes instead of the usual 6. 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 a blood-stained patch of ground left in their wake.
Meanwhile, Bernadette Munuelito(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. Bernadette’s instincts are always spot on and at times too good, for her own good.
Jessica Matten as Bernadette Manuelito and Bruce Greenwood as Tom Spencer – Dark Winds _ Season 3, Episode 3 – Photo Credit: Michael Moriatis/AMC
Along with those three strong leads Deanna Allision returns as Joe Leaphorn’s loving but frustrated wife, Emma. Jenna Elfman as newcomer FBI agent Sylvia Washington. Bruce Greenwood as Tom Spenser. Raoul Max Trujillo as Budge. Tonantzin Carmelo as Eleanda Garza. Alex Meraz as Ivan Munos. Terry Serpico as Ed Henry. Derek Hinkey as Shorty Bowlegs, Phil Burke as Michael Halsey, and Christopher Heyerdahl as Dr. Reynolds. Guest star A. Martinez returns to work side by side with Leaphorn as Scarborough Police Department Acting Chief Gordo Sena and Carly Roland as Teddi Issacs.
Episode 2 of Dark Winds airs March 16 at 9 PM ET on AMC and AMC+.
FOLLOW LORETTE ON TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM
About the author: Shay has been writing as a journalist professionally for years. Her most common topics to cover are drama and horror but she looks forward to getting her feet wet with new and exciting genres and projects. @ShaySleighs
