The ongoing third season has featured the largest number of these elements so far, as Joe has been haunted by his decision to leave B.J.
Vines (John Diehl), the man responsible for his sons death, to die, while also investigating the abduction of two local boys, one of whom was later found dead, which he believes may be the work ofthe Ye’iitsoh, a monster described in Navajo/Dine traditions.The seasons latest episode was its most surreal yet, providing a trippy look at a troubled mental journey for Joe as he discovers the truth about disturbing events from his childhood, with an audiovisual style that is distinct from the series usual aesthetic and recalls the work of filmmakers such asDavid Lynch.
‘Dark Winds’ Latest Episode Is Its Most Surreal Yet
In Season 3, Episode 6, “Abidoo’niidee (What We Had Been Told), Joe is shot with an arrow dosed with ananimal tranquilizerwhile attempting to rescue George Bowlegs (Bodi Okuma Linton) from what he believes is the Ye’iitsoh.The tranquilizer causes him to have a series of vivid hallucinations, some related to Vines death but others revolving around the murder of a local Catholic priest (Robert Knepper) that occurred when Joe was an adolescent, with him even coming face to face with an apparition of his younger self (Linton).
Image via AMC
The episode is also framed by scenes of a local stage production depicting a myth of a pair of twins who defeat the Ye’iitsoh, that raises questions about combating evil forces with tactics similar to their own that are also provoked by Joes story.
The visions force Joe to recall the events surrounding the priests death, which came after he warned his father, Henry (Joseph Runningfox), that the priest was sexually abusing his cousin and other local children.
As the visions progress, Joe comes to assume that he killed the priest and subconsciously represses the memory of doing so, until he sees an apparition of Henry burying the priest.Henry confirms that he killed the pedophileand expresses guilt, not for doing so but for not initially believing Joe and making him and his cousin continue going to the church before he accepted the truth.
Image via AMC
While the real-world scenes with Joe and George in the desert maintain the shows usual, grounded visual style, the visions employ much more vibrant lighting and saturated colors to immerse the viewer in Joes imagined experiences.DirectorErica Tremblayconfirmed that Lynchs work was one of several influenceson the style of these scenes and this certainly comes across throughout many of the visions.
The subjects covered by the dialogue ensure that the episode maintains a mostly serious tone throughout, but the absurdity of scenes, such as Joe ballroom dancing withFBI Agent Sylvia Washington (Jenna Elfman)while discussing how the criminal justice system functions differently for Native people and wealthy white ones like Vines recall the unique mix of grave drama and surreal humor many Lynch projects, especially his iconic television seriesTwin Peaks, are famous for.
‘Dark Winds’ and ‘Twin Peaks’ Use Surrealism To Depict Abuse
Twin Peaksis often credited with being instrumental in improving the reputation of and expanding the artistic possibilities for the television medium, to the extent that most scripted dramas of all types that have followed it can be argued to owe the show a debt.However, while a complex, genre-blending work,Twin Peaksis also more simply iconic as a unique police mystery series.
Image via AMC
Subsequently, it is an especially pronounced influence on many later prestige cop shows, especially those that blend aspects of the supernatural and other genres, such ashorror.
Dark Windsactually hasnt displayed this influence as prominently as other shows, but it’s fitting that it becomes more pronounced in this episode, asTwin Peaksand its prequel film,Fire Walk with Me, are known forusing surreal imagery and filmmaking techniques to emphasize the nightmarish realitiesof child sexual abuse.
‘Dark Winds’ Season 3 Needs To Return to Reality
But while the unique visuals and McClarnons performance, which continues to find new nuances to add to Joe and striking ways to highlight the emotional journey hes going through, make this an episode that will be hard to forget,not all of its big swings work perfectly.
While its relevance to the ongoing storylines is clear, the sudden introduction of such a crucial and devastating part of Joes backstory is somewhat jarring.
And a conversation between Joe and a hallucinated version of his wife, Emma (Deanna Allison), doesnt capture the full extent of the issues the couple have been facing as their marriage becomes strained this season.
The dream Emma is obsessively focused on Joe being slow to accomplish yard work she asked him to do, leading to an argument over whether he is overly consumed by his job.
While this is certainly an issue theyve debated at times,the particularly intense friction between them this season is truly rooted in Emmas disapproval of Joes actions with Vines, which have forced her to help conceal his culpability in the criminals death, as Agent Washington has gotten increasingly close to confirming it.
The dream Emmas arguably unnecessary intensity about the household complaints could be evidence of Joes subjectivity influencing a conversation that, ultimately, is taking place within his own mind, hinting that hes ignoring the legitimate objections the real Emma has about Vines because he still at least partially believes he was justified in what he did.
For this storyline to conclude in a fashion worthy of how strong it has been so far, however,it will have to include at least one more real-world conversationabout the topic between the couple in which both of their perspectives are respected, whether they can ultimately reconcile or not.
Similar things can be said about most of the other ongoing arcs, emphasizing that, as interesting a stylistic experiment as this episode was and as welcome as similar installments may be further in the future,Season 3s final episodes would benefit from returning to the usual, more grounded style, especially now that Joe has realized that the killer hunting George is just a man.
All available episodes ofDark Windsare available to stream on AMC+ in the U.S.
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