Dark Winds Is Back—and Season 4’s Premiere Sets Up Its Most Dangerous Case Yet

When Dark Winds premiered on AMC, it earned strong reviews but flew somewhat under the radar. That changed when earlier seasons landed on Netflix, where the series found a much larger audience and quickly became a word-of-mouth favorite. Viewers who discovered it there praised its slow-burn tension, grounded performances, and refusal to rush its storytelling.

Now, with Season 4 officially underway, Dark Winds is returning as a show fully aware of its expanded fanbase.

The New Season is Getting Darker

The season opener, which aired this week on AMC+, wastes no time setting a darker, more dangerous tone. A new case emerges almost immediately, one that pushes the story beyond familiar territory and hints at a wider threat that won’t stay contained within the Navajo Nation.

That restraint has always been the show’s calling card, and it’s especially effective here. The episode feels less like a reset and more like an escalation — one that raises both the physical and emotional stakes for Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee.

The premiere also includes a brief but meaningful moment that longtime film fans will recognize immediately: a quiet cameo from the late Robert Redford — who was instrumental in bringing Dark Winds to the screen.

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A ruthless assassin. A missing girl. A new mystery unravels on Dark Winds S4, Sundays on AMC/AMC+.

♬ original sound - AMC+ - AMC+

Beyond AMC, the show’s Netflix afterlife looms large over Season 4. Previous seasons gained significant traction once they began streaming there, introducing the series to viewers who may not have sought it out on cable. That delayed but powerful second wave helped solidify Dark Winds as a sleeper hit.

Where to Watch 'Dark Winds' Season 4

For now, Season 4 is exclusive to AMC+, with new episodes arriving weekly. Netflix viewers hoping to jump in will likely need to wait until the season completes its run, following the same release pattern as earlier seasons. To stream on AMC+, this is the release schedule for episodes:

Episode 1, “Kǫ’Tsiitáá' Álnééh (Baptism by Fire)” — Aired on Feb 15, 2026
Episode 2, "Bikéé' Doo Éédahoozįįdę́ę́góó (Toward Their Unknown Paths)" — Airing on Feb 22, 2026
Episode 3, “TBA” — Airing March 1, 2026
Episode 4, “TBA” — Airing March 8, 2026
Episode 5, “TBA” — Airing March 15, 2026
Episode 6, “TBA” — Airing March 22, 2026
Episode 7, “TBA” — Airing March 29, 2026
Episode 7, “TBA” — Airing April 5, 2026