Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Dark Winds season 3.Some new comments from John Wirth, the showrunner of Dark Winds, have me completely convinced that season 4 is going to be great. Dark Winds season 4 was confirmed long before the ending of Dark Winds season 3, and John Wirth has evidently been using his time wisely. We already have a good idea of how certain stories will continue in Dark Winds season 4 – such as Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten) and Jim Chee’s (Kiowa Gordon) romance, and Joe Leaphorn’s (Zahn McClarnon) attempts to win back Emma (Deanna Allison) – and Wirth has given us even more insight.
Though Dark Winds is based on author Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn & Chee novels, the show has always taken some creative liberties. Many of the main characters of the show are depicted differently than they are in the book, and many of the mysteries Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito solve have major details changed to preserve suspense. As such, it’s often hard to guess exactly what each new season of Dark Winds will be about ahead of time. Luckily, John Wirth’s comments have given a great view of what’s in store.
Dark Winds Season 4 Will Focus On “Ghost Sickness”
Ghost Sickness Is A Navajo Belief That People Are Negatively Impacted By Improperly Coming Into Contact With Dead People
In an interview with TV Insider, John Wirth revealed that Dark Winds season 4 will deal with another unique part of Navajo culture: the concept of ghost sickness. He also noted that Dark Winds season 4 will be based on Tony Hillerman’s novel, “The Ghostway“.
“It deals with the Navajo experience of ghost sickness, which has to do with what happens to a person, in their tradition, if they are exposed to a dead body or if they’re with a person when the person dies. I’m not a Navajo, and I’m not an expert in all things Navajo, but my understanding is if you are with a person when they breathe their last breath, that breath goes into you and you become ghost sick, which requires a ceremony to cure you of ghost sickness.
It’s another aspect of Navajo culture, which I personally found very interesting and intriguing, and I’m eager to share them with our audience. Many of our writers are indigenous; we have Navajo writers as well as some Navajo consultants. As Zahn likes to say, ‘We don’t represent the Navajo Nation, but we try to honor the Navajo Nation with an accurate portrayal of their culture and being sensitive to things that are private and not showing the world anything that’s private in the Navajo culture.'”
As Wirth explained, ghost sickness is a Navajo belief that touching or improperly burying a dead person can result in a spiritual sickness. It’s not clear yet who will be experiencing ghost sickness in Dark Winds season 4, as Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito have all killed people. However, Wirth’s comments do hint that he and the rest of the writers already have an established plan for the show, and that Dark Winds season 4 could be just as introspective and profoundly spiritual as season 3 was. Soembody is going to have to reckon with what they’ve done, which is perfectly in keeping with Dark Winds‘ somber tone.
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What Bernadette’s Final Scene In Dark Winds Season 3 Means For Chee In Season 4
Bernadette Manuelito and Jim Chee left things on an awkward note halfway through Dark Winds season 3, but their final scene indicated a change.
Dark Winds season 4’s focus on ghost sickness also confirms that some other highlights of the show will be returning. Wirth has already mentioned that Dark Winds season 4 will continue to be dedicated to depicting Navajo culture in a mindful way. Additionally, since it’s based on “The Ghostway,” it looks like Dark Winds season 4 will have more of Hillerman’s excellent writing to use as inspiration. It’s even possible that ghost sickness’ ties to Navajo medicine could be a sign that Jim Chee will get closer to his book counterpart in Dark Winds season 4.
Everything Else We Know About Dark Winds Season 4
Leaphorn, Chee, & Manuelito Will Go To Los Angeles To Find A Runaway Girl
Ghost sickness wasn’t the only news John Wirth had to share about Dark Winds season 4, however. In fact, he actually teased a wide variety of possibilities for Dark Winds season 4. For instance, when asked if Tom Spenser (Bruce Greenwood) could ever get punished for his crimes, Wirth said, “It’s not likely, but never say never. I’m very fond of the actor,” (via TV Insider). He also commented on Bernadette and Chee’s likely romance in Dark Winds season 4, and while he didn’t outright confirm it would happen, he noted how much chemistry they have.
Wirth also had some major reveals about the central mystery at the heart of Dark Winds season 4. As he said, Manuelito, Leaphorn, and Chee are going to spend some time in Los Angeles while looking for a Navajo girl who ran away from her boarding school.
“Every season I try to look at a different aspect of the white world and how it interfaces with the reservation. It could be a border town — not the border with the United States and Mexico, but with the Navajo Nation. In this case, it’s Los Angeles. We spend three episodes in 1970s LA. The Ghost Way’s story is about a 16-year-old Navajo girl who runs away from boarding school. One of the routine duties of Navajo tribal police is to find runaways and return them to school. It’s been going on for generations.”
Wirth also noted that Chee lived in L.A. for a time with his mother, which should bring up a variety of memories for him, and that the search for the runaway girl will quickly turn deadly. Dark Winds season 4 will have plenty more darkness in store for viewers. Beyond that, Wirth mentioned that he doesn’t feel hopeful for Joe’s chances of reuniting with Emma, but that in life, “Things happen that you don’t see coming, and other things heal that you don’t think are healable.”
Manuelito, Leaphorn, and Chee are going to spend some time in Los Angeles while looking for a Navajo girl who ran away from her boarding school.
Outside of Wirth’s comments, we know a bit more about Dark Winds season 4, including a casting update. Franka Potente has been added to Dark Winds season 4’s cast after she starred in films like The Bourne Identity, Run Lola Run, and shows like AMC’s Mayfair Witches. Executive producer George R.R. Martin also confirmed Dark Winds season 4 is already filming. Even this soon after the season 3 finale, Dark Winds season 4 already seems to be coming together nicely.
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