AMC's latest thriller Dark Winds has opened up to favorable reviews since its premiere early this month. Based on the Leaphorn & Chee series by fiction writer Tony Hillerman, Dark Winds follows a typical murder investigation with a hint of western pulp, but what makes it unique is its setting of a Native American reservation in the 70s.
Zahn McClarnon stars in his first series lead as Navajo Police Chief Joe Leaphorn, and the show explores the relations between residents of the reservation and the external forces that have caused irreparable harm, from the U.S. Government to Assimilation schools. Many mystery thrillers may start as a simple whodunit, but eventually what spawns from it is a complex tale that becomes much more with themes of race, corruption, and community relations becoming the center focus instead. So which shows share these traits with AMC's latest hit?
Fargo (Season 2)
FX's Fargo may be more of a Coen brothers homage than a murder mystery, nonetheless, it's still one of the most gripping TV series to have come out in the past decade. An anthology, the second season tells its own story, this time set in the midwest in the 1970s. What unfolds is a tale ripe for any crime drama fan to enjoy.
The standout for this particular season was Zahn McClarnon's performance as the Anton Chigurh stand-in, Hanzee Dent. Hanzee's aloof and calm demeanor contrasted nicely with his emotional turmoil for everything that's been thrown at him, making McClarnon's performance all the more impressive and terrifying.
True Detective
With a new season of True Detective coming out soon with Jodie Foster in the lead, it'll be interesting to see what tale of mystery and corruption will take hold. Previous seasons have dealt with various levels of corruption. Whether it be religious or government institutions involving the blue-collar communities they operate out of, True Detective has had a fair share of intriguing tales to share for each season.
Season 3, featuring Mahershala Ali, is set in the Arkansas Ozarks, and its themes are more attuned to Dark Winds, but that first season's exploration of supernatural elements grounded in reality may share more in common than anyone may think.
Under The Banner Of Heaven
Andrew Garfield's latest TV drama on FX may appear to be a True Detective knock-off, but it's based on true events that surrounded the murder of a Mormon mother and her child, with the FLDS church they were a part of being the main suspects.
Coming out the same year as Dark Winds, Under the Banner of Heaven could be viewed as a companion piece due to the regional space the two settings share. Gil Birmingham also stars as a Native American officer tasked with helping along with his "green" superior (Garfield) in terms of procedure and understanding more about the overall landscape of their investigation to boot.
Longmire
Another Zahn McClarnon featured entry, Longmire was an A&E program that was the typical modern sheriff-led western. It's an entertaining show that serves its purpose for all pulp and western fans to enjoy. It was even the highest critical hit the network had to offer before eventually, Netflix picked it up.
Zahn McClarnon plays the tribal chief of the Cheyenne nation, so to see McClarnon's take on another chief of police is reason enough to view. But Longmire focuses more on the external forces that inhabit the same area as the reservation.
Godless
Netflix's original miniseries, Godless is a unique take on the take of the gunfighter archetype looking to atone. Jack O'Connell's Roy Goode is on the run from the ruthless Frank Griffin, portrayed by Jeff Daniels.
While not following the same pattern as most murder mysteries, Godless still offers a straight and narrow western series for any fan to enjoy, from its beautiful unfettered landscape to amazing action set-pieces. The Wild West is still an engaging setting for any show, and a concept that reckons with the mindset of the manifest destiny that drove most American governance in the 19th century is a welcomed one.
Green Frontier
More commonly known as "Frontera Verde" outside of the U.S., Green Frontier is a Colombian TV series that also portrays the relations between indigenous communities and the governments that were spawned from the "independence" to come in colonized lands by European powers.
Like Dark Winds, Green Frontier explores the same themes almost beat for beat, but they also add in border disputes that pre-date when those areas were colonized. Regardless, what unfolds is a compelling mystery for any viewer to enjoy despite language barriers.
The Sinner
Another pulp series-based TV show, The Sinner is an anthology that follows a new mystery per season. Bill Pullman's Detective Harry Ambrose is the only connection between each season, like Agatha Christie's Detective Poirot. But the first season with Jessica Biel appears to be the most critically acclaimed.
Much like Poirot, Ambrose is the only one to solve this case at the end of the day. But the show manages to at least competently portray it so that it makes sense by being grounded in modern society.
The Chestnut Man
Scandinavian and Danish crime shows seemed to be ahead of the curve even in comparison to the likes of a popular thriller like True Detective, but The Chestnut Man is yet another example that the forces in northwestern Europe still are capable of producing engaging competent mysteries.
A thirty-year-old case that was originally thought to be cold upon arrival turns out to have more to it than initially believed. Caught in a web of city corruption, two detectives are forced to leave no stone unturned when it turns out that the recent murders are connected with the killing of a politician's daughter.
The Valhalla Murders
Sharing Nordic origins as The Chestnut Man, The Valhalla Murders' comparisons stop there as it begins to recount tales of abuse amongst religious officials at a state and church-sponsored school for those deemed "troubled."
Much like those on reservations sent to assimilation schools in North America, The Valhalla Murders is a story of where the powers that be look the other way, as it is in their best interest to keep those who fall out of line to obey. The real kicker as well is that the events that transpire in TVM are actually based on reality.
Bosch
While Bosch may appear as a stark contrast compared to the nature and themes that Dark Winds has offered so far, they still share a protagonist who may be too close to the case than they'd like to admit.
No-nonsense and stoic yet still being driven by emotion, Detective Bosch is an intriguing figure to follow as he traverses the landscape set by corrupt government administrations. Though not as racially conscious as Dark Winds has been, Bosch at least makes the effort that the original author of the series would not have.