It all intertwines with a gripping central mystery that’s creepy as hell, totally immersive, and appropriately sentimental. There’s nothing quite like it on TV right now.

What’s most exhilarating about the second season of “Dark Winds” is the complete lack of desperation. This isn’t a show that needs to pander or betray its characters for ratings. It’s only two seasons in, but these characters and the world they inhabit feel fully realized and rich with stories to tell.

What matters is how the characters — and Joe Leaphorn in particular — feel about everything that’s happening, and that material lands beautifully. It cannot be overstated how great Zahn McClarnon is in this role. .... Gordon, Allison, and Matten are also excellent. Even though the series is primarily a Leaphorn/Chee two-hander, the nature of this season essentially turns Manuelito into the second lead, and she more than justifies the extra screen time.

From side characters like Joe's wife Emma (Deanna Allison) finally being allowed to shine, to well-crafted action sequences, "Dark Winds" is finally able to flourish with the scale it was meant for.

Dark Winds continues to be a compelling show because of McLarnon’s lead performance and the complexities that its Indigenous setting brings to its mysteries.

While it might seem awfully bleak, there’s humor too, including a four-legged troublemaker locked up at the jail. It’s a series that’s hard to resist.

The long psychological arcs here are compelling. .... Plot remains a problem. “Dark Winds” packs too much complication into a six-episode season and relies on unnecessary and sometimes nonsensical twists.