Dark Winds: An Even Better Neo-Western Show Than Yellowstone

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While Yellowstone is likely the most talked-about modern Western of recent years, Dark Winds is actually the better show. Yellowstone, created by Taylor Sheridan and focusing on the Dutton family’s fight to keep their ranch, deserves credit for bringing Westerns back into the spotlight. However, popularity doesn’t necessarily equal quality television.

As a huge fan of Westerns, I honestly think Dark Winds is better than Yellowstone. It’s a really compelling crime drama set in the 1970s Southwest, focusing on Navajo police officers. What I love is how much more realistic and visually striking it is compared to Yellowstone – it’s just a more immersive and stylish experience.

Both Yellowstone and Dark Winds are excellent modern Westerns you can stream, but Dark Winds often gets less attention because Yellowstone is so popular.

Dark Winds Is The Best Neo-Western Show Of The 2020s

The third season of Dark Winds premiered to a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, a first for any Western show. This continued the series’ streak of universally positive reviews, cementing its place as the top neo-Western TV show of the 2020s.

While technically a period piece set in the 1970s, Dark Winds explores themes commonly found in neo-Westerns. The show focuses on the lives of Native American tribes as they navigate modern America, existing both within and outside of the dominant social structures imposed upon them.

The series follows Navajo police officers Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and Bernadette Manuelito as they investigate crimes on tribal lands in the Four Corners region. Each season centers around a murder mystery told with the dark and atmospheric style of a neo-noir thriller.

How Dark Winds Is Even Better Than Yellowstone

Dark Winds is a standout Western series – and arguably better than Yellowstone – that’s emerged in recent years. The show, based on Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn & Chee novels, offers thoughtfully developed and realistic depictions of Native American life and culture.

Season Yellowstone Rotten Tomatoes Score Dark Winds Rotten Tomatoes Score
1 58% 100%
2 89% 100%
3 100% 100%
4 91% –
5 79% –

While Yellowstone is essentially a family saga with a Western setting, Dark Winds is a true Western that cleverly challenges the typical portrayals of law enforcement in the genre. However, the show also makes it clear that it’s a crime drama at its heart.

While the crimes in Dark Winds feel carefully planned and realistic, the violent acts in Yellowstone often seem designed simply to showcase the harshness of the Old West or to fuel personal feuds between characters.

Why Yellowstone Is More Popular Than Dark Winds

While Dark Winds is excellent, it hasn’t reached the same level of popularity as Taylor Sheridan’s hit series, Yellowstone. The Yellowstone finale was a huge success, attracting over 11 million viewers – a record for streaming in the Western genre.

Kevin Costner, a well-known Western actor, initially drew many viewers to the show. While Zahn McClarnon delivers a fantastic performance as Joe Leaphorn in Dark Winds, he doesn’t have the same level of fame as Costner. Yellowstone first captured attention because of Costner, and then many viewers became invested in the dramatic story of the Dutton family.

Unlike shows with big-name stars or dramatic family stories, ‘Dark Winds’ has quietly gained a following. ‘Yellowstone’ benefited from being on Netflix and helped bring Westerns back to television well before ‘Dark Winds’ premiered. Still, if you enjoy the Western genre, this often-overlooked series is definitely worth watching.

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2025-10-23 22:39