George R.R. Martin's 1970s Crime Thriller Maintains Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score

Dark Winds, the neo-Western crime drama based on Tony Hillerman's Leaphorn & Chee novels, continues its critical acclaim with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score for its fourth season.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Dark Winds, the AMC neo-Western crime drama executive produced by George R.R. Martin and the late Robert Redford, has maintained a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score for all four seasons. The series, which follows a trio of Navajo Tribal Police officers in the 1970s Southwestern United States, is set to return for its fourth season on February 15, 2026, with the investigation expanding beyond the Navajo Nation to Los Angeles.

Why it matters

Dark Winds has become a fan favorite for its powerhouse performances, clever mysteries, and authentic portrayal of Navajo culture, cementing George R.R. Martin's reputation as a versatile and acclaimed storyteller even as he continues to struggle with completing his highly anticipated A Song of Ice and Fire novel series.

The details

In Season 4, the Navajo police trio of veteran Joe Leaphorn, fresh-faced Jim Chee, and the ever-reliable Bernadette Manuelito will travel to Los Angeles to investigate the disappearance of 16-year-old Billie Tsosie, who has left Navajo country. The season will introduce new characters, including a fearsome crime boss played by Titus Welliver and a brutal survivalist named Irene Vaggan, played by Franka Potente, who has been sent to carry out a deadly act.

  • Dark Winds will return for its fourth season on February 15, 2026.
  • The series has maintained a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score for all four seasons.

The players

George R.R. Martin

An acclaimed author and executive producer of the Dark Winds series.

Robert Redford

The late actor and producer who co-executive produced Dark Winds with Martin.

Zahn McClarnon

The actor who portrays veteran Navajo Tribal Police officer Joe Leaphorn in the series.

Billie Tsosie

A 16-year-old girl who has gone missing from Navajo country and made her way to Los Angeles, setting off the events of Season 4.

Titus Welliver

The actor who will play a fearsome crime boss in Season 4 of Dark Winds.

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What they’re saying

“Frankly, it's hard to find things about a show like Dark Winds to nitpick. The longer season may contribute to a bit of an uneven pace, and it (at first) feels strange that Bernadette is so separated from the rest of the cast. Indeed, certain elements of each respective mystery could have been condensed, offering audiences a more easily digestible plot. However, more Dark Winds is never a bad thing. The show is clearly well-crafted by showrunner John Wirth and the rest of the writers, who have well-succeeded in their construction of a mystery series that continuously lives up to the hype.”

— Michael John Petty, Collider Critic (Collider)

What’s next

Season 4 of Dark Winds will premiere on February 15, 2026, on AMC and AMC+.

The takeaway

Dark Winds' consistent critical acclaim and perfect Rotten Tomatoes scores demonstrate George R.R. Martin's versatility as a storyteller, and the series' ability to captivate audiences with its authentic portrayal of Navajo culture and compelling mysteries, even as the author continues to struggle with completing his highly anticipated A Song of Ice and Fire novel series.