Finished ‘Dark Winds’ Season 3? Here’s what to watch next
Finished ‘Dark Winds’ Season 3? Here’s what to watch next
These slow-burn crime dramas capture the same haunting vibe as ‘Dark Winds.’
I’ve always been a sucker for murder mystery shows (find my previous top seven favorites here) that pull you into an entire world — not just a case. And Dark Winds? It’s one of the best at it. The series mixes slow-burn crime, complicated characters, and that eerie, wide-open desert setting in a way that just pulls you deeper with every episode. Season 3 just wrapped up and you’re probably already missing that mix of mystery, atmosphere, and emotional tension. So if you’re wondering what to watch next, I’ve got you. These four crime thrillers all bring that same layered, haunting vibe.
Dark Winds
This psychological thriller follows two Navajo police officers, Leaphorn and Chee, in the 1970s Southwest as their search for clues in a grisly double murder case forces them to challenge their own spiritual beliefs and come to terms with the trauma of their pasts.
Loved ‘Dark Winds’? Watch: ‘Longmire’
If you love “Dark Winds” for its slow-burn mysteries, complex characters, and the way it makes the land feel like a character itself, you’ll want to dive into “Longmire.” Based on the “Walt Longmire” series of mystery novels by best-selling author Craig Johnson, the show follows Sheriff Walt Longmire as he tries to hold his community together after the death of his wife, with plenty of tension bubbling under the surface.
Like “Dark Winds,” it weaves Native American culture and politics into its storylines, adding depth and authenticity you don’t always find in standard crime dramas. It’s quiet, introspective, and packed with that same dusty, lived-in feeling that makes the world feel real.
That said, “Longmire” leans a little more toward traditional Western tropes — gruff sheriffs, lone-wolf lawmen, bar fights — while “Dark Winds” digs deeper into psychological tension and spiritual conflict. “Longmire” also has a slightly more procedural format at times, solving individual cases along the way, whereas “Dark Winds” builds mysteries slowly over the season.
Both shows thrive on mood, character, and setting, but “Longmire” is just a touch more classic in its crime storytelling style — and it’s all the better for it.
Longmire
A Wyoming sheriff rebuilds his life and career following the death of his wife. Based on the “Walt Longmire” series of mystery novels written by best-selling author Craig Johnson.
Check out ‘The Killing’
If “Dark Winds” pulled you in with its slow-burn storytelling, layered mysteries, and heavy sense of atmosphere, “The Killing” should be next on your list. Set in rainy, gray Seattle, the show follows detectives Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder as they dig into murder cases that spiral way beyond simple answers.
Like “Dark Winds,” it leans into emotional depth, showing how the cases impact everyone involved — from the detectives to the families left behind. Every episode leaves you with just enough to keep you hooked, but never enough to feel totally comfortable.
Where “The Killing” differs from “Dark Winds” is in its setting and focus. While “Dark Winds” ties its mysteries deeply to Navajo culture, spirituality, and the wide-open landscape of the Southwest, “The Killing” feels claustrophobic and urban, with the never-ending rain and political intrigue closing in.
Plus, “The Killing” zeroes in more narrowly on single cases for entire seasons, dragging you through every messy, heartbreaking twist. Both shows demand patience, but if you’re willing to sink into the mood, the payoff is so worth it.
The Killing
The Killing is an American crime drama television series based upon the Danish television series Forbrydelsen. Set in Seattle, Washington, the series follows the various murder investigations by homicide detectives Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder.
Don’t miss ‘True Detective Season 1’
If what you love about “Dark Winds” is the slow-burn intensity, the fully lived-in world, and the way the mystery seeps into every part of the characters’ lives, then “True Detective” Season 1 is essential viewing. This season has come to set the bar for what a slow-burn, world-building murder mystery can be.
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson deliver career-best performances as two deeply flawed detectives chasing a case that eats away at their sanity. And while “True Detective” Season 4 was excellent in its own right, nothing has topped the eerie, hypnotic pull of that first season set against the haunting Louisiana landscape.
Compared to “Dark Winds,” “True Detective” Season 1 is a little more philosophical and existential — diving deep into questions about time, evil, and human nature. “Dark Winds” stays closer to personal trauma, cultural identity, and community ties, while “True Detective” zooms out to wrestle with bigger, bleaker ideas.
Still, both shows are master classes in mood, patience, and letting the setting bleed into the story. If you’re ready for a mystery that feels more like a descent into another world, this one’s still the gold standard.
True Detective
An American anthology police detective series utilizing multiple timelines in which investigations seem to unearth personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within or outside the law.
One more: ‘Under the Banner of Heaven’
I absolutely loved “Under the Banner of Heaven,” especially the way it grapples with faith, identity, and justice all at once. Andrew Garfield is just plain fun to watch here, playing a detective whose Mormon faith is slowly shaken as he investigates a brutal murder tied to an extremist offshoot of the church.
Like “Dark Winds,” the show isn’t just about solving a crime — it’s about the personal cost of that investigation, and how culture and belief systems can shape (and sometimes warp) the search for truth.
Where “Under the Banner of Heaven” and “Dark Winds” really differ is in their tone and pacing. “Dark Winds” has a slightly more pulpy, classic crime feel at times, while “Under the Banner” is heavier and more meditative, leaning into existential dread and moral decay. “Dark Winds” keeps you hooked through a simmering sense of danger, while “Under the Banner” builds an overwhelming sense of sorrow.
Both shows dive deep into how personal history, community pressure, and spirituality can twist people’s paths — but “Under the Banner” is more of a true-crime character study, where the detective’s crisis of faith becomes just as central as the case he’s trying to solve.
Under the Banner of Heaven
A devout detective’s faith is tested as he investigates a brutal murder that seems to be connected to an esteemed Utah family’s spiral into LDS fundamentalism and their distrust in the government.
More to watch after finishing ‘Dark Winds’
‘Godless’ | Netflix
Godless
A ruthless outlaw terrorizes the West in search of a former member of his gang, who’s found a new life in a quiet town populated only by women.
‘Bloodline’ | Netflix
Bloodline
A dramatic thriller that explores the demons lurking beneath the surface of a contemporary American family. The Rayburns are hard-working pillars of their Florida Keys community. But when the black sheep son comes home for the 45th anniversary of his parents’ hotel, he threatens to expose the Rayburns’ dark secrets and shameful past, pushing his siblings to the limits of family loyalty.
‘Top of the Lake’ | Hulu
Top of the Lake
A woman haunted by her past, Detective Robin Griffin, investigates complex and unsettling cases.
‘The American West’ | AMC+
The American West
The story of the aftermath of the Civil War and how the United States transformed into the “land of opportunity” spanning the years 1865 to 1890. Transporting into the violent world of cowboys, Indians, outlaws and law men, the story chronicles the personal, little-known stories of Western legends such as Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull.
‘Barkskins’ | Rent with Prime Video
Barkskins
A disparate group of outcasts and dreamers battle to escape their pasts while navigating the brutal frontier hardships, competing interests, and tangled loyalties at the crossroads of civilization: the New World. Based on the novel by Pulitzer-winner Annie Proulx.