Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Dark Winds Season 3 Episode 2. The highly praised AMC+ thriller Dark Winds is currently streaming, and showrunner Graham Roland introduces a new danger that pushes Navajo Nation Police officers Joe Leaphorn ( Zahn McClarnon ) and Jim Chee ( Kiowa Gordon ) to their limits. Dark Winds is adapted from Tony Hillerman’s “Leaphorn & Chee” novels and features executive producers Robert Redford and George R.R. Martin (who both make surprising appearances this season). In the opening scene of Episode 1, a terrified Leaphorn encounters a frightening entity in the dark desert, hinting at a possible antagonist for Season 3. It is later revealed that they might be confronting the ancient and mystical Navajo being known as Ye’iitsoh. Viewers have had brief glimpses of what could be Ye’iitsoh, but after two episodes, it’s evident that Roland will gradually unveil the nature and abilities of this creature as Leaphorn and Chee investigate.

What Is Ye’iitsoh in ‘Dark Winds’?

Translated from the Navajo, Ye’iitsoh translates to “Big monster” or “Big God,” and it is said that this monster is linked to the disappearance of two young Navajo boys. In Navajo tradition, Ye’iitsoh is akin to the Sasquatch or the boogeyman, and is one of the most feared beings in Navajo culture. According to legend, Ye’iitsoh was part of the Anaye, a group of evil god-like monsters in Navajo lore. Its hunger for human flesh was unparalleled as it roamed the land, hunting and consuming the Diné.

Ye’iitsoh posed a threat to the Diné, threatening to consume all their food or even the people themselves. It is said that he could devour multiple individuals at once with his jagged, toothy mouth. The tale continues that he was ultimately slain by two courageous twins, offspring of the sun god, Tsohanoai. Other variations depict them as the twin sons of the sun, Jóhonaaʼéí. Gifted with lightning bolts and arrows made of sunbeams from their father, the twins mortally wounded Ye’iitsoh, leading to his demise. The initial episode of the season is framed by references to this Navajo monster, which will play a crucial role in the unfolding story.

The Second Episode of ‘Dark Winds’ Appears to Confirm the Ye’iitsoh

In the premiere of Dark Winds’s third season, both Leaphorn and Chee are doubtful about Ye’iitsoh’s involvement in the abductions. However, as Leaphorn delves deeper in the second episode, he grows increasingly convinced that they are indeed facing something inexplicable. Leaphorn experiences strange visions resembling Ye’iitsoh. In the climactic moment of Episode 2, he asserts, “It’s him,” as the credits roll, affirming his belief in Ye’iitsoh’s involvement.

It will be intriguing to see how Roland integrates this mythical figure into the Season 3 narrative. This fresh element introduces a moodier and more terrifying force for Leaphorn, Chee, and Bernadette Manuelito ( Jessica Matten ), now a Texas Border Patrol officer. While Season 2 explored themes of skinwalkers and witchcraft, this tangible representation of Ye’iitsoh is far more visceral and intimidating. It may also serve as a psychological tool that reflects Leaphorn’s guilt over leaving B.J. Vines ( John Diehl ) to die in the desert at the end of Season 2, illustrating his ongoing emotional turmoil.

New episodes of Dark Winds are available for streaming on Sundays via AMC+ in the U.S.

Set in the 1970s on a remote Navajo reservation, this crime thriller follows tribal police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee as they investigate a series of brutal crimes that challenge their spiritual beliefs and personal lives. The show blends mystery, culture, and the harsh realities of life in the Southwest.

Creator

Graham Roland

Main Genre

Crime

Seasons

3

Character(s)

Lt. Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, Bernadette Manuelito, Emma Leaphorn, Sally Growing Thunder, Dispatch Operator / Natalie Bluehouse, Helen Atcitty, Sheriff Lawrence ‘Gordo’ Sena, ‘Devoted’ Dan DeMarco, Leland Whitover, Frank Nakai, Benjamin Tso

Characters By

Tony Hillerman

Creator(s)

Graham Roland

Distributor

AMC, AMC Networks

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