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[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Dark Winds Season 3, Episode 8, “Béésh Lii (Iron Horse).”]
Season 3 of Dark Winds culminated in a thrilling finale that showcased an impressive train sequence, skillfully directed by Chris Eyre, who also serves as an executive producer.
The episode follows Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) as he investigates the murder of Ernesto Cata (Alonso Rappa) and the assault on George Bowlegs (Bodhi Okuma Linton). His inquiries lead him to archaeologist Dr. Reynolds (Christopher Heyerdahl), who had been improperly managing his archaeological dig. When Ernesto became aware of Reynolds’ actions, he confronted him, putting George’s life at risk as Reynolds attempted to eliminate him as well.
Reynolds, in his frantic search for George, heads towards a train, entirely unaware that Leaphorn, Chee (Kiowa Gordon), and their fellow Navajo officers are preparing a trap. The tension escalates as Leaphorn and Chee lose track of George and Reynolds, prompting them to leap aboard the moving train to keep the situation from spiraling further.
Michael Moriatis / AMC
This sets off a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse, featuring a shootout that unfolds against the breathtaking backdrop of New Mexico’s landscape. The climax finds Leaphorn confronting Reynolds at the rear of the train, where Reynolds is holding George hostage. However, when Reynolds is about to take drastic action, Chee suddenly appears from a nearby train car to neutralize the immediate threat.
“When it was mentioned that we might shoot the finale on a train, I was immediately excited,” Eyre remarked, recalling his past experiences on this very train, owned by George R.R. Martin, an executive producer on the show and an established author.
The involvement of Martin and fellow producer Robert Redford became evident as they made brief appearances in Season 3, playing prisoners at a Navajo police station. Eyre noted that the decision to feature the train in the finale was made possible after Martin approved it for the script. “How many can say they have a friend who owns a train? This opened up a unique opportunity for us,” Eyre added.
Michael Moriatis / AMC
Filming the train scene did present its challenges. Eyre humorously reflected on the intricacies of resetting the train between takes—a process that could take up to 20 minutes. The movement of the train required precise coordination, resulting in the director relying heavily on his assistant directors to help track character placements during the shooting.
In total, Eyre mentioned that they had to reset the train sequence about ten times, which added to the complexity of the scene. He noted the advantages of drone footage, which captured the train’s majesty and its historical context effectively. “George R.R. Martin’s train features authentic period cars, many of which were used by notable figures, including Franklin D. Roosevelt,” Eyre pointed out.
He also highlighted that the train had been utilized by Christopher Nolan in his acclaimed film Oppenheimer earlier this year. Eyre expressed his admiration for the train as a distinguished cinematic element, describing the experience of filming it crossing through the Southwestern terrain with sweeping drone shots. “I fell in love with the vastness of the landscape,” Eyre remarked.
Fans of the series can look forward to the forthcoming fourth season, which promises to deliver more exciting developments. Until then, viewers are encouraged to share their thoughts on the astonishing train scene in the comments section below.
Dark Winds, Season 4 Premiere, TBA, AMC & AMC+
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