Netflix has enjoyed a streaming boost with the arrival of Dark Winds, the acclaimed Western series executive-produced by George R.R. Martin, which landed on the platform on 4 July. The article frames this as timely for viewers frustrated by the third season of HBO's House of the Dragon, which, despite topping the HBO Max charts, has drawn fan criticism over pacing and a shortage of major action sequences, set against a well-publicised falling-out between Martin and showrunner Ryan Condal.

Dark Winds is an AMC series that aired its fourth season earlier this year before arriving on Netflix, giving subscribers who missed it a chance to catch up. Across all four seasons it has maintained a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and was originally also executive-produced by the late Robert Redford. Collider's reviewer Michael John Petty praised the show's writing staff, describing each twist and turn as "unexpectedly delightful".