An AMC series based on Tony Hillerman's literary works has drawn comparisons to HBO's True Detective in discussions of contemporary television drama. Dark Winds, which has aired four complete seasons, follows a Navajo Tribal Police officer managing investigations on a Southwestern reservation in the 1970s, supported by a team including two younger officers. The production benefits from prominent producers including George R.R. Martin and the late Robert Redford.

Both programmes employ supernatural and mystical storytelling elements alongside conventional crime investigation, though critical assessments suggest Dark Winds handles this narrative balance more effectively. The series weaves together Western, crime thriller, and noir aesthetics, creating antagonists and obstacles that extend beyond typical criminal elements to include supernatural phenomena that psychologically challenge the protagonists.