Dark Winds Season 2 Episode 2 Review: Wonders of the Unknown

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Joe’s investigation reveals a tragic connection between his family and the killer on Dark Winds Season 2 Episode 2, “Wonders of the Unknown,” which was written by Max Hurwitz & DezBaa and directed by Chris Eyre.

Personal Connections

The case this season has been personal for Joe from the start. First, on Dark Winds Season 2 Episode 1, “Na’niłkaadii,” Joe’s wife lands in the hospital when she is injured by the car bomb used to murder the person we thought was the killer’s first victim.

Shortly after that, Joe and Chee find Joe Jr.’s belt buckle while trying to recover the box stolen from the Vines. This connects his son’s death to Chee’s case and indirectly to the murder.

Given all of that, the revelation that the blonde man is the one directly responsible for the death of Joe’s son is emotionally impactful but not terribly surprising.

More surprising, perhaps, is that they drop such a huge bombshell so early in the season. Dark Winds can sometimes feel like a slow burn. However, as the first two episodes of Season 2 remind us, it is clearly not.

Also, if they are revealing something this big in just the second episode, one has to wonder what other kinds of shoes are still waiting to drop. More specifically, how much more emotional devastation is in store for Joe and Emma as a result of this case? 

The case may have already been personal for Joe. Viewers may have even guessed a more significant connection to Joe Jr.’s death was coming. Still, finding out Joe is pursuing the person who murdered his son is a different level from anything we’ve seen before.

This twist changes the emotional stakes for Joe and for viewers. It has to influence how Joe will approach the case. It will be hard not to second-guess his decision-making as a result. At least a little, anyway.

It is also bound to reveal new sides of Joe as we watch him work under a different kind of emotional pressure. As a viewer, that is an intriguing prospect to look forward to. 

The Villians

“Wonders of the Unknown” shows viewers just how evil the blonde man is. The methodical way he is going after this family, as well as everything about the bomb in the doll, is sinister and unsettling. He is already such a menacing presence, and we barely know anything about him yet.

Speaking of villains, “Wonders of the Unknown” introduces viewers to B.J. Vines. B.J. is the husband of Rosemary Vines — played by Jeri Ryan — who viewers will remember from the premiere.

Everything about B.J. practically screams that he should not be trusted. He appears to be the sort of classic secretly devious pillar of society archetype.

The numerous indigenous artifacts adorning his office wall alone tell you so much about how to understand him and his relationship with the tribal community.

Big Things for Bernadette

After setting the stage on “Na’niłkaadii,” “Wonders of the Unknown” starts to get into the characters’ personal arcs more fully. 

We get our first scene between Chee and Bernadette. While the events of Season 1 still loom large during their interaction, their reunion is much friendlier than I expected. Maybe, that’s just Bernadette putting up walls, but she doesn’t hide that she still cares about him.

If you were expecting some kind of ongoing angst between the two of them — and I admit I was — it seems that assumption is wrong. I think this is the better choice, though. I like seeing them playing at being friends, with the deeper feelings lurking under the surface.

Hopefully, we’ll still get to see them address their feelings, but it’s fun to see them fall into that light, familiar banter so easily. 

What I like even more than seeing Bernadette and Chee reunite is finding out that Bernadette will have her own storyline, which isn’t about her relationship with Chee or romance.

On “Wonders of the Unknown,” Bernadette receives a letter offering her a chance to interview for a US Customs and Border Protection job.

Bernadette has been my favorite character from the beginning. However, I have to admit she didn’t get as much development as Joe or Chee last season. I am thrilled at the prospect of this storyline and all the potential it opens up for her.

I am curious how the series will handle Bernadette’s interactions with Customs and Borders. Within the show’s time frame, Bernadette gets the offer because the federal government had recently ordered the agency to hire more native officers.

There is a wealth of historical material to draw from about the agency, their treatment of native people, etc. It has the potential to make this story so much more complex than a simple career opportunity.

Plus, there are also modern political themes that can be woven into this story. Even though this is a period drama, the series has a chance to say something that will resonate with conversations happening today.

We’ll have to wait and see if they choose to do that or how deeply they explore this storyline at all. For now, it’s just great to see Jessica Matten have more to do.

Trouble Ahead For Joe and Emma?

I did not expect to see a rift between Joe and Emma, at least not in the way it’s brewing on “Wonders of the Unknown.”

After what happened with the car bomb, you would think Joe would be even more attentive to his wife. He appears to be doing the opposite, though. He is shutting her out, and I don’t understand why.

Is it a defense mechanism after facing the prospect of losing her? Is there some unresolved feeling about the cleansing she wants to perform? I’m sure we will eventually find out. Right now, though, it’s hard not to feel a little frustrated with how Joe treats his wife on this episode.

Whatever is going on with Joe, he isn’t being fair to Emma.

“Wonders of the Unknown” is another perfectly paced and completely absorbing episode. Season 1 of Dark Winds set the bar pretty high with its stellar debut. Yet, so far Season 2 is having no trouble meeting it. 

What did you think of this episode of Dark Winds? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

 

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Dark Winds airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC, with early access for AMC+ subscribers on Thursdays.

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