After Joe Leaphorn’s actions regarding BJ Vines at the end ofDark Windsseason 2, season 3 wasted no time with that decision coming back to haunt the tribal police lieutenant. The death of Joe Leaphorn’s (Zahn McClarnon) son, Joe Jr., in a mining explosion a few years prior is one that has been a heavy burden upon Joe’s soul for the first two seasons. The mystery surrounding it and the lack of answers made it hard for Joe to move on inDark Winds, already been renewed for season 4.
But last season revealed that it was businessman BJ Vines who had been behind it all, ordering the explosion in order to drive down its price and force Drumco to sell it to him at a loss, leading toDark Windsseason 2’s pivotal ending. After discovering that Vines was the one who ordered the explosion of the mine that killed Joe’s son, Joe was understandably distraught, but he was determined to let the justice system do its work. When that failed, however, it forced Joe to make a drastic decision that has already come back around inDark Windsseason 3, episode 1, “Ye’iitsoh.”
What Happened To BJ Vines In Dark Winds Season 2
Joe Exacted “Indian Justice” On Him
While Joe Leaphorn didn’t outright kill BJ Vines inDark Windsseason 2, he also didn’tnotkill him. After seeing the signs that Vines had friends in high places who pulled some strings to get him released on bail, Joe realized that Vines would simply receive “white justice,” and likely never face real accountability for his crimes against Joe’s son and the other Navajo workers who were killed in the explosion and subsequent cover-up.
Joe made the decision to take matters into his own hands and kidnapped Vimes from his home in the middle of the night, driving the businessman out deep into the desert. He then drove away, ostensibly leaving Vines, who was just in a bathrobe and barefoot, to die. In that way, Joe intended for Vimes to experience his own version of “The Long Walk,” which was forced upon the Navajo people in 1864, a grueling journey through the desert in which many died. The end of theDark Windsseason 2 finale shows that Vimes is indeed in the middle of freezing to death in the night. While he hasn’t reappeared in season 3, confirming that he’s dead, his specter hangs over the new season.
Dark Winds Season 3 Already Confirmed FBI Agent Washington Is Looking Into The BJ Vines Case
The FBI Doesn’t Think It’s Nothing
Few people know what Joe did to BJ Vines. One is Henry (Joseph Runningfox), Joe’s father, who was the first to tell Joe that Vines would never be held accountable for his crimes and that the only true way to deliver justice would be through “Indian justice.” The other is Sheriff Gordo Sena (A Martinez). He never outright said that he knew what Joe had done, but it was clear from his expression and tone when he explained that Vines had apparently skipped bail that he didn’t believe it for a second.
The first episode ofDark Windsseason 3confirmed that Gordo knows Joe had something to do with Vines' disappearance – and that he understands. When Joe mentions that the FBI has sent a new investigator, Agent Washington (Jenna Elfman), to look into Vines' disappearance, there’s a restrained note of caution in Gordo’s voice that conveys much to his colleague and friend without him having to say anything at all: play it cool, Joe:
“There ain’t nothing to look into. BJ Vines is gone. And for good reason, you and I both know that, Joe. And that’s about all we know about Mr. BJ Vines, right?”
Still, it’s clear that the FBI doesn’t exactly believe there “ain’t nothing to look into.” BJ Vines is prominent and wealthy enough, and his crimes heinous enough, to warrant the agency sending one of its own down to the reservation to conduct an investigation. The implication is that the FBI considers Agent Sylvia Washington incompetent and has sent her on a wild goose chase, but it’s clear from the start that she’s smarter and more observant than she lets on, and the arrival of the newDark Windsseason 3 characterspells trouble.
Washington may not believe Joe Leaphorn had a direct hand in Vines' disappearance – yet – but if Joe continues to act unfriendly and cagey every time the subject is brought up, she’ll certainly clock it and start asking herself why.
Washington may not believe Joe Leaphorn had a direct hand in Vines' disappearance – yet – but if Joe continues to act unfriendly and cagey every time the subject is brought up, she’ll certainly clock it and start asking herself why. She’s sharp. As Gordo implied, Joe should relax and play it cool. However, that doesn’t appear to be in the cards for the tormented Navajo tribal police lieutenant.
BJ Vines Is Also Haunting Leaphorn Another Way In Dark Winds Season 3
Leaphorn’s Guilt Is Eating Him Alive
While Joe Leaphorn had seemingly found peace by the end ofDark Windsseason 2, it was clear that, Joe being who he was, his actions would eat at him. Indeed, BJ Vines has come back to haunt him, figuratively and perhaps even literally. Joe keeps having visions of BJ Vines' body frozen to death in the desert, waking up from nightmares of what he’s done. He may have delivered “Indian justice,” but he has yet to be delivered from his guilt.
Dark Winds Season 3’s Ye’iitsoh Explained: Meaning & Native American Folklore
Dark Winds season 3 introduces a terrifying new entity from Navajo folklore known as Ye’iitsoh & its presence has larger implications for Joe Leaporn.
On top of that, Joe is now seeing what he believes is the Navajo monster known as the Ye’iitsoh inDark Windsseason 3. Yet, what he keeps seeing - a corpse-like figure covered in a shroud or cowl - does not fit the description of the Ye’iitsoh. What it does look like, though, is what someone whose mind is under an enormous amount of stress and guilt might imagine a rotting corpse in a burial shroud looks like – someone like Joe, whose mind is already eating him alive. BJ Vines may now be dead, but he’s clearly not buried.
