Dark Winds has established itself as one of television’s most authentic neo-Westerns, earning strong reviews across its four seasons. Much of that acclaim has centred on Zahn McClarnon and his performance as tribal police officer Joe Leaphorn. The crime drama secured a fifth-season renewal earlier in February, although viewers will have to wait until next year for its return. Production took place between March/April and June, and an official premiere date has yet to be confirmed. While fans wait, another compelling neo-Western crime series has found a new opportunity to reach viewers, eleven years after its cancellation.

Starring Jason Momoa (Dune: Part Three) and Martin Henderson (Virgin River), The Red Road originally ran on SundanceTV from February 27, 2014, through May 7, 2015. It was the network’s second fully owned scripted original, arriving after the gothic drama Rectify. Much like Dark Winds, the series places an Indigenous community at the centre of its story, specifically the Ramapough Lenape Nation, whose homeland lies along the New York–New Jersey border.

Despite its premise and cast, The Red Road lasted only two seasons. Its story ended without a proper resolution when the show was canceled, reportedly due to low viewership, the network’s niche audience and a mixed critical response.

Now, the series is set to become available to a much wider audience. Netflix subscribers can begin watching the overlooked crime drama when it arrives on November 1. Its addition also makes it a natural companion to Dark Winds, with all four seasons of that series already available on the service following Season 4’s arrival in July.

Alongside Momoa and Henderson, The Red Road features Julianne Nicholson, Allie Gonino, Tamara Tunie, Kiowa Gordon and Annalise Basso. Viewers of Dark Winds may recognise Gordon, who also appears in that series. McClarnon is another familiar connection, having held a significant recurring role in the lesser-known drama.

‘The Red Road’ Is the Perfect ‘Dark Winds’ Replacement

The cast including Jason Momoa stand outside a house and look at the camera in a promo for The Red Road.

Although production took place in Georgia, The Red Road is set in Walpole, New Jersey, and the surrounding Lenape/Ramapo Mountains. The story centres on Harold Jensen (Martin Henderson), a local police officer, and Phillip Kopus (Jason Momoa), a former inmate from the Ramapough tribe.

When a college student goes missing, Jensen’s investigation takes him into the mountains, where a federally unrecognized Native American tribe lives. At the same time, Kopus’ return to the area fuels local suspicion. A tragedy followed by a cover-up only worsens the already strained relationship between the town and the tribe. Kopus uses the growing division to his advantage, leaving Jensen facing a difficult choice between abandoning his principles or putting his family at risk.

The Red Road arrives on Netflix in November.

Source: Various