Unveiling the Emotional Anthem: Dark Winds Season 2 Finale's Heartbreaking Melody Disclosed

Summary

The sad song playing during Leaphorn's belt buckle scene in the Dark Winds season 2 finale adds even more weight to an already-poignant moment.

Bob Dylan's track, "Tomorrow Is a Long Time," flawlessly depicts Leaphorn's profound emotions of love and yearning for his deceased son.

By compelling Vines to embark on his own rendition of "The Long Walk," Leaphorn effectively parallels the song's portrayal of long periods of time and amplifies the emotional atmosphere of Dark Winds season 2.

In the season 2 finale of Dark Winds, there is a scene where Leaphorn is working on his late son's belt buckle, accompanied by a sad song that adds meaning to the moment and heightens the emotion of the scene. Dark Winds, based on Tony Hillerman's Leaphorn & Chee novels, is a Western noir series that revolves around Navajo police officers, Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee.

Compared to the melodrama and poor representation of Indigenous people in Yellowstone, Graham Roland's AMC series is a more subtly moving alternative. The poignant belt buckle scene with Leaphorn, set to a powerful and melancholic song, showcases the show's strong emphasis on emotions. While music plays a significant role in the Dark Winds season 2 finale, it is Leaphorn's silent solo moment, accompanied by a memorable track, that leaves a lasting impact. The song perfectly matches the emotions Leaphorn experiences throughout the scene and the overall finale.

What Song Is Playing In The Belt Buckle Season In The Dark Winds Season 2 Finale

In the first few episodes of Dark Winds season 1, viewers discover that Leaphorn's son, Joe Jr., was tragically killed in a drilling site explosion. This loss has haunted Leaphorn, but in season 2, he finds some closure in the central storyline. In the season finale, Leaphorn gives a meaningful gift to fellow officer Bernadette, using his late son's belt buckle. The scene is filled with melancholy, perfectly complemented by the song "Tomorrow Is a Long Time" by Bob Dylan. However, the intensity of the moment is influenced by Leaphorn's earlier discoveries and actions.

After confirming that B.J. Vines is responsible for Joe Jr.'s death, Leaphorn takes him to the snow-covered desert. Instead of shooting him, Leaphorn leaves Vines stranded, barefoot and alone. Vines will have to traverse the harsh tundra in order to survive, although it is unlikely that he will make it. This act mirrors the historical "Long Walk," a grueling march endured by the Navajo (Diné) people centuries ago, when their land was unjustly taken by colonizers (via Smithsonian Institute).

The Real Meaning Of The Song In Dark Winds Explained

Bob Dylan's "Tomorrow Is a Long Time" captures a profound sense of love and yearning with its poignant lyrics. The song evokes Leaphorn's deep longing for his late son, emphasizing the depth of his grief, much like the belt buckle. Chris Eyre, the executive producer and finale director of Dark Winds, highlights the significance of the song when Zahn smelts the belt buckle in the snow, creating a melancholic atmosphere.

Eyre further observes that the song, with its allusions to the passage of time, mirrors Leaphorn's decision to subject Vines to his own version of "The Long Walk." Although Leaphorn does not resort to violence for justice, he understands the accumulating pain and suffering caused by time. In a way, the gradual and inevitable fate Leaphorn imposes on the heartless Vines is even more fitting than immediate death. Dylan's quietly mournful song resonates with Leaphorn's emotional state and sets the tone for the second season of Dark Winds.

Sources: Smithsonian Institute, TVLine