Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Dark Winds season 3, episode 5.Alex Meraz’s Ivan Muños inDark Windsseason 3 is so much better than his awful villain, Jimenez, inLandmanseason 1. Alex Meraz joined thecast ofDark Windsseason 3just a few months after he played the cartel boss Jimenez in Taylor Sheridan’sLandman. His character, Ivan Muños, is a Border Patrol officer in New Mexico and a love interest of Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten). Ivan also came betweenBernadette and Jim Chee’s (Kiowa Gordon) slow-burn romancebefore helping her investigate Budge de Baca (Raoul Max Trujillo) andTom Spenser (Bruce Greenwood) inDark Windsseason 3.
BothLandmanandDark Windsseason 3 mark something of a hot streak for Alex Meraz with popular television, but there’s another major link between his two most recent characters.Dark Windsjust revealed that Ivan isn’t actually on Bernadette’s side, and he’s actually working for the show’s main villains, which makes him just as much of an antagonist as Jimenez. Though they’re both villains and played by Alex Meraz, there’s one major difference between Ivan and Jimenez: Ivan is so much better thanLandman’s lackluster bad guy.
Alex Meraz’s Ivan Muños Was Just Revealed As One Of Dark Winds Season 3’s Villains
Bernadette Figured Out That Ivan Is Working With Budge & Spenser In Dark Winds Season 3
At theend ofDark Windsseason 3, episode 5, Bernadette figured out that Ivan is working with Budge de Baca and Tom Spenser. Bernadette connectedIvan’s wallet to Budge via the rubber bandon it, which all but proves that Ivan was sent to manipulate Bernadette into dropping her investigation. It’s not entirely clear what Bernadette is going to do with that information, but it is clear thatIvan is one ofDark Windsseason 3’s main villains now. It’s also clear thatDark Windshas given Alex Meraz a much better villain role thanLandmandid.
Ivan Is A Way Better Villain In Dark Winds Than Meraz’s Jimenez In Landman
Jimenez Was Stupid & Inconsequential While Ivan Is Conniving & Kind Of Likable
Ivan inDark Windsisn’t just the second villain Alex Meraz has played in the span of months, he’s also significantly better than Jimenez was inLandman. Jimenez, though he ran the American operation for a major cartel, was a dunce. He let Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) walk all over him, and when he finally stood up to him, it was by blowing up an oil drill and calling all kinds of attention to the cartel.The best thing Jimenez did inLandmanwas die and make room for Andy Garcia’s Gallino. Jimenez was just a very lackluster villain all around.
Landman: What Happened With Tommy & The Cartel In Season 1’s Finale Explained
The finale of Landman season 1 saw Tommy get into quite a predicament with the cartel, but it wasn’t clear how he got out and who the new boss is.
Ivan Muños, on the other hand, is everything Jimenez wasn’t. Ivan is smart and conniving enough to trick Bernadette, a brilliant detective. He’s also got a lot more personality than Jimenez ever showed.Even if it was an act, Ivan was kind to Bernadette, and he actually came across as pretty endearing at the beginning ofDark Windsseason 3. Now that his deception has been laid bare, however, Ivan has also proven that he’s much easier to hate than Jimenez ever was. Ivan is much more complex and fun to watch than Jimenez, andDark Windsfinally gave Alex Meraz an opportunity to show how talented he is.
I Know He Won’t, But I Almost Hope Ivan Comes Back In Dark Winds Season 4
Ivan Adds An Interesting Dynamic To Bernadette & Chee’s Relationship & Could Be Good For A Redemption Arc
Ivan has been such an interesting villain so far that I actually kind of want him to return forDark Windsseason 4, which has already been confirmed. Of course, the odds of Ivan coming back are slim to none.Once Bernadette exposes Spenser’s trafficking ring, Ivan’s probably either going to prison or he’s going to die by Budge’s hand. Still, if there were a way for Ivan to both survive and avoid jail time, I’d like to seeDark Windstake that opportunity. Ivan is up there with BJ Vines in terms ofDark Windsvillains, and I think the show would benefit from Meraz’s return.
“Ye’iitsoh (Big Monster)”
“Náá’tsoh (Big Eyes)”
“Ch’į́į́dii (Ghosts)”
“T’áá Áłts’íísígo (Just a Small Piece)”
“Béésh Łį́į́ (Iron Horse)”
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There are other reasons Ivan’s return inDark Windsseason 4 would benefit the show beyond his character being interesting.Ivan has added a fascinating dynamic to Bernadette and Chee’s relationship, and though Ivan’s romance with Bernadette is functionally over, he could continue to poke and prod at Chee in the future. Likewise, I feel like Ivan is the perfect candidate for a redemption arc. He probably has a good heart underneath all his sins, and he may even be unwillingly working with Budge and Spenser. I’d like to see Alex Meraz continue playing his best villain inDark Winds.
Dark Winds
Cast
Dark Winds is a 2022 television series based on Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn & Chee novels. Set in 1970s Navajo Nation, it follows Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) and Officer Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) as they investigate a double murder case. The show delves into both mysticism and the stark realities of life on a Native American reservation, balancing crime-solving with rich cultural narratives and character development.
Landman
Set in West Texas, this series explores the world of oil rigs and the fortunes they create. It portrays a modern upstairs/downstairs narrative of roughnecks and billionaires, highlighting the profound impact on the climate, economy, and geopolitics in these boomtowns.
