The main characters of Dark Winds have rarely had to bury one of their own during the show’s duration. This notion changes Season 4 finale when Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) gets a devastating piece of news over the phone.

Talking to CBR‘s Katie Doll in detail about the Dark Winds Season 4 finale, Kiowa Gordon (who plays Jim Chee) reveals how he felt learning about Gordo Sena’s (A Martinez) murder and how it’ll affect Season 5. He also addressed how the show will send the character off in a way that cherishes Martinez’ impact on the television and film industry.

“I’m like, ‘Why? Why?  Not [A] Martinez.’ I think it’s a chance to send him off in a good and respectful way for what [Martinez has] offered the industry as a whole. He’s an icon himself, and not a lot of characters get to have a nice send-off and get to say goodbye to their characters. That’s what we’re going to get to see [in Season 5].”

Ahead of the Season 4 premiere, Dark Winds was renewed for a fifth season. It’s yet to be revealed what the season will be about, nor which Tony Hillerman Leaphorn & Chee novel it will adapt. Gordo only appears in the first book, People of Darkness, and plays a very minor role in the novel series, so it seems like the show is taking extreme creative liberty with the character. Gordon has high hopes for the fifth season based on how well the first four seasons have done.

“I’m over the moon about it,” the star said in response to all four seasons of Dark Winds getting 100% approval on Rotten Tomatoes. “We don’t need to go left field now and try to change things and be too subversive because we know what we’re doing. Maybe Season 5 will do the same magic numbers.”

Dark Winds Season 5 Will Introduce Former Yellowstone Star

While the story details for Season 5 have been kept under wraps, casting news has already made its way to the public. It was recently announced that Martin Sensmeier will be a series regular in the upcoming season of Dark Winds. He’ll play Terry Bai, a former Vietnam veteran turned racetrack worker who knows Chee from middle school.

Sensmeier is known for his roles in other Western projects, such as Yellowstone, 1883, The Magnificent Seven and Wind River. He also has a part in Season 2 of The Terminal List and Wind River: The Next Chapter. Joining him as a new cast member on Dark Winds in its fifth season is also Paola Núñez, who starred alongside McClarnon in the television series The Son.

Dark Winds Season 4 is available to stream on AMC+. A fifth season is in development.