If you’re searching for your next must-watch thriller, one critically acclaimed series has just been named number one. Dark Winds, the psychological thriller series, currently holds a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes and has been named the number one Netflix original series to watch right now. Rotten Tomatoes recently released its updated list of the 100 Best Netflix Series Available, ranking shows by their Tomatometer scores for December 2025.

To qualify, each series must still be in production, officially renewed, or have ended recently enough to be newly discovered by audiences. Rising to the very top of that list is Dark Winds, a show many have called nothing short of a masterpiece.

Created by Graham Roland, Dark Winds is adapted from Tony Hillerman’s beloved Leaphorn & Chee novels. The series features a powerful performance from Zahn McClarnon, who stars as Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, alongside Kiowa Gordon as Jim Chee, an undercover FBI agent returning to his roots.

Set in the early 1970s in the Four Corners region of the American Southwest, the series unfolds against the stark, haunting landscapes of the Navajo Nation. The plot begins with a series of crimes that appear unrelated but gradually reveal a darker, interconnected truth.

As Leaphorn digs deeper, old wounds resurface, and the search for justice becomes inseparable from personal reckoning. Chee’s arrival complicates matters further, bringing buried memories and moral conflict into sharp focus.

One of the show’s most praised elements is its largely Native American cast and its commitment to authenticity, both on screen and behind the scenes.

The executive producers include George R. R. Martin and Robert Redford, with Redford’s involvement carrying special significance. Dark Winds marked his third adaptation of Hillerman’s work and ultimately became his final creative project, including a brief cameo appearance in the third season shortly before his death in September 2025.

The series first premiered on AMC and AMC+ in June 2022 and was quickly renewed following critical acclaim. Subsequent seasons continued to expand the story, with the third season airing in March 2025 and a fourth already confirmed for release in February 2026.

Many viewers praised both the writing and the performances of the cast. One person called the series and its third season an “absolute masterpiece” in a review on Rotten Tomatoes.

Another viewer said: “The best show on TV period. Excellent cast and writing. Suspenseful. Love this show. The first episode of the third did not disappoint. It deserves Emmy’s.”

One viewer wrote: “Unlike most shows I watch, this one actually gets better every season. Zahn McClarnon gives a wonderfully engaging performance. In both highly dramatic and quieter scenes, he is fascinating to watch. The rest of the cast, leads and supporting parts, are just as excellent. I appreciated the overlap of conflicting worlds and experiences of these characters represented through such unique writing.”

Another added: “All three seasons are superb. The acting, the stories, and the location make for good binging. I tried to watch only one episode a night, but I failed.”

Someone else said: “Such an incredible series…Should have received so many awards…”