Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Dark Winds season 3, episode 7.One major development inDark Windsseason 3, episode 7 finally cleared the way for Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten) and Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) to restart their romantic relationship. Bernadette and Chee have had an on-again, off-again relationship since the beginning ofDark Winds. While they started out as star-crossed lovers, their romance quickly soured after Bernadette discovered Chee was secretly an FBI agent sent to edge in on the Navajo Tribal Police’s investigation. Then, at theend ofDark Windsseason 2, Chee and Bernadette kissed, only for her to leave the reservation and begin working with Border Patrol.
Bernadette and Chee’s relationship has only gotten more complicated inDark Windsseason 3. Bernadette began dating her coworker, Ivan Muños (Alex Meraz), even though Chee clearly still had feelings for her. She then discovered that Ivan was a villain inDark Winds, but now she’s at the mercy of Budge de Baca (Raoul Max Trujillo) thanks to theending ofDark Windsseason 3, episode 7. While Bernadette is in a tough spot, the newest episode also cleared the way for her and Chee to restart their relationship inDark Windsseason 4.

It Looks Like Ivan Muños Is About To Save Bernadette In Dark Winds Season 3 - But Their Relationship Is Still Over
Even If Ivan Saves Bernadette’s Life, She Won’t Forgive Him For Being Complicit In Human Trafficking
It looks likeDark Windsseason 3 is gearing up to get rid of all the obstacles separating Bernadette and Chee in one fell swoop. Since Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) and Chee’s investigation into Ernesto Cata’s murder isn’t connected to Bernadette’s investigation into Tom Spenser (Bruce Greenwood), Ivan could have a very important role to play. Chee is busy tracking down Dr. Reynolds (Christopher Heyerdahl), and he won’t be able to save Bernadette from Budge. However,Ivan seems to have had a change of heart about working for Spenser, and he might come to Bernadette’s rescue in the season finale.
If Ivan does end up rescuing Bernadette, it would help her solve her investigation and get her out of danger. While it may initially seem like that would also encourage Bernadette to continue dating Ivan, there’s almost no chance that happens.Bernadette will likely never forgive Ivan for being complicit in drug and human trafficking, and even if he does save her life, they won’t continue to date. Bernadette has a very strong sense of justice, and one good act from Ivan won’t be enough to absolve him of all the lives he’s been complicit in ruining by working with Spenser.

With Ivan Out Of The Way, There’s Nothing Stopping Bernadette & Chee From Restarting Their Romantic Relationship
Bernadette’s Experiences With Ivan May Make Her Value The Trust She Places In Chee Even More
Once Bernadette and Ivan’s relationship ends, there will be nothing separating her from Chee anymore. Bernadette won’t have a new relationship to focus on, and the rest of the fallout of the Spenser investigation will ensure she doesn’t want to “put down roots” in New Mexico anymore. Additionally,now that Bernadette knows that both Ivan and Eleanda Garza (Tonantzin Carmelo) are dirty cops, she likely won’t trust anyone else at Border Patrol anymore, and she may even decide to return to the Navajo Tribal Police.
There’s also a deeper reason why Ivan and Eleanda’s betrayal may make it possible for Chee and Bernadette to start dating again. Bernadette has experienced several brutal betrayals inDark Windsseason 3.They may be enough for Bernadette to reconsider her priorities in life and realize that she both trusts and shares many of her core values with Chee. Chee will also have a chance to clarify that he didn’t just attempt to get Bernadette to come back because he was lonely, but because he truly cares about her.

Chee Lied To Bernadette Too, But He Didn’t Go As Far As Ivan
Chee Lied About Being An FBI Agent, But Ivan’s Lies Helped Cover Up Some Awful Crimes
One of the only confusing parts of Bernadette’s potential decision to be with Chee is their complicated history. As previously mentioned, Chee and Bernadette’s first relationship ended when she discovered that Chee was lying about being an FBI agent.Chee’s betrayal of Bernadette is very different from Ivan’s, however, as his was in service of a value Bernadette shared. Chee lied about being an FBI agent because he was on an undercover mission and doing his duty as a servant of the law. Ivan lied because he was too cowardly to stand up to bad people, and he directly profited from the suffering of others.
“Ye’iitsoh (Big Monster)”
“Náá’tsoh (Big Eyes)”
“Ch’į́į́dii (Ghosts)”
“T’áá Áłts’íísígo (Just a Small Piece)”
“Béésh Łį́į́ (Iron Horse)”
April 27
The difference in what Chee and Ivan lied about is also the reason why Bernadette will probably pick Chee over Ivan. Bernadette was able to forgive Chee - eventually - because she realized he was just as dedicated to the notions of justice and morality that she was.She’ll never forgive Ivan’s lies because he simply doesn’t share the same ironclad sense of morality that Bernadette does. In essence, Chee would never have taken Spenser’s money like Ivan did, and Bernadette respects that. Hopefully, she respects it enough to turn Chee and Bernadette’s slow-burn romance inDark Windsinto a full-fledged relationship.