Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Dark Winds season 3, episode 3.Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten) lost her gun inDark Windsseason 3, only for Budge de Baca (Raoul Max Trujillo) to give it back to her. Armed with thepig drawing inDark Winds, Bernadette has been investigatingTom Spenser (Bruce Greenwood)and his ties to human trafficking. While she hasn’t realized it yet, viewers know that Bernadette is on the right track because Spenser employs a man named Budge de Baca, whomDark Windshas already shown murdering a man.
Almost inevitably, Bernadette’s and Budge’s paths crossed inDark Windsseason 3, episode 3. Bernadette went looking for more information on Spenser and his ranch, and while she was there, she arranged a strange meeting with Budge. Bernadette also realized that Budge had returned the revolver she lost, but she was just as confused about why he would do so as we, the viewers, were. Luckily, there are a few hints about what Budge was up to inDark Windsseason 3.
Budge Returned Bernadette’s Gun That Was Stolen At The Border In Dark Winds Season 3’s Premiere
Budge Took Bernadette’s Gun From The Man He Buried Alive & Returned It To Her
At the start ofDark Windsseason 3, episode 3, Bernadette discovered that her service revolver had been returned to her and was sitting in the passenger seat of her car. Bernadette lost the revolver in the premiere ofDark Windsseason 3, while she was chasing down theMixtec mother and daughterwho were trying to flee over the border.Bernadette also rightly suspected that Budge was the one who returned her gun, as he admitted later in the episode. He has had it ever since killing Wade by burying him alive in episode 2.
What Was Budge’s Motive In Returning Bernadette’s Gun & Taking Her To Dinner?
Budge Was Likely Threatening Bernadette & Trying To Get Her To Leave Spenser Alone
While it is clear that Budge returned Bernadette’s gun, it’s not clear why he did so, or why he took her out to dinner in Mexico. Budge wanted Bernadette to stop investigating him and Tom Spenser, which was the goal of giving the gun back and their conversation in Mexico.There’s some evidence to support the idea that Budge was trying to extend a peace offering to Bernadette, but it seems more likely that he was trying to threaten her into backing off. Budge wanted Bernadette to know that she was stepping into a world that she had no notion of and that he controlled.
So, Bernadette’s New Dark Winds Season 3 Romance Is Definitely A Bad Guy, Right?
Bernadette is moving on from Jim Chee in Dark Winds season 3 but there’s definitely something off about her new colleague & love interest, Ivan Muños.
Through the lens of their meeting being a threat, a lot of Budge’s actions make more sense. He left the gun in Bernadette’s car not only to get rid of it, but also to show her that he knows where she lives and can reach her without her even knowing.Budge also brought Bernadette to Mexico to show her that if he wants to kill her, no one is going to stop him. Plus, the restaurant he took Bernadette to was filled with his people, as shown by the fact that he called two men to come with him when he left.
“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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Everything about Budge and Bernadette’s interactions inDark Windsseason 3 seemed like a power play.From the money Budge flashed at the restaurant to making her walk back across the border, Budge was trying to show Bernadette that continuing to investigate Spenser would end in her death. Whether Bernadette actually listens to that threat, or whether she finds enough evidence to put Budge and Spenser away inDark Windsseason 3, remains to be seen.
