What does the pig drawing in Dark Winds Season 3 Episode 1 mean? Possibilities, explored

Dark Winds Season 3 premiered on March 9, 2025, and this season is based on two original novels by Tony Hillerman, namely The Sinister Pig and Dancehall of the Dead. Since Dark Winds has always been a show that is deeply associated with symbolisms, the very first episode of season 3 introduces the drawing of a pig as a symbol that not only confuses the viewers but also puts Bernadette in a tricky position as she fails to understand what that drawing can possibly mean.

In Dark Winds Season 3 Episode 1, Bernadette is shown to be dealing with a mother-daughter duo who speak a language that comes from mixing Spanish with indigenous Mexican and ultimately get deported. It is the daughter who gives the pig drawing to Bernadette, which seems to have clear importance this season.

The drawing was made in haste and appeared to be a circle than a fully grown pig, but the imagery was clear. Let us now explore in detail what this pig drawing can mean in Dark Winds Season 3.

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The Pig symbol can have a deeper meaning in Dark Winds Season 3

As mentioned earlier, the pig drawing given to Bernadette by the little girl confused the latter as she cannot connect them to the pig that the child has drawn.

However, it should be noted here that if this season of Dark Winds follows The Sinister Pig more or less religiously, the pig will emerge as a vital symbol. The novel shows the character of Rawley Winsor as its key antagonist, and he is shown using “pigs” to commit criminal activities.

In the oil trade, “pig” is a thing that can be used to inspect pipelines, and as per the novel, Winsor used this trick to trade drugs. Given the fact that Bernadette initially thought the mother-daughter duo was being trafficked, the pig symbol can be hinting at a trafficking ring where it is used to trade humans.

From the knowledge of the novel, it can be said with certainty that “pigs” are essentially used to hide something, the symbol is bound to have a deeper meaning going forward. Trafficking seems to be a highly probable angle, and if the child was almost a victim of trafficking, her knowing it and trying to let Bernadette know by drawing the pig symbol makes sense.

However, it should be noted here that Bernadette had thought of the trafficking even before she was given the pig symbol. Since she found the mother-daughter duo running away as if they were escaping from something or someone, it was natural for Bernadette to think that they were in the danger of being trafficked.

The symbol only adds more value to Bernadette’s suspicion, and it remains to be seen how the upcoming episodes address this symbol or its significance in association with the plot line.

Dark Winds Season 1 and 2 can be streamed on AMC+ and new episodes of season 3 drop weekly every Sunday.

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