Budge Wishes Halsey Good Luck in Dark Winds Season 3 Episode 4

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Dark Winds season 3, episode 4.

In the opening of Dark Winds season 3, episode 4, Budge de Baca (Raoul Max Trujillo) offered a cryptic “good luck”to Halsey (Phil Burke). While the series splits its characters between two intriguing investigations, the pathways of these narratives are increasingly converging. As Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten) delves deeper into the case surrounding Tom Spenser (Bruce Greenwood), detectives Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) and Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) are unearthing connections linking Spenser to the questionable activities of Budge de Baca.

Following a tense cliffhanger at the end of episode 3, where Halsey and his associates were fleeing from law enforcement, Leaphorn and Chee unraveled a drug trafficking operation tied to them. They discovered a photo of Bernadette on the scene, linking Halsey to her ongoing investigation. Despite the chaos and Halsey being at the heart of this conspiracy, his call to Budge raised questions, especially considering Budge’s unsettling “good luck”response. What could he possibly mean?

Unpacking Budge’s “Good Luck”Comment to Halsey

Budge’s Sarcasm: A Grave Warning

Budge’s use of “good luck”was not a sweet gesture; rather, it carried a sinister undertone. He wasn’t wishing Halsey luck in eluding the police; he was, in essence, mocking him with a sarcastic warning: “good luck hiding from me.”Budge was fully aware that even in a police encounter, Halsey’s survival was perilously slim. This ominous sentiment became painfully clear by the episode’s conclusion, where Halsey suffers a gruesome fate—his throat slashed while behind bars, seemingly fulfilling Budge’s ominous threat.

Halsey’s Terrifying Realization: Budge Over Law Enforcement

A Desperate Call Amidst Danger

A revealing moment occurs during Halsey’s phone call, indicating his true concern lies not with law enforcement, but rather with Budge. Although he was actively evading police due to allegations of drug smuggling and murder—serious charges that would typically send any fugitive running—Halsey made a pivotal stop at a gas station to contact Budge. In risking police capture, it becomes clear that his priority was to persuade Budge to relent in his hunt. This intense phone call underscored Halsey’s anxiety about Budge’s wrath over potential implications surrounding Tom Spenser, making incarceration seem almost like a footnote in his mind.

Budge: Tom Spenser’s Most Critical Loose End

The Fixer and His Flaws

Although Budge serves as Tom Spenser’s “fixer,”responsible for mopping up his messes, he ironically becomes the most significant lead for Bernadette and Chee. Conversely, his actions have kept Spenser’s trafficking operation hidden—having eliminated potential informants like Wade and Halsey—yet he stands as the prime suspect due to his suspicious behavior. The returning of Bernadette’s weapon reignited her investigation into Spenser, while his erroneous decisions, such as visiting the Mexican restaurant, have intensified her pursuit of truths that threaten to unravel Spenser’s criminal network.

In conclusion, Budge may be inadvertently steering the investigation towards exposing Tom Spenser’s criminality—perhaps becoming the key to unraveling the intricate web of secrets in Dark Winds season 3.

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