Warning: SPOILERS for 1923 Season 2’s Finale - “A Dream and a Memory”
Taylor Sheridan included a powerful prophecy in1923season 1, and it tricked me into thinking that Spencer Dutton’s (Brandon Sklenar) wife, Alexandra Dutton (Julia Schlaepfer), would live. However, Alex died an unforgivingdeath in1923season 2’s finale, squashing my hopes that Alex and Spencer’s love story would continue. Despite the Yellowstone Ranch’s tactical victory in the Dutton family’s range war,1923’s characters experienced a devastating loss when Alex passed. That said, she delivered her baby, John, prematurely in1923’s finale, providing a glimmer of hope amid a sad and otherwise bleak ending.
Jack Dutton (Darren Mann), too, dies in the events of the family’s conflict against Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton) and Banner Creighton (Jerome Flynn), adding to thebloodbath in1923season 2, episode 6. Jack’s death caused his wife to say goodbye to the ranch, topping thelist of terrible things that happened to Elizabeth Strafford(Michelle Randolph) in1923.Sadly, Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara Dutton (Helen Mirren) were the only Dutton couple in1923to survive season 2. However, at one point,I believed that Alex would live, informed by Elsa Dutton’s narrationin1923season 1.
Elsa Dutton Told Us That Spencer Would Live To Raise Multiple Children In 1923
Elsa Tells Us That One Of Her Father’s Children Lives To See Their Kids Grow Up
In1923season 1, episode 1,Elsa Dutton’s narrationforetold pivotal events to come for the Prohibition-era Dutton family. Elsa is one of the earliest-known members of the Dutton family tree, who dies in Taylor Sheridan’s1883Yellowstoneprequel, which establishes the family’s legacy of owning the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. Despite her death in1883,Elsa Dutton emerged in1923as its narrator,bridging the gapfor viewers about what had happened in the 40 years that had passed. Elsa’s narration explains why her Uncle Jacob and Aunt Cara run the ranch. The omniscient narrator also foretold how1923would end.
In 1923’s premiere, Elsa says this about James Dutton (Tim McGraw): “My father had three children. Only one would live to see their own children grown.”
In1923’s premiere, Elsa says this about James Dutton (Tim McGraw):“My father had three children. Only one would live to see their own children grown. Only one would carry the fate of this family through the Depression and every other hell the 20th century hurled at them.“After John Dutton’s (James Badge Dale) death in1923season 1, episode 3, ruled him out, the promise that one of James Dutton’s children would survive confirmed Spencer would live. In addition,Elsa indicated that Spencer would have more than one child, with“own children grown,”implying multiple kin.
Why Elsa’s Narration Created A Disappointing Confusion To Spencer’s 1923 Season 2 Ending
Elsa Seemed To Suggest That Spencer Would Have Multiple Children In 1923
While I was pretty sure that Elsa Dutton told us Spencer would live, I was less sure about how Alex’s fate would play out. Despite the horrible things happening to her,Elsa’s narration gave me hope that Alex Dutton survived1923,living to have multiple babies with Spencer, considering how dedicated the war hero was to his bride, unlikely to take up another partner if she passed. That said, Elsa updates us at theend of1923season 2by saying that while he never forgot Alex, Spencer found comfort in a widow, who bore his second son.
Elsa’s follow-up in1923season 2, episode 7, explains her claim that Spencer would live to see his"own children grown.“Sadly, Spencer Dutton fulfilled this prophecy without Alex Duttonby his side, having a baby with a widow and then refusing to marry her. This explains how Spencer has multiple offspring without the love of his life. Elsa’s update also leaves a significant loose end inYellowstone’s Dutton family tree, since she implies that Spencer’s widow was gone one day without explanation. While I’m glad Taylor Sheridan stuck to his story, I wish it had meant that Alex survived.
What Elsa Dutton’s Narration Means For Spencer Dutton’s Yellowstone Story
Spencer Dutton Lives To Witness The Ramifications Of His Decisions
When Elsa’s narration cuts in at the end of1923’s finale, she foretells pivotal events to come, as in the premiere. DuringSpencer Dutton’s time jump in1923’s finale, Elsa explains that her brother lived to be 80 years old, passing away in 1969. The detail confirms that Spencer Dutton survived through 1944, presumably running the Yellowstone ranch during that time, as established in1923’s finale. Therefore, it’s safe to assume thatSpencer Dutton will helm Taylor Sheridan’s next Dutton family prequel,1944,which will take place in the titular year and likely parallel the events of World War II.
It’s also likely thatSpencer’s second son, whose name we don’t know yet, will emerge in1944,introducing personal conflict into an already tumultuous time. Elsa says in1923season 1, episode 1, that Spencer lived to see his children grow. Therefore, maybe we should assume that, despite the widow’s disappearance, Spencer eventually comes to know his second son and witnesses part of his development. Spencer’s son emerging in1944would make for some pretty interesting developments in the prequel, which could also see the return of Elizabeth Strafford’s child, whom we can assume is still alive.
1923
Cast
1923 is a series following the Dutton family during the early twentieth century. It explores the challenges they face amidst pandemics, the end of Prohibition, historic drought, and the Great Depression, as they struggle to maintain their home in the mountain west.
