Warning: SPOILERS for 1923 Season 2’s Finale - “A Dream and a Memory”
It’s unclear how Taylor Sheridan’s nextYellowstonedrama,The Madison,will relate to the Dutton family, but1923season 2 may have already connected the dots. In the final chapter of the 1920s Dutton saga, Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) finally makes it home to the Yellowstone Ranch. Despite being amain1923character, Spencer’s story was separate from his family’s. He only made it to the ranch in the1923season 2’s finale, assuming control of its operations after winning the war against Banner Creighton (Jerome Flynn) and Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton). Still, Spencer’s triumph was balanced with insurmountable tragedy.
At theend of1923season 2, Spencer’s wife, Alexandra of Sussex (Julia Schlaepfer), died of complications from hypothermia. Despite surviving her extended spell in the cold, Alex Dutton died at the hospital in Bozeman after delivering John Dutton, refusing the procedure that would save her life. With Alex’s death, Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara (Helen Mirren) were the only Dutton couple to survive1923,sinceJack Dutton’s (Darren Mann) penultimate episode deathleft Elizabeth Strafford (Michelle Randolph) a widow. Still,Elizabeth’s story is open-ended in1923’s finale, and her kin could emerge again in anotherYellowstoneshow.
Yellowstone Fans Believe Elizabeth Strafford’s Descendants Will Be In The Madison After 1923’s Finale
The Madison Will Tell The Clyburn Family’s Story
AfterElizabeth Strafford’s ending in1923season 2saw her leave the ranch, someYellowstonefans believe that her descendants will emerge inThe Madison.The modern-day drama will follow the Clyburn family, who move to Montana from New York City after the death of their patriarch.The Clyburn family is helmed by Michelle Pfeiffer as Stacy Clyburn, described as the family’s wealthy matriarch. The Clyburn family also includes Stacy’s daughters, Paige McIntosh (Elle Chapman) and Abigail Reese (Beau Garrett), both described as New Yorkers, though one is described as“self-centered,”while the latter is described as“resilient”(perDeadline).
Regardless of how they vary, the descriptions ofThe Madison’s cast and Stacy’s family reveal that the Clyburns are New Yorkers through and through. This made manyYellowstonefans believe that the Clyburns are Elizabeth Strafford’s descendants, potentially emerging from the city she went to after1923season 2 ended. While we don’t know for sure that Elizabeth moved to New York after1923,Elizabeth’s desires and motivations throughout the Prohibition Era centered on city life and culture. She longed to be on the East Coast during thewinter of 1924, although she wanted to go to Boston.
How The Madison’s Story Could Connect To 1923
The Clyburns Are From New York City
We know thatthe Clyburns' move to Montana is prompted by the death of their patriarch, Stacy’s husband. It could be that the Clyburn family is motivated to move to where their ancestors are from. If that’s true, then the Duttons could be the ancestors of either Stacy or her husband. If Stacy’s husband is Jack and Elizabeth’s descendant, then her move could be to feel closer to him while she is grieving. If Stacy is connected to theDutton family tree, then the move could be to connect with her roots. Still, their move could be unconnected.
If Stacy and her family are indeed connected to Jack and Elizabeth, The Madison’s story could explain what happened to Elizabeth Strafford after 1923 ended.
If Stacy and her family are indeed connected to Jack and Elizabeth,The Madison’s storycould explain what happened to Elizabeth Strafford after1923ended, showing how her story spun off. It’s likely that, like Cara said, Liz fell in love with another man, starting a new life with him in New York after1923season 2. Upon getting officially married, contrasting with her and Jack’s unofficial ceremony,Elizabeth would have changed her name, explaining why the Clyburns have a different surname from the Duttons despite their theoretical connection. Still, Liz’s child with Jack would connect the family to Montana.
Why It Makes More Sense For Elizabeth’s Descendants To Be In Yellowstone’s 1944 Spinoff
Elizabeth’s Unresolved Story Will Come Back Sooner Than Later
While her descendants emerging inThe Madison,connecting the modern-day spinoff toYellowstone,is a tempting prospect, it makes more sense that Elizabeth Dutton or her child will emerge in the nextYellowstoneprequel,1944,Taylor Sheridan’s proposed follow-up to1923.After1923season 2, we still don’t know what’s next for Elizabeth or whether she’s still pregnant, and1944,which takes place 20 years after the events of1923,is the perfect setting to continue the story of Elizabeth and her child.1944’s characters and story have more proximity to1923and its characters.
It’s also worth considering that, after1923season 2’s finale revealed that Alex and Spencer’s child is named John Dutton,Taylor Sheridan broke the Dutton family tree fromYellowstone.John Dutton II, John Dutton III’s father fromYellowstone,is presumably Spencer and Alex’s child after they named their baby John. However, this skips a generation, and it could be that Elizabeth’s baby is actually the link to Kevin Costner’sYellowstonecharacter. That would make a great twist, and1944is the ideal place for a revelation that would corroborate or continue to add mystery to the Dutton family tree.
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.
