One of the more entertaining parts of the Paramount+ catalog of work Taylor Sheridan is making is his Yellowstone prequels and their expansion of Western television. While fans love the story of John Dutton and his ranching empire, getting to see the Dutton family during different periods in history has been a great way to allow Sheridan to play in the pure classical Western genre. The best example of this is obviously with 1883, which took place during a time when the “Old West” was very prominent in America. However, even his follow-up, 1923, is riddled with classical Western themes and stylistic elements intentionally to depict the West during a time it is not often depicted. There is a rise of modernity that is clear and present in 1923 and that’s the fun of the series: seeing how it clashes with the old-time traditions of the American West.
1923 has become a popular Paramount+ series that is on par with the popularity of Yellowstone and is now two seasons into its run. That’s one more season than its predecessor,1883, got when it premiered back in 2021. 1883 was so popular that many fans liked it even more than Yellowstone. Whether because of the subject matter, the performances or the storytelling, 1883 was a conventional Western series that many fans had been clamoring for. However, instead of a multi-season epic that fans could anticipate every year, the series came to an end with one season. Taylor Sheridan admitted that he had always planned it that way but quickly learned that no one agreed with his plan, including the executives at Paramount. With the character arcs concluded Sheridan had to come up with another storyline for the Dutton family.
1923 Wouldn’t Exist If Sheridan Didn’t Accidentally End 1883’s Story
Even though it was entirely intentional by Taylor Sheridan to end 1883 after its ten-episode run, there was always the possibility that fans could spend even more time with the Duttons of the Old West. Since 1883 was planned as a limited look into the world of the Duttons as they made their initial journey West, the executives at Paramount greenlit the first season and accidentally led Sheridan to believe that one season was all they wanted. Therefore, when Sheridan wrote the ten-episode story, it involved portraying complete arcs for multiple major characters from beginning to end. This led to the tragedy of Elsa Dutton and the heartbreak of Shea Brennan as well as the deaths of other characters. When executive Bob Bakish watched the last episode of the season, he was confused about why everyone was dead and how they were going to do a second season. Bakish said “Wait a minute, she dies! They all die?! What do we do in season two?” to which Sheridan replied, “There is no season two.” The executives were irate, replying with “There better be a season two because we already picked it up.”
Sheridan couldn’t wrap his mind around the confusion, and he reiterated how everyone was dead. It seems that Bakish and the rest of Paramount had gone in 1883 always expecting it to be another long-running drama series like Yellowstone. Apparently, this wasn’t made clear to Sheridan and when he killed off every character he created a problem for Paramount, who had already greenlit another season of the series. It makes sense why Paramount would want another multi-season series after the success of Yellowstone, but Sheridan must not have realized how much faith they had in his abilities, approaching it like he would any other new venture. In order to fix the problem, Sheridan pitched them another idea in the Yellowstone universe and then got to work on making that idea legitimate. Jumping ahead and focusing on the Duttons in another time period was the only way to give Paramount more of the prequel world he was building. By making a mistake with 1883 that brought the series to an end, 1923 was able to be made in its place. The Result is one of the best new Western shows on television.
1923 Continues the Story of Whoever Survived 1883, and It Even Includes Elsa
Everything about 1923 is an extension of what came before. Aside from the obvious prequel elements to Yellowstone, the series is much more a sequel to 1883 than it is a prequel to Yellowstone. On the one hand, 1923 existing years later allowed Sheridan to return to the Dutton Ranch again and explore its existence at a different time. In that way, the series feels more like Yellowstone. However, as an answer to having more 1883, 1923 is very much a follow-up story that continues to expand on any remaining characters from 1883 while also telling the stories of other major characters. Even though Elsa died at the end of 1883, she returns to 1923 in the only way Sheridan can utilize her: as a narrator. In many ways, she acts as the one main bridge between the two Sheridan prequel shows and continues to be the one main conduit for exploring the Dutton history. Isabel May’s voice has continued to tell the story of her family in every Yellowstone series, including the 2018 original. However, where 1923 really separates itself is with the show’s two main protagonists.
Overall, 1923 tells the story of Jacob and Cara Dutton, who were the first official members of the Dutton Family to build a ranching empire in Montana. Jacob is James Dutton’s brother, and he took in his brother’s surviving sons (John I and Spencer) when their parents died. Throughout the series, Jacob and Cara’s battle with outsiders is unique to their arcs, even if it is obviously reminiscent of John Dutton’s battle in the modern day. However, it is through the eyes of Spencer Dutton that the series takes on a stylistic similarity to 1883. Spencer Dutton is the unsung hero of the series and embodies the characteristics of many Duttons who came before (like James and Elsa), and many Duttons who came after (like John and Kayce). Through Spencer, 1923 feels the most like a perfect Yellowstone prequel and 1883 sequel rolled into one. With strengths similar to his sister, Elsa, his father, James, and his mother, Margaret, Spencer navigates the world in the same way his family did in 1883. The series continues to build to Spencer’s inevitable return to his family’s ranch, where he will be tested in ways he never has been before.
1923 Might Be a Better Series Than 1883
Despite 1923 existing only because 1883 wasn’t able to continue, 1923 might be a better series than 1883. Even though 1883 was the more quintessential Western of the two shows, 1923 is exploring the West in a time period that doesn’t normally depict that part of the United States. There is this incredible balance of new world vs old, East vs West, progress vs tradition that plays out beautifully in multiple scenarios of 1923. Furthermore, the ranching element that is understandably absent from 1883 is able to exist in 1923 and give Yellowstone fans more of those particular Dutton Family conflicts. The series also feels as much like a Western as it feels like a crime series, adventure epic and historical drama all rolled into one. Spencer Dutton is also the perfect kind of hero figure for the story being told in 1923 and takes the common prodigal son theme of the Yellowstone universe and doubles down on it. Furthermore, Spencer’s love story with Alex might be the best in the entire Yellowstone history.
Perhaps none of this compares to the level of star power that exists in 1923. While every single performance in 1883 is marvelous, the cast consists of two country singers and a handful of unknown actors. The show’s greatest performer is undeniably the great Sam Elliot, whose screen time is cut down by the services of the story. However, in 1923, star power was off the charts, and it showed.
Leading the way is the legendary duo of Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, but the series fills out with veteran performers such as James Badge Dale, Robert Patrick, Brian Geraghty and Jerome Flynn. Not to mention, the series’ main villain is played by none other than the great Timothy Dalton, who steals every scene he appears in. Finally, a more compelling story is rounded out in 1923 and delivered to audiences through an all-star cast. Some audiences might still prefer 1883 for its raw depictions of the American West, but 1923 might very well be the better series. Despite it being a mistake that caused 1923’s existence, it might be the best mistake Taylor Sheridan ever made.
