I’ve always been one to appreciate a gripping finale that tugs at your heartstrings and leaves you wide-eyed in anticipation. But sometimes a supersized event is a bit too much for the emotional baggage we’ve already packed.
Well, I’ve been holding my breath, waiting for 1923 to take me on one last wild ride in its supersized season 2 finale. And as much as we’re all chomping at the bit to see Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) finally reunite with Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer), I can’t shake the feeling that there’s a storm brewing. I’m not entirely convinced this ending will do Yellowstone any favors.
Sure, 1923’s finale promises a grand finale with all the bells and whistles, but there’s a nagging truth lurking just beneath the surface like an elephant in the room. I believe the show may be digging its own grave—especially when it comes to the Duttons’ tangled legacy.
With 1883 setting the stage for a powerful land pact and Yellowstone giving us a bittersweet finale by handing over the family ranch, 1923 seems to be skating past a crucial chapter of the story. And in doing so, it could very well throw a wrench in the Duttons’ already complicated tale.
Will 1923’s explosive finale worsen the Yellowstone legacy?
When I reflect on the Duttons’ journey and their relationship with the Native American tribes, it feels like a saga of uneasy alliances and broken promises. In 1883, James Dutton’s agreement with Spotted Eagle, chief of the Lakota tribe, set the stage for a significant future reckoning.
The promise of returning the land to its rightful owners felt like a distant dream—a dream that would take generations to fulfill. Yet, by the time Yellowstone’s finale arrived, it became clear that those words would resonate in ways we couldn’t have imagined.
In the closing moments of Yellowstone’s season 5 finale, Kayce Dutton’s decision to sell the family ranch to Chief Thomas Rainwater of the Broken Rock Reservation feels like a tribute to that very agreement made in 1883.
Kayce’s realization that his family could no longer bear the financial burden and emotional weight of the ranch was heart-wrenching. Yet, in his final act, he honored the land’s legacy by placing it in the hands of someone who had a deep connection to it. The $1.25 per acre price tag—reflecting the cost of the land generations ago—was symbolic, sealing an emotional and cultural pact between the Duttons and the native tribes.
But while Yellowstone wrapped up its story with this poignant moment, 1923 seems to ignore or gloss over this historical pact. The 1923 season 2 finale might give fans the reunion they’ve been waiting for between Spencer and Alexandra, but this glaring issue could overshadow this long-anticipated moment.
The disconnect between 1923 and Yellowstone’s legacy
As 1923 barrels toward its second-season Supersized finale, I find myself grappling with the way it’s handling the Duttons’ relationship to the land. Sure, the show has been busy with the intense drama of survival and personal battles, but it hasn’t significantly addressed the promise James Dutton made to Spotted Eagle.
In Yellowstone, the final scenes were deeply moving, as Elsa Dutton’s spirit spoke about her father’s (James) prophecy and the land was finally returned to its original stewards. “Men cannot truly own wild land,” Elsa’s monologue seemed to whisper as the camera lingered on the vast, untamed landscape.
Yet, in 1923, this promise has barely been mentioned, and I can’t help but wonder if that historical context might have provided the emotional glue tying the shows together.
Taylor Sheridan’s work in Yellowstone was powerful because it acknowledged the complexities of land ownership and legacy. By leaving that thread out of 1923, there’s a sense that the series is missing a crucial piece of the puzzle—one that would have tied together the familial and cultural struggles of the Duttons across multiple generations.
1923 season 2: The dramatic build-up to the supersized finale
We can’t ignore that the second season of 1923 has been anything but dull. With the killing spree in the penultimate episode and the tragic deaths that followed, the stage is set for a finale packed with high stakes. Characters like Teonna, who has been through unimaginable hardship, are on the brink of defining moments.
Alexandra, meanwhile, continues to battle the elements, and Spencer’s return could be a game-changer for the Duttons.
As Jacob Dutton (Harrison Ford) and his crew eagerly await Spencer’s return at the train station, I can’t help but feel a little skeptical. The battle for survival has been hard-fought, but the bloodshed, betrayal, and shifting alliances paint a grim picture. Teonna’s vengeance against Father Renaud and her harrowing escape have been cathartic, yet the uncertainty of her future leaves me on edge.
And as Alexandra faces the brutal cold alone in the wilderness, my heart aches for her strength and resilience. Will she make it back to Spencer (Brandon Sklenar), or will this be the end of her journey?
The end of 1923 will no doubt have a profound impact on the Yellowstone universe, but it might also force us to look back at the events of Yellowstone and question whether we got the ending we truly deserved.
But I can’t seem to escape the feeling that it might be more than we bargained for. Too much blood, too many betrayals, too much unfinished business. Maybe, just maybe, the Duttons have paid enough of a price for the land they fought so hard to hold on to. But I guess we’ll see how this chapter closes and whether it leaves us with the satisfaction we’re hoping for—or if it only adds to the weight of the Dutton legacy.
1923 season 2 and Yellowstone are available on Paramount+.
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