Between Yellowstone and its two existing spinoffs, 1883 and 1923, there are many Yellowstone universe characters who could be considered “the best.”
With production on Yellowstone season 5, part 2 finally underway, fans of the Taylor Sheridan-created neo-Western might be rewatching the series and its two prequels, 1883 and 1923, to prepare for the end of an era. The franchise hinges on the Dutton family — cattle ranchers whose Yellowstone property borders the national park of the same name as well as the Broken Rock Reservation. Although Yellowstone’s Dutton family tree is complicated, the prequels shed light on the many, many characters. In Yellowstone, Kevin Costner plays the head of Yellowstone Ranch and family patriarch John Dutton, who becomes Montana’s governor in season 5.
John Dutton’s three adult kids — Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes), Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly), and Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley) — are all vying for a stake in the ranch’s future. Meanwhile, John finds himself locked in a stand-off with Broken Rock’s chief, Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham). While Yellowstone is a tale of grappling with the titular ranch’s future, the spinoffs delve into its hard-won past. In 1883, Civil War vet James Dutton (Tim McGraw) and his wife Margaret Dutton (Faith Hill) journey West toward the Pacific with their children. The eldest, Elsa (Isabel May), becomes a hardened survivalist under the tutelage of wagon-train leader Shea Brennan (Sam Elliott).
In 1883’s ending, viewers learn how (and why) the Dutton family settled on the land that currently hosts the Yellowstone Ranch. As the title implies, 1923 is sandwiched between 1883 and Yellowstone, offering a glimpse into another generation of the Dutton family. The older brother of James (McGraw), Jacob Dutton (Harrison Ford) and his wife, Cara (Helen Mirren), raise John Sr. and Spencer Dutton as their own, all while navigating the hardships of Prohibition and the Great Depression. With a rich repository of stories, Yellowstone — and the Yellowstone franchise’s timeline — is an epic saga.
Although Yellowstone season 5, part 2 will wrap up the parent series, Sheridan and his collaborators already have a few new spinoffs in the works, including a sequel series, 2024. Undoubtedly, those series will boast an array of exciting new characters. For now, however, viewers can enjoy revisiting the stories of some of Yellowstone’s best characters, including those from 1883 and 1923. While not all the franchise’s best characters are good guys — or even likable — there’s no denying the neo-Western’s ability to craft endlessly watchable personalities and stories.
10 Spencer Dutton
Brandon Sklenar
The youngest child of James and Margaret Dutton, Spencer doesn’t figure into the main story of 1883, but he does play a crucial role in the events of 1923. Thanks to some flashback sequences, he technically appears in multiple Yellowstone universe shows, though the 1923 version of the character, played by Brandon Sklenar, is a fan favorite. After both his parents die, a young Spencer is raised by Jacob and Cara, but his hardships don’t end there. A member of the US military’s American Expeditionary Force, Spencer turns to drinking and hunting after experiencing the horrors of World War I.
When viewers catch up with Spencer, he’s hunting dangerous predatory animals in sub-Saharan Africa. There, the war hero-turned-hunter meets (and impresses) Alexandra, and the two run away together. Although he never meets his older sister, Elsa, Spencer is connected to her in many ways. For one, he carries her knife — a gift from Elsa’s late partner, Sam — and boasts the same determined spirit. A fighter to the end, Spencer is easy to root for, but he doesn’t coast on his good looks and charm alone.
9 Jamie Dutton
Wes Bentley
Jamie Dutton is easily one of the most diabolical characters in the Yellowstone universe. Even though John Dutton has the Train Station dumping ground and tons of deaths on his hands, Jamie may, in fact, be the most despicable Dutton. Part of that stems from his lack of loyalty. He doesn’t seem interested in the family legacy, and, as showcased in season 5 of Yellowstone, he’s eager to impeach his own father. Jamie and Beth are also locked in a rivalry — one with brutal origins that casts Jamie in an even darker shade. Still, Wes Bentley’s portrayal is remarkable and essential.
It remains to be seen how Jamie’s story will play out. Jamie could become an even more thoroughly hated character if he ends up killing his father or sister. At this point, it seems likely that he’s also on the list of most likely to die Yellowstone characters. Undoubtedly, Yellowstone’s series finale could make or break Jamie as a compelling villain.
8 Thomas Rainwater
Gil Birmingham
One of John Dutton’s key rivals, Thomas Rainwater is a casino mogul as well as the elected high chief for the Confederated Tribes of Broken Rock. When Thomas learned of his indigenous heritage, he committed himself to reclaiming what was taken from his ancestors. The stolen Dutton ranch land is one of his core pursuits to expand both the reservation and his business endeavors. Unlike other mogul types, Thomas Rainwater aims to bring generational wealth back to his people. Frustratingly, the character hasn’t gotten the screen time he deserves even though he and John “want the same things, but for very different reasons.”
7 Beth Dutton
Kelly Reilly
Beth, John Dutton’s only daughter, is fiercely loyal. Committed to protecting her family above all else, she goes to extreme lengths to ensure her loved ones’ welfare, especially after the sudden loss of her brother, Lee. Smart and passionate, Beth’s tough-as-nails persona can certainly rub people the wrong way — both characters she meets and viewers alike. As Yellowstone peels back Beth’s layers, it becomes clear that Jamie’s unforgivable betrayal and the loss of both her mother and brother shaped Beth into the person she is today. In season 5, she becomes her father’s right-hand person, and grows into one of Yellowstone’s most compelling characters.
6 Shea Brennan
Sam Elliott
Captain Shea Brennan is an older Union Civil War vet who becomes the leader of a wagon-train traveling from Texas to Montana. As fate would have it, the no-nonsense survivalist ends up making the trek across the country with the Dutton family. Eager to see the West once more — before it’s settled and destroyed — Brennan slowly reveals his fascinating backstory. The vet was also a member of the Pinkertons, best friends with a commander in the Buffalo Regiment, and lost his family to smallpox. In many ways, Shea’s story chronicles many pockets of notable American history too.
5 Elsa Dutton
Isabel May
Elsa isn’t just 1883’s protagonist, but the show’s narrator, which means viewers see the events of the prequel series through the eyes of James and Margaret’s eldest child. While she starts out as a free-spirit and a bit of a tomboy, Elsa learns that her romanticized version of the West isn’t entirely true. Threats of all kinds abound, which prompts her to become a hardened survivalist. On the journey West, she loses loved ones, but also has one of the most brutal kills in one of 1883’s best episodes. Sadly, a wounded Elsa doesn’t live past 1883’s finale, but her father buries Elsa in the place that becomes Yellowstone Ranch.
4 Teonna Rainwater
Aminah Nieves
One of 1923’s principal characters, Teonna Rainwater is stolen from her family and the Broken Rock Reservation at large. Like many other indigenous children at that time, Teonna is subjected to the horrors of an abusive Catholic boarding school. While her story isn’t one that’s often depicted on screen, it serves as a crucial reminder of a past often swept under the rug. However, Teonna Rainwater is much more than the traumas she endures. The character’s brutal story and remarkable perseverance make her one of the Yellowstone universe’s most compelling personalities — and she certainly deserves another spotlight.
3 John Dutton
Kevin Costner
Owner of one of the largest cattle ranches in the US, John Dutton III is a memorable anti-hero who ranks right up there with Breaking Bad’s Walter White. John isn’t always easy to root for, even though the franchise centers on the Duttons. Still, Costner’s remarkable performance brings the Dutton patriarch together so vividly. One of the most believably drawn characters in the series, John Dutton may not live to see the end of Yellowstone season 5, part 2. While Costner might be back in the saddle again, he had reportedly left the series at one point over creative differences.
2 Cara Dutton
Helen Mirren
The wife of Jacob Dutton, Cara is a tough-as-nails rancher who clearly shares some of Beth’s spitfire nature. When Jacob is wounded, Cara steps in to lead the family and the business, but it isn’t just that moment that makes her so progressive. Throughout 1923, Cara always stands up for what’s right and believes, unwaveringly, in justice. Clever, steely, and loving, Helen Mirren’s Cara is a breath of fresh air when it comes to truly strong, fiercely trailblazing women on television. Plus, she and Jacob make up one of the franchise’s best (and most believable) couples.
1 Rip Wheeler
Cole Hauser
A fan favorite through and through, Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) is also one of the Yellowstone franchise’s best characters because of how much he grows. Not only does the character have a compelling backstory, but his present (and future) are just as intriguing. John Dutton’s right-hand rancher, Rip is like an adopted Dutton son, and a clear choice for successor — at least where the day-to-day life of the ranch is concerned. Rip is also fiercely committed to his wife, Beth, which is definitely part of his tough-yet-tender charm. Not all of Yellowstone’s cowboys are likable, but Rip is definitely a solid guy.
