Both 1883 and 1923 are prequels to Yellowstone exploring the history and origins of the Dutton Family dynasty, but how exactly are they connected?
Despite all the ongoing tension and drama that the Dutton family has endured throughout the hit series, Yellowstone, it turns out that they’re not the only generation of the family that has had to endure such heartbreaking hardships. As it turns out, the Duttons have quite a long and extensive history of being forced to deal with those kinds of troubles, going as far back as the days of the Old West. The prequel series, 1883, chronicles the origins of how the family eventually came to own Yellowstone Ranch, but unlike the show that follows it chronologically, it only manages to get through its story in a single season.
1923 simultaneously serves as another prequel to Yellowstone as well as a sequel to 1883. If Yellowstone fans thought that 1883 put its characters through some rather tough situations, 1923 somehow managed to create even bigger hurdles for them to overcome. Aside from all the personal drama and historical heartbreak thrown in Dutton’s way, and despite the fact they each focus on two entirely separate generations of the family, the two prequel series have quite a bit in common. However, what exactly is it that connects the two shows, and how will it all tie back to Yellowstone in the end?
How Did the Duttons Come To Own Yellowstone Ranch in 1883?
The Dutton family has thrived in its ownership of Yellowstone Ranch in the modern day, but the circumstances from which the family’s ancestors of the past wound up acquiring the land in the first place were rather heartbreaking, to say the least. Even though 1883 had an incredibly short run, it managed to plant quite an engaging seed that has grown into a very compelling family tree for the Duttons. During the start of their trek west to Oregon with Shea Brennan, not only did the family tragically lose Mary Abel in a shootout with a group of riders, but they also lost Claire to suicide very soon after. Towards the end of the series, James and Margaret are also forced to face the loss of their daughter, Elsa, after she was shot in the torso with an arrow by a Lakota warrior.
Despite the best efforts of a local crow tribe who tried to treat her wound, Elsa eventually came to accept that she was going to die. Before doing so, the tribe’s leader had recommended Paradise Valley in Montana as a place for the family to settle and a suitable resting place for Elsa. After James’ death a full decade later, the family was struggling and Margaret wrote a letter to James’ brother, Jacob, hoping that he would travel and save both the family and the ranch that they had since built in Paradise Valley. Unfortunately for Margaret, Jacob’s arrival was too late for her, finding his sister-in-law frozen to death and her children starving.
How 1923 Expands and Explores The Dutton Family Tree
If viewers thought that Yellowstone had too many characters and names to memorize, then both 1883 and 1923 are sure to make it even harder, especially considering how each of their stories is not entirely focused on or completely centered around the Dutton family. Luckily, the Dutton family members that are introduced in the prequels are so well-developed and interesting enough that they’re easy to stand out in memory. 1883 introduced James and Margaret as the couple who kicked off the family’s still-held reign over Yellowstone. At the beginning of 1923, after their deaths, James’ brother, Jacob, was shown to have officially taken over their duties at the ranch, along with his Scottish wife, Cara. Even though Jacob and Cara had no children of their own, they were also left to look after and ensure the well-being of their nephews: John, Jack, and Spencer.
Just by hearing his name alone, many fans were under the assumption that John Sr., along with his wife, Emma, would grow to become the parents of John Dutton II and grandparents of the family’s current patriarch, John Dutton III. Much to their shock, however, both John and Emma were killed off, with the former getting caught in the crossfire of Banner Creighton’s Tommy gun and the latter committing suicide after falling into grief-driven depression. Because of this, it’s currently unknown which of the two surviving brothers will be revealed as the one to father John the second. Many fans have recently been led to believe, however, that it is actually Spencer who will become father, seeing how Jack and his fiancée, Elizabeth, had a devastating miscarriage in the Season 1 finale. It’s still entirely possible that Jack and Elizabeth could try again and succeed in having another child by the series’ end; but with the wild and life-threatening journey that Spencer and Alex have gone through during their time in Africa and in international waters, having them conceive a child during their expected reunion in Season 2 would no doubt be an incredibly fitting and well-deserved ending for them.
Only Two Characters From 1883 Return For Appearances in 1923
Seeing how both shows take place 40 years apart from one another, it would only make sense that most of the main characters from the first would not be returning for the second. By the time the story of 1923 takes place, James and Margaret are long dead, leaving a new generation to take over the handling of the ranch. Because of this, only one character who was still alive by the end of 1883 was able to return and crossover into the sequel series, that character is John Dutton Sr. With the kind of prominence that the eldest son of James and Margaret had in 1883, however, the sequel show makes surprisingly little use of him. As previously mentioned, he’s shockingly killed off in only the series’ third episode, and the remaining focus of its story is instead placed upon his aunt and uncle as well as the exploits of his two younger brothers.
Interestingly, 1923 also maintains another connection to its predecessor with the inclusion of Elsa. Of course, Elsa had already passed away, as per the events of 1883’s final. In a rather fitting creative choice, however, 1923 continues to make use of the beyond-the-grave narration that she had also provided in the previous series, with Isabel May once again lending her voice. So far, throughout only two seasons of television, Taylor Sheridan has managed to weave together quite a thrilling and entertaining history of the Dutton family. Another upcoming prequel spinoff, 1944, is set to bridge the gap between 1923 and the original show that started it all. Even though Yellowstone is nearing its end, fans of the franchise can still look forward to more stories from the Dutton family’s long history, as it certainly doesn’t seem like Sheridan has any plans to end it for good.
