Yellowstone’s 1883 Cancellation, Explained
Yellowstone has become a cultural phenomenon, and its prequel, 1883, had the chance to become just as successful. Created by Taylor Sheridan, the franchise revolves around the idea of a modern-style western. It follows the Dutton family as they fight to gain and subsequently retain the rights to the Yellowstone ranch in Montana. While Yellowstone focuses on more modern times, 1883 was always meant to go back in time — as the title suggests — to show the origin of the Dutton family.
The spin-off premiered in December 2021 and ran for ten episodes through February 2022. Despite high hopes for an 1883 Season 2, the follow-up never materialized. Instead, the story was partly continued by 1923, another Yellowstone story. Considering that the show was critically acclaimed enough to be nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards, it is somewhat bizarre that Season 2 never materialized. It’s important to realize, however, there are good reasons why 1883 Season 2 didn’t happen.
Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on April 4, 2024: The Yellowstone franchise is continuing to expand with prequels, sequels, and additional spinoffs that continue the story of the Dutton family. With so many new series on the way, however, it seems odd that one of the franchise’s mostbeloved spinoffs never got a second season.
The History of Yellowstone Spin-Offs
Given the wild success of Yellowstone, having a few spin-off series was fairly inevitable. 1883 was only the first of them, as the ten-hour western show ushered in a whole new era of Yellowstone. Its follow-up, 1923 came in December 2022, after jumping decades in the future. With a focus on another generation, it began to plant the seeds of growth that allowed the Dutton family to become the powerful monopoly that it is today. The second season of 1923 was delayed thanks to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023, but it is apparently back on track and hoping to begin filming soon.
There are more spin-offs to come, of course. Because Yellowstone will be coming to an end with the second half of Season 5 later this year, the franchise will continue with shows like 6666, 1944, and 2024. 6666 will be set in modern-day Texas and follow the events surrounding the titular Four Sixes Ranch. 1944 will continue the story of earlier generations of the Dutton family, presumably as they cope with the escalation of World War II. 2024 will be the official sequel to Yellowstone, and has been rumored to have Matthew McConaughey as its lead star.
While not an official spin-off of Yellowstone, Paramount has also produced Lawmen: Bass Reeves. Sheridan is an executive producer, which has given the show a sense of connection, even if it is wholly unrelated to the world of the Duttons. With so many different spin-off shows and spiritual successors, it is odd that 1883 is the one that was never given the chance to truly thrive. Having been limited to a single season, the story could not continue as other shows could. Unsurprisingly, there is a good reason for that.
1883 Was Always Meant To Have One Season
Not every show is meant to exist for multiple seasons. Sheridan always wanted to make an extended Western with 1883, but he never wanted the show to run for another season. Instead, he saw the opportunity to follow the overarching story with 1923. That meant saying goodbye to beloved characters, including James and Margaret Dutton so that the next generation could begin their own stories. It also meant skipping forward to a time when the characters are more entwined with the Yellowstone ranch, rather than being new arrivals desperately trying to survive in a hostile environment.
The timeline of Sheridan’s Yellowstone Universe is extensive because it allows characters from entirely different settings to tell their story. In 1883, Sheridan wanted to set the narrative in a post-Civil War Montana. In 1923, he was able to tackle other then-present events, including the early signs of the Great Depression and the threat of prohibition. The same has been true for each project, which has given Sheridan new settings to explore through the Yellowstone lens.
Being a Limited Series Benefited 1883
By Sticking to Its Pre-existing Plan, 1883 Avoided Disappointing Viewers by Running Too Long.
If Sheridan entered production expecting that there would only be a single season, there was no reason to extend beyond those expectations. The Flash, How I Met Your Mother, and Once Upon a Time are all examples of shows that ran far too long. They extended their run just to satisfy networks and studios, and it was a disservice to the original shows. Instead of coming to neat conclusions that can close character arcs, they muddled the overall story structure. It can strip shows of the elements that made them great, which would have been disappointing for a thrilling show like 1883.
There were only so many stories for Sheridan to tell in the 1883 world. His decision to restrict himself to just the story told in Season 1 may have been limiting, but it also ensured that there was never a moment wherein 1883 jumped off of the rails. He had a plan in mind, stuck to that plan, and delivered a product that enthralled viewers and enriched the world of Yellowstone. If he ever wishes to return to that setting, flashbacks are an available option, and they would likely be unable to take away from the atmosphere that he built in the original show. As it is, he tackled original themes and closed the book on many beloved characters, all while thoroughly considering the setting of the show and the stresses of the journey to a largely uncolonized Montana.
Another benefit is that plans never needed to be reshuffled for 1883. Yellowstone is largely coming to an end because of the conflict between Costner and Paramount. Running for five seasons left time for grievances to fester, scheduling issues to pile up, and monetary issues to grow. With a set plan for a single season of 1883, those issues were unlikely to appear, and it saved Sheridan from ever needing to risk shutting down the show over similar issues. Instead, it could begin and end on good terms, and the entire cast and crew of Yellowstone were able to complete production as planned and as scheduled. Considering the original show’s difficulties, being a limited series has been a blessing in disguise for the prequel.
As it stands, it is disappointing to see that it is unlikely that 1883 will ever see another episode. As much as Sheridan prefers telling that singular narrative, it would be nice to see a full return to the lives of James and Margaret and a Dutton family that has not grown too influential. The relatively humble beginnings shine a new light on the entire Yellowstone franchise, as it takes a larger-than-life family and instead portrays it in an early conflict that could have swallowed them all. If Sheridan had not had a planned ending, that difference may not have struck quite as clearly. The cancelation is what made 1883 work, even if it is sad to see that 1883 Season 2 will never come to be.
With All of the Shows Existing In the Same Timeline, There’s Plenty of Room to Revisit
If Sheridan ever wanted to revisit characters from 1883, it is always possible to do so with the other Yellowstone spin-off shows. They all exist in the same timeline, leaving him ample opportunity to feature the surviving Duttons from those earlier years again. John hails directly from 1883, yet much of 1923 is directly focused on his adventures. It is a direct tie that gives little reason for Sheridan to commit to a two-season run when he could conclude every important character arc in other spin-offs. It also provides a tight tie between the shows, so that the universe never feels too disconnected. Every change made to 1883 could also be an uncomfortable retcon if it ever contradicts an earlier development in 1923. Choosing to continue one, rather than the other, was a natural decision.
Additionally, it was recently revealed that, after its final second season, 1923 will get a sequel series in the form of 1944, which will continue some of the story from its predecessor, but follow the next generation of the Dutton family. Taylor Sheridan always has the option to follow a similar route with 1823 by spinning out certain characters’ stories in a different series. This would also potentially bridge the gap between 1883 and 1923, creating a greater synergy between the series in the franchise and creating a more complete timeline for Yellowstone in general.
