Yellowstone, 1883 and 1923 Easter eggs – from God is the land to Elsa’s tragic death scene
The Yellowstone franchise may be set decades apart but there are plenty of Easter eggs to keep the Dutton family throughout history connected.
Yellowstone season five is still incomplete with part two set to make its debut sometime in November.
So while Paramount Network viewers wait for the final lot of episodes to arrive, many are re-watching the series, as well as its spin-offs 1883 and 1923, picking up on some major Easter eggs.
Yellowstone, 1883 and 1923 Easter eggs
1883 graves
In Yellowstone’s season five, episode six, entitled Cigarettes, Whiskey, A Meadow and You, the graves of 1883’s James (played by Tim McGraw), Margaret (Faith Hill) and Elsa Dutton (Isabel May) are shown on the ranch.
As well as showing the family’s ancestors’ names, it is the first confirmation of their death dates.
A big house
1883’s third instalment River sees James promise his beloved wife a happy life with “a house so big you get lost in it”.
While he wasn’t able to provide this for her before his death in 1893, the Dutton Ranch’s large house was built with its size referenced in Yellowstone season three, episode three, You’re The Indian Now.
Monica Long comments that she is “trying to find my way upstairs”, to which John Dutton (Kevin Costner) calls their home a “damn maze”.
Sam Elliott reference
Actor Sam Elliott is behind Union Civil War veteran Shea Brennan in 1883 but the star is mentioned in the modern day Yellowstone.
In season four, episode four, Winning or Learning, Travis (Taylor Sheridan) says: “When I grow up, I want to be Sam Elliott, Patrick Swayze’s hair and I wish them all to come back in style, don’t you?”
The knife
In the latest spin-off 1923, Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) is seen carrying a very familiar looking knife.
The weapon must have been passed down through the family as the knife was actually given to Elsa in 1883 by Comanche tribesman and husband Sam.
He gave her this gift as a prize after winning their horseback race in the seventh episode.
God is land
Both of the leading ladies in Yellowstone and 1883, Beth and Elsa, talk about life on the ranch, using almost exactly the same terminology.
In Yellowstone season two, episode seven, Resurrection Day, Beth said: “I think Heaven’s right here, so’s Hell. One person can be walking the clouds right next to someone enduring eternal damnation and God is the land.”
Meanwhile, in 1883’s seventh episode Lightning Yellow Hair, Elsa states: “There is no Heaven to go to, because we’re in it already.
“We’re in Hell too, they co-exist right beside each other and God is the land.”
The songbird
In the very first episode of Yellowstone, John’s eldest son Lee Dutton (Dave Annable) is killed, with the patriarch of the family seen laying by his grave when a songbird appears.
This scene is then replicated in 1883 when James is cradling his dying daughter Elsa on the ground in the same spot.
She then sees a songbird just before she dies, succumbing to her infected wound.
