Warning! SPOILERS For 1923 Season 2 & Yellowstone Season 4

John Dutton III (Kevin Costner) has already revealed an ominous fact about his grandfather in Yellowstone, which enhances 1923's characters a secret, leaving Yellowstone fans in the dark about who fathered Costner's grandfather, who is the ancestor of Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes).

That said, as the pieces fall into place, 1923's connection to John Dutton III’s grandfather will point directly to Jack (Darren Mann) or Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar). John was a fifth-generation rancher, which we know from Jamie Dutton’s (Wes Bentley) speech in Yellowstone season 5. Spencer and Jack are second and third-generation ranchers, respectively, and either could feasibly be the link to John Dutton III. As we get the complete picture, the existing tidbits about John’s past will become all the more meaningful, enhancing the Yellowstone franchise's rich tapestry.

John Dutton Reveals His Grandfather Lost His Leg In Yellowstone

John Tells Jimmy About Phantom Pain In Yellowstone Season 4

When Jimmy Hurdstrom (Jeffrey White) returns to the ranch in Yellowstone season 4, episode 3, “Phantom Pain,” John reveals a fascinating fact about his grandfather. After falling off a bull in a rodeo competition, Jimmy is in critical condition. Despite almost losing his life, Jimmy gets back on the horse again, breaking his promise to John and worsening a bad situation. John Dutton then sends his ranch hand to the Four Sixes Ranch in Texas to learn about cowboying from Travis Wheatley (Taylor Sheridan) and the best of them, but not before he receives a parting lecture from John Dutton.

Either Jack or Spencer is John's grandfather, and one of them will eventually lose their leg.

In Yellowstone season 4, Jimmy tells John Dutton that his fingertips hurt even though he can't feel them. John responds with a story about his ancestor, relating directly to 1923's Dutton saga. John Dutton tells Jimmy that his grandfather lost his leg, recounting his grandfather saying the worst pain he ever felt was in his toes after his limb was gone. Dutton calls the sensation "phantom pain" during the conversation, which is the episode's title, showing its importance to the franchise. Either Jack or Spencer is John's grandfather, and one of them will eventually lose their leg.

Which 1923 Dutton Is John’s Grandfather - Spencer Or Jack?

Jack Or Spencer Dutton Relates Directly To Kevin Costner's Character

In Yellowstone season 2, episode 10, "Sins of the Father," a flashback shows Kevin Costner playing a younger version of himself alongside Dabney Coleman, who plays John Dutton II, John Dutton III's father. He's quite old in the flashback, and therefore, it's counterintuitive to think of John Dutton II as a baby. However, whoever gave birth to John Dutton II can claim to be John Dutton III's direct ancestor, and it's probably a 1923 character. The biggest clue is that we know the governor of Montana was a fifth-generation rancher, making John Dutton II a fourth-generation rancher.

The first generation is James Dutton (Tim McGraw) and Jacob Dutton (Harrison Ford). James had two sons, John Dutton and Spencer Dutton, making them second-generation. Jack is John Dutton’s son, making him a third-generation Dutton. After that, we know John Dutton II is fourth-generation, John Dutton III is fifth-generation, and so on.

Therefore, John Dutton II’s father (John Dutton III's grandfather) had to be a third-generation Dutton. The only third-generation Dutton we currently know of is Jack, making him the perfect candidate to be John Dutton II's father and, thereby, Costner's character's grandfather. John Dutton II’s father could also have been the child of Spencer’s son, but the generational calculus doesn’t add up for Spencer to be John Dutton II’s father directly. All that said, what we do know is that if baby John Dutton II emerges in the 1923 prequel, Jack will be his father without a doubt.

What John Dutton’s Reveal Means For Yellowstone’s Future

John's Reveal Has Implications For Yellowstone's Next Chapter

Whether Dabney Coleman's John Dutton II is Jack or Spencer’s descendant, Kevin Costner's John III reveals a major piece of Dutton family history in Yellowstone season 4. Jack, or Spencer’s son, will face a harrowing injury, whether on the farm or in an environment just as dangerous. Since 1923 is set amid the Roaring Twenties, the next major national conflict after the Great Depression would be World War II. The Dutton family ancestor could have lost his leg in battle, potentially while fighting in the war. The event could be covered in 1944, an Yellowstone prequel teased by Taylor Sheridan.

If Jack is John Dutton II’s father, and John Dutton III's grandfather, that means Elizabeth Strafford’s (Michelle Ranolph) husband eventually loses his leg. Jack would presumably be in his mid-forties in the 1940s, making him about the right age to get drafted to fight in the war. Therefore, while John Dutton III’s "Phantom Pain" tidbit from Yellowstone season 4 is a clue into a 1923 character’s future, it could also secretly set up 1944, and the World War II-era struggles the Dutton family faces after conquering the Prohibition era and the early onset of the Great Depression in Montana.