Warning: SPOILERS for 1923 Season 2's Finale - "A Dream and a Memory"

After Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) arrived home as the war for the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch broke out, fending off Banner Creighton’s (Jerome Flynn) men at the train station in Livingston and the family’s ranch. After the battle ended, Spencer and Jacob went to Donald Whitfield’s (Timothy Dalton) mansion, killing him at his dining room table for waging war on the family.

In 1923's finale, Spencer lost his wife, end of 1923 season 1, and we witnessed their separate journeys to Montana in 1923 season 2. While it was heartbreaking that we didn’t get more of Alex and Spencer’s romance and the potential of their running the ranch together in season 3, 1923 season 2’s ending meshes with the original vision that 1923 creator Taylor Sheridan had for the series.

Taylor Sheridan Envisioned 1923 As A Two-Part Story

1923 Fulfilled Taylor Sheridan's Plan

According to his comments from before 1923 season 2, Taylor Sheridan long envisioned the Prohibition-era saga as a two-part story split between two seasons (per 1883, which saw the death of many of its characters in the finale. Seeing as 1883 couldn’t continue satisfyingly, Sheridan, who wrote all of 1923 himself, pitched a series that would happen 40 years after the events of 1883, when a financial depression was sweeping through Montana’s ranching community, causing unrest and range wars like those in 1923.

From its early stages, 1923 was envisioned as two seasons.

Taylor Sheridan paired Montana’s depression with Africa’s “height of colonialism,” filming much of 1923 season 1 in Kenya, Zanzibar, and Tanzania, where Spencer Dutton was stationed as a hunter for the Protectorate of Kenya. While creating 1923, Sheridan said that while 1923 was originally going to comprise one set of eight episodes, he called Paramount+ to ask for eight more to finish the story. 1923 season 2 only ended up having seven episodes, but the seventh is movie-length. Therefore, from its early stages, 1923 was envisioned as two seasons, and the finale of 1923 season 2 actualized that.

As we see in the time jump to Spencer Dutton’s death, 1923 season 2’s finale has a proper ending. 1923's final moments flash forward 45 years, showing Spencer lying down on his wife’s grave and ing on himself. 1923’s narrator and Spencer’s sister, Elsa Dutton (Isabel May), tells us that Spencer lived until 80. We learn that Spencer had two sons, one with an unnamed widow. 1923’s ending set up Yellowstone’s next prequel, 1944, which will occur 20 years after the winter of 1924. That said, it seems to be a conclusive end for the 1923 Duttons.

Alex’s Death Was A Fitting End To The Duttons’ Story During The 1923 Era

Alex’s Death Reflects The Grim Reality Of The 1920s

The main event of 1923 season 2’s finale was Alex Dutton’s death. While Spencer’s wife made it to Montana, Alex didn’t survive the events of 1923 season 2. After a brave journey across the ocean and through America, Alex was stranded and freezing in a car by the side of the railroad. Alex’s friends, Paul (Augustus Prew) and Hillary (Janet Montgomery), offered to deliver her to Emigrant, Montana. However, the Chicagoans were met with an untimely death when they failed to heed the warning of a local gas station attendant that the roads would be imable.

When Alex finds that her friends have died in 1923's penultimate episode, Elsa Dutton delivers a chilling monologue about the relentless force of nature, warning of another mass extinction. Alex Dutton’s death fits the theme of the narration, suggesting that man can’t outsmart nature, seemingly speaking directly to Alex’s situation and her friends’ belief that they would be okay. Ultimately, Alex’s death was a fitting end to 1923 season 2, reflecting the harsh circumstances for people at that time. Taylor Sheridan told Deadline that 1923 was intended to mirror the period, and Alex's death achieved that.

The Dutton Family’s Origin Story Is Still Continuing With Taylor Sheridan’s 1944 Prequel

1923 Characters Will Likely Return To The Forthcoming 1944

Despite 1923 ending, the Dutton family's story isn't over. Taylor Sheridan has contrived another Yellowstone prequel that would take place 20 years after the events of 1923 season 2, called 1944. The story would pick up amid the climate of World War II, adding another period piece to Taylor Sheridan’s collection of Yellowstone shows. We know a few things about what the story will entail after 1923 season 2’s ending, including what’s in store for the ranch and which characters can return. For instance, considering that Spencer Dutton survives for 45 more years after 1923, he will likely play a role.

There are other opportunities for 1923’s characters to return in 1944. We don’t know exactly what’s in store for Elizabeth Strafford (Michelle Ranolph) or Teonna Rainwater (Aminah Nieves) with their open-ended fates in the finale. 1944 can return 1923 characters who will remain alive in events 20 years later. It could also return a few who have ed on. Harrison Ford said he would return as Jacob Dutton, and 1944 could show his death, either in flashbacks or in the present. Similarly, Julia Schlaepfer is willing to return to Yellowstone as Alex, using her ethereal connection with Spencer to guide him.

What 1923’s Cast & Crew Have Said About Season 2 Being The Last One

Brandon Sklenar Seemingly Confirmed 1923’s Ending

1923’s cast and crew have offered some definitive words on whether 1923 season 2 was the last of the saga. Their remarks seemingly confirm Taylor Sheridan’s vision, with 1923 ending after two chapters as intended. Brandon Sklenar said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that 1923 would conclude after two seasons: “I think of it as one piece—there’s just a split in the middle.” Also, remarking that, “it will conclude.” Sklenar’s remark seemingly confirms that 1923 is complete after two seasons, reflecting Sheridan’s intent that both seasons act as one continuous story.

Considering Brandon Sklenar's and Taylor Sheridan's comments, 1923’s ending seems definite.

Considering Brandon Sklenar's and Taylor Sheridan's comments, 1923’s ending seems definite. Still, with Brandon Sklenar, Julia Schlaepfer, Harrison Ford, and Helen Mirren all willing to return as their characters, the 1923 Duttons could return to the following story, even if it’s just in flashbacks that explain their fate. Like 1883’s Tim McGraw and Faith Hill appearing as James and Margaret Dutton in Yellowstone, 1923’s star-studded cast could reappear. Perhaps a spinoff series for one of 1923’s characters could be in the cards, such as a saga about Cara Dutton. Still, 1923 itself is seemingly over.

Source: Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter