Taylor Sheridan‘s latest branching off onto the Paramount+ money tree is an exciting setup for another promising new series. This time he has the star power equal to his storytelling abilities. 1923 is the second prequel to the Paramount+ television smash Yellowstone. This series has been met with high anticipation. For one, considering Yellowstone is the highest-rated television show. The second, the first prequel, 1883, was the highest-rated cable series since 2015. That includes breaking the record for a series premiere, watched by 4.9 million people.
Sheridan landed an impressive cast; frankly, that could be an understatement! The leads include the likes of Hollywood legend Harrison Ford and Academy Award winner Helen Mirren. The latest installment of the Duttons’ origin story has the clan fighting crippling droughts, and while they welcome the end of Prohibition, The Great Depression has no end.
Here’s what happened in 1923 season 1, episode 1:
- The episode opens with Spencer Dutton (Brandon Skenlar) hunting big cats in the African Bush with a new taste for human flesh instead of goats. Spencer does hunt and kills a lion praying on local villages. The episode ends with Spencer hunting a leopard and praying on a group of British tourists. Except when Spencer shoots a leopard out of the tree (after dragging the dead body of a woman they killed), a second leopard comes up from behind. The last thing we see is the wild animal leaping and claws drawn in Spencer’s direction.
- There is a war brewing in Duttonland. Drought and locusts have ruined any sustainable grass for livestock to eat, and they are dying. Banner (Jerome Flynn), a sheep herder, wants to use the Dutton land to feed his sheep. Except, it’s not his, and he is stealing if they do. However, since the sheriff (Robert Patrick) and Dutton (Harrison Ford) ruled against Banner, he ignored them. Banner leads his herd onto Dutton’s land by cutting the fence.
- There is a subplot of indigenous children being colonized by local clergy. The Nun teaching the class, Sister Mary (Jennifer Ehle), makes Sister Mary Stigmata look like Mother Teresa and repeatedly beats Teonna Rainwater (Aminah Nieves) with a ruler.
- The Duttons have chosen to team up with all of the cattlemen in the region and move them up the mountain where new grass lay— even if the land is full of bears and wolves. That means Jack (Darren Mann) will have to postpone the wedding to Elizabeth for weeks. She doesn’t take it well, but Jacob’s wife, Cara (Helen Mirren), smooths things over for them.
- Unfortunately, the last time we see Jack is when he comes upon the herd of sheep Banner led up the mountain. A man on a horse offering security has a rifle and shoots in the young man’s general direction. We are in the dark about Jack’s fate.
1923 season 1, episode 2 release date and time
Episode 2 is scheduled to release on Paramount+ on Sunday, December 25th, 2022, at 3:00 a.m. ET. The title and runtime of Episode 2 are unknown at the time of this article’s publication.
Where to watch online
As mentioned, 1923 can be watched exclusively on Paramount+ with a subscription. The streaming platform has plans as low as $4.99 a month. New streaming customers can get a 7-day free trial or a Walmart+ subscription plan.
Predictions
Let’s explore what may happen next week!
- The significant storylines are if the Dutton boys survive their attacks. Did Spencer get a shot off before the leopard decided to devour him? Like he did with the lion? I am guessing yes because Spencer is a survivor.
- I have bleaker outlooks for Jack. I have a feeling Mirren’s Cara shooting that young man in the first scene of 1923 has a connection with Jack. Why? Well, it was Cara who convinced everyone to delay the wedding, and her reaction could be guilt coming out in rage. Who is the man shot? My money is on this is the man who shot at Jack.
- Is Jack alive? My guess is that Jack is badly injured, and if he survives, he may be paralyzed. However, there needs to be storytelling in the device to bring Spencer back to Montana. I predict that Jack is a goner, and Spencer returns for the funeral.
- Considering Sheridan’s penchant for big twists, I thought Harrison Ford would die at the end of the first episode. However, I wonder if Ford or Mirran will make it through the season.
- Sheridan has a history of showing deference with atrocities towards the colonialism of indigenous people in North America. Take Wind River, for example, the film he penned starring Elizabeth Olsen and Jeremy Renner. Expect this storyline to be the series’ most fascinating and converge into the Dutton’s eye line.
It’s excruciating not to get the leaked episodes but really you’ll gotta speed this up not all the fans have the luxury of waiting months for each episode
I agree. Kinda ridiculous.