Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone franchise has concluded its three distinct series, each presenting unique storytelling styles and endings. Since its launch in 2018, Yellowstone has captivated audiences with the journey of John Dutton III and his family’s efforts to keep their ranching heritage alive. Following its success, Sheridan introduced two prequels—1883 and 1923—which explore the narratives of John Dutton’s ancestors, providing viewers with rich backgrounds that can be enjoyed on their own.
1883 marks the beginning of this offshoot saga, offering a single season composed of ten episodes. It chronicles the challenges faced by the earliest Dutton family, led by James Dutton (Tim McGraw) and his wife Margaret (Faith Hill). The tale continues with 1923, set four decades later, featuring Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara Dutton (Helen Mirren). Initially intended as a one-season run, 1923 was expanded into a two-part story encompassing 15 episodes, with the second half concluding in April 2025.
The flagship series wrapped up with the airing of Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 14, in December 2024. This finale offered closure for John’s children, Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Kayce (Luke Grimes), amidst the tumult surrounding the legacy of the Dutton Ranch. Reactions to the episode were mixed, prompting Sheridan to focus on future stories featuring Beth and Kayce. Grimes is anticipated to star in a new spinoff on CBS, while Reilly and Cole Hauser will return as Beth and Rip in Dutton Ranch. This presents a promising opportunity for Sheridan to extend the narrative beyond the franchise’s original timeline.
3 1923
1923 Season 2, Episode 7 – “A Dream And A Memory”
In the season two finale of 1923, Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) finally returns to the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. However, many fans were left disappointed by the episode, primarily due to the lack of romantic development between Spencer and Alex Dutton (Julia Schlaepfer). Their separate storylines each highlight different aspects of life in the 1920s—one being the plight of an immigrant and the other focusing on a war hero returning home. Viewers were left yearning for a more satisfying reunion between the two characters.
Tragically, Alex Dutton’s demise looms large over the finale, as she succumbs to hypothermia from the harsh Montana winter. While her death reinforces the series’ darker themes amid the Prohibition era, it struck a discordant note with some fans who felt her character had already endured significant hardships throughout the season. The narrative culminates as the Dutton family confronts the challenges of a financial crisis intertwined with their storied history, leaving some moments feeling hurried or unfulfilled. The Shakespearean undertones of star-crossed romance were prevalent, leaving many to reflect on the necessity of Alex’s sacrifice.
2 Yellowstone
Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 14 – “Life Is A Promise”
While 1923‘s conclusion may have felt overly dramatic without sufficient resolution, Yellowstone‘s finale, Season 5, Episode 14, aptly wrapped up various character arcs. Though some viewers criticized the predictability of the closure, the series ultimately provided the gratifying conclusions fans had long anticipated. Most notably, Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) fulfilled a major prophecy by selling the Yellowstone Ranch to the Broken Rock Tribe, a narrative thread first introduced in 1883.
This selling of the land marks a significant tie back to the earlier series when James Dutton encounters Spotted Eagle (Graham Greene), a Crow elder, who foreshadows the land’s return to its original inhabitants. By relinquishing the ranch, Kayce and Thomas Rainwater’s (Gil Birmingham) collaboration completes this long-awaited promise, producing a cathartic resolution, particularly for the audience familiar with 1883.
While the finale offered satisfying moments, some plot points, such as the intense rivalry between Beth and her brother Jamie (Wes Bentley), felt insufficiently developed. Although the visceral climax—Beth attacking Jamie—was intense, many viewers believed the build-up fell short of expectations, echoing sentiments from fans of 1923. Nonetheless, Yellowstone provided the elements that fans desired, adhering to the deeper narratives seeded throughout the franchise.
1 1883
1883 Episode 10 – “This Is Not Your Heaven”
The emotional crescendo of 1883 occurs when Elsa Dutton (Isabel May) is struck by a poison arrow. Following her injury, her father James rushes her to Paradise Valley, where her fate ultimately anchors the series finale. In a poignant moment, Elsa dies in her father’s arms, reuniting with her husband Sam (Martin Sensmeier) in the afterlife. The conclusion also provides closure to the stories of other surviving wagon train members, including Shea (Sam Elliott), Thomas (LaMonica Garrett), and Josef (Marc Rissmann).
1883’s finale strikes an ideal balance of drama and emotional resolution. Elsa’s demise, while tragic, feels like a necessary part of the story, one that embodies the struggles and sacrifices made during their perilous journey westward. As Shea articulates in the final episode, “I’ve watched this girl for the last six months and she has outlived us all.” This sentiment underscores the significance of her story and its direct link to the establishment of the Dutton legacy in Montana.
Moreover, Elsa’s death symbolizes broader themes of unrest and tragedy along the Oregon Trail during an era of westward expansion. The narrative carefully revisits past events to explain her fatal injury, ultimately highlighting the misunderstandings and violence that punctuated this historical period. Notably, Isabel May engaged deeply with Tim McGraw about his daughters before filming their final scene, adding a layer of authenticity and emotional depth that resonates with viewers (via Taste of Country).
Because of its cohesive storytelling and character development, 1883 stands out as the most refined installment of the Yellowstone saga. Sheridan crafted this narrative with particular focus on Isabel May’s character, reportedly writing the entire story within a week following her casting (via The New York Times). As a result, this engaging origin tale brings a satisfying completion that resonates deeply beyond its duration, contrary to the divided endings of Yellowstone and 1923.
Source: Taste of Country, The New York Times