Warning: SPOILERS for 1923 Season 2’s Finale - “A Dream and a Memory"1923’s epic season 2 finale broughtSpencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar)home, at last, to fight for the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. After a long and arduous journey to Montana, Spencer unexpectedly reunited with his wife,Alexandra Dutton (Julia Schlaepfer), who was stranded and freezing to death in the brutal Montana winter as Spencer’s train rolled by. Meanwhile, Jacob Dutton (Harrison Ford) awaited Spencer in Livingston, as did the men Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton) sent to kill Spencer.
On the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch,waves of Whitfield’s hired guns arrived to kill everyone. Cara Dutton (Helen Mirren), Zane Davis (Brian Geraghty), andElizabeth Strafford (Michelle Randolph)took a stand and defended the Dutton lodge alongside Yellowstone’s cowboys. Thousands of miles away in Oklahoma,Teonna Rainwater (Aminah Nieves)faced justice as Marshal Mamie Fossett (Jennifer Carpenter) investigated the deaths of Marshal Kent (Jamie McShane) andFather Renaud (Sebastian Roche).
1923’s seven-episode season 2concluded with a two-hour finale that was essentially a TV movie. With high stakes, high emotion, true love, heartbreaking tragedy, and numerous connections to the greaterYellowstonefranchise revealed,here is every major event in the thrilling and emotionally resonant conclusion of 1923.
Spencer Dutton Wins The War For Yellowstone & Kills Donald Whitfield
Spencer Inherits The Yellowstone Ranch
Spencer Dutton was, indeed, the difference maker that his uncle Jacob and aunt Cara hoped he would be in the war to save the Yellowstone from Donald Whitfield. When Spencer’s train rolled into Livingston, Montana, he, Jacob, and Sheriff William McDowell (Robert Patrick) were immediately attacked by Whitfield’s hired guns. With the surprising help of Banner Creighton (Jerome Flynn),the Dutton boys killed their enemies. Though Jacob and McDowell were wounded in the crossfire, neither died in the fight.
1923’s Timeline Explained: Season 2 Is Really 1924
A closer look at 1923 season 2’s subtle details confirms the second chapter of Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone prequel actually takes place in 1924.
After Jacob accompanied Alex to the hospital in Bozeman, Spencer took command of Yellowstone’s cowboys and saved the Dutton ranch. Spencer personally took out Whitfield’s machine-gun-toting thug and stormed the lodge, blasting the rest of their enemies that Cara’s rifle sharpshooting, and Zane and Elizabeth’s shotguns didn’t kill.Thanks to Spencer, the Yellowstone was safe.And Spencer returned for good, as he took over running the Yellowstone from his aunt and uncle, with his days as a lion hunter in Africa behind him.
Alex Tragically Dies After Giving Birth To John Dutton II
The Mystery of Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone Grandfather Is Solved
Alexandra Dutton spent about two days fighting freezing to death like herfriends, Paul (Augustus Prew) and Hillary(Janet Montgomery). When Spencer rescued Alex and got her on the train, her hands and feet were hopelessly frostbitten. At the Bozeman hospital, Alex was induced to give birth to her son, who she named John.This is the birth of John Dutton II, who will be played in old age by Dabney Coleman inYellowstoneand is the father of John Dutton III (Kevin Costner).
John Dutton II’s birth confirms Spencer Dutton as the grandfather John Dutton III spoke about inYellowstoneseason 4.
Alex refused surgery to amputate her hands and feet, choosing instead to breastfeed baby John and give him a chance at life. Spencer was at his wife’s side all night asAlex died in her sleep from frostbite. Despiteevery terrible thing Alex endured in1923,she couldn’t survive the Montana winter’s killing season, but Alex was satisfied with reuniting with Spencer one last time. Alex gave up her own life for her infant son like a mother would. After Alex passed, Cara took on caring for baby John as Spencer and Jacob finished their war against the"man who killed [Spencer’s] wife.”
Spencer & Jacob Put An End To Donald Whitfield
Lindy Also Gets Her Just Desserts
Donald Whitfield’s demise was pure Old West vigilante justice. While Donald was dining with his sociopathic protégé, Lindy (Madison Elise Rogers), and theirnew victim, Mabel (Virginia Gardner), Spencer and Jacob burst into Whitfield’s mansion and shot him. The Duttons also shot Lindy dead. Despite Whitfield’s threats that they wouldn’t get away with outright murder,Spencer executed Donald with a headshot. After liberating Mabel, Spencer and Jacob burned Whitfield’s mansion down.
“What Can One Man Do?”: Timothy Dalton’s 1923 Villain Is A Sly Mockery Of James Bond
1923 season 2 took another opportunity to poke some fun at Timothy Dalton’s past role as James Bond and one of Donald Whitfield’s worst crimes.
The threat of Donald Whitfield was ended directly with the Duttons' guns, but1923prophetically warned thatWhitfield was"just the first"wealthy villain who would attempt to take over the Duttons' land.Indeed, John Dutton III faced several such enemies inYellowstone.Donald Whitfield, who planned to build and profit from resorts in Paradise Valley, set the precedent that would haunt the Duttons for another century. Whitfield also discoveredYellowstone’s infamous ‘Train Station,‘which the Duttons have yet to learn about in1923.
Elizabeth Strafford Buries Jack Dutton & Leaves Yellowstone
There’s No Future For Elizabeth In Montana
Elizabeth Strafford was keenly aware that her husband, Jack Dutton (Darren Mann), was missing, and she saw Jack wasn’t with Spencer and his men when they arrived at the Yellowstone lodge. After Cara ordered her men to follow Jack’s tracks to Livingston, they found the late young Dutton where Donald Whitfield’s mercenaries had leftJack’s dead body.Jack was brought home and buried at the Duttons’ family graveyard along with Alex Duttonat a funeral attended by the family and their allies.
Jack Dutton’s Shocking 1923 Fate Breaks A Popular Spencer & Alex Fan Theory
A Yellowstone fan theory about 1923’s characters was pretty convincing until 1923 season 2, episode 6, when a devastating development flipped it.
As she planned all along throughout the unforgiving Montana winter she suffered through,Elizabeth left Montana and returned to Bostonat the end of1923.When Elizabeth said she would always love Jack, Cara curtly replied,“No, you won’t,“and explained that Elizabeth would move on past her lost life at the Yellowstone. However,Elizabeth is pregnant with Jack’s baby, so she will always be connected to the Duttons and the Yellowstone.
Banner Creighton Dies After Turning Against Whitfield
Creighton Earned Jacob Dutton’s Respect
Banner Creighton looked deep inside his soul and had a change of heart. Acknowledging the terrible things he’s done,Banner saw true evil in Donald Whitfield and decided he could no longer work for such a manand be a role model to his own son. Banner decided to pack up his family and take the train to Portland. However, Jacob Dutton didn’t believe Banner, who started the violence against the Yellowstone in1923season 1, was sincere.
Banner died a better man than he started as in 1923.
Ultimately,Creighton proved himself by saving Jacob’s lifeduring the gunfight that erupted at the train depot. Although Banner was fatally shot, he proved himself to Jacob and died redeemed. In return, Jacob gave Creighton his word that he would make sure Banner’s wife and son would get on the train to Portland. Creighton’s death was his comeuppance, but Banner died a better man than he started as in1923.
Teonna Rainwater Ends 1923 Free Of Murder Charges
What Is Teonna’s Future Now?
After trying to escape Marshal Mamie Fossett and killing one of her deputies, Teonna Rainwater was finally apprehended. But after hearing Teonna’s tragic story of rape and abuse by priests and nuns at the American Indian boarding school in North Dakota,Fossett decided to speak on Rainwater’s behalfat her hearing in Oklahoma. Luckily for Teonna, the judge didn’t understand why Teonna was being tried in his state instead of North Dakota, and he dismissed Rainwater’s charges.
Teonna Rainwater ends1923a free woman, although her fight to escape Father Renaud"cost [her] everything.“Marshal Fossett and her sympathetic Native deputy gave Teonna a horse and advised her to leave and start a new life, suggesting California. Teonna Rainwater’s1923saga was a separate story-within-a-story thatnever connected to the Duttons in Montana. Teonna’s exact relation to Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) inYellowstonestill remains to be established.
What Happens To Spencer, Jacob, Cara & John Dutton II When 1923 Ends
Alex Is A Dream & A Memory For Spencer
As Jacob and Cara always hoped, Spencer Dutton took over running the Yellowstone ranch. This allows Jacob, who is 80 years old, to"retire"and care for baby John alongside Cara.Elsa Dutton’s (Isabel May) omniscient narrationexplainedwhat happened to Spencer over the next 45 years:
Spencer never remarried. Took the comfort of a widow and made another boy, refused to marry her. And one day, the widow was gone. For Spencer, her memory didn’t fade, didn’t fray at the edges, and didn’t dull. Not one. Alexandra Dutton was born on April Fool’s Day, 1901, in Oxfordshire, England, and laid to rest July 25, 2025. When old age robbed him of his memories, he simply closed his eyes and dreamed up new ones. And 45 years later, my young brother joined her.
1923’s final moments include a time jump to 1969, where 80-year-old Spencer (limping with a prosthetic leg), dies beside Alex’s grave.1923then givesAlex and Spencer’s storyaTitanicending, where the young couple reunite in the grand ballroom of the ocean liner; their own heaven where the cruel fates never separated them. Alex even chides Spencer,“What took you so long?“In death, Spencer and Alex get the happy ending denied to them in life. Alex, Spencer’s true love, was always his dream and memory.
How 1923’s Ending Sets Up Taylor Sheridan’s 1944 Yellowstone Prequel
World War II’s Greatest Generation Of Duttons
Taylor Sheridan’s nextYellowstoneprequel is reportedly1944,which will continue the Dutton family’s saga in the World War II era.1923’s ending put several pieces in place for 1944, including the birth of John Dutton II. Spencer and Alex’s miracle baby will be 20 years old in 1944. John could fight in World War II and return home to the Yellowstone. Additionally, the next rich businessman enemy to covet the Duttons’ land will surely follow in Donald Whitfield’s wake.
Upcoming announcedYellowstonefranchise projects include1944, The Madisonstarring Michelle Pfeiffer, Beth (Kelly Reilly) & Rip’s (Cole Hauser)Yellowstonespinoff, and a procedural about Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes).
In addition, Elizabeth Strafford’s baby with Jack Dutton will be just a little younger than John in1944.Perhaps the spinoff could see Elizabeth’s child return to Montana and their late father’s ranch. While Harrison Ford’s Jacob and Helen Mirren’s Cara likely wouldn’t live to see1944,it’s unclear whether Brandon Sklenar would return to play Spencer Dutton 20 years older,or if Spencer will be recast. The World War II era is usually referred to as ‘The Greatest Generation,’ and1944could introduce the ‘greatest generation’ of Duttons.
Did 1923’s Finale Redeem Season 2’s Controversy?
1923 Saved The Best For Last
1923’s two-hour series finale, “A Dream and a Memory,” delivered the guns-blazing war for the Yellowstone that audiences wanted - and expected all along from1923season 2. Instead,1923season 2 took its time and told a different story about the separate, tumultuous journeys to Montana by Spencer and Alex as Cara, Jacob, Jack, and Elizabeth waited for the prodigal Dutton throughoutMontana’s cruel winter.Frustrated viewers felt that1923season 2 was a false bill of salefrom the exciting action1923season 1’s ending promised.
1923 season 2’s finale delivered what audiences hoped the entire season would be about.
It’s clear Taylor Sheridan did not think the war for the Yellowstone could sustain all of1923season 2, and, indeed, the violence and bloodshed only lasted the duration of the finale’s final hour. Sheridan’s plan for1923season 2 was about star-crossed lovers Spencer and Alex, who were not destined for a happy life together, with Alex’s death echoing the tragedy of Elsa’s death at the end of1883.1923season 2’s finale delivered what audiences hoped the entire season would be about, but at least Taylor Sheridan saved the best for last.
