Ah, it’s like when you finish a spellbinding book and the last chapter just leaves you hanging, with more questions than answers. That’s exactly how I felt about Taylor Sheridan’s approach to closing 1883 before handing the reins to Harrison Ford in 1923. Sure, we get the famed elder Dutton (Jacob) stepping in, but in my humble opinion, it was like someone left the door wide open for a storm to roll in—and then decided to just…leave.
No emotional build-up, no satisfying payoff. I don’t know about you, but I invested time and heart into 1883—rooting for the Duttons as they fought tooth and nail to survive and claim Yellowstone Ranch. And then, just like that, it seemed like they didn’t matter anymore. Poof! Enter Ford. I get it—a new chapter, new blood. But was it necessary to leave the 1883 journey to rust? Let’s talk about it.
1883 wrapped up too neatly for 1923 to just sweep in?
I’ll be honest, 1883 was a ride. No doubt. From the very first episode, the Dutton family grabbed my attention, not just with the sheer ruggedness of their journey but with the heartache that flowed through every step they took. Watching James Dutton (Tim McGraw) lead his family across a brutal frontier was nothing short of emotional. The Duttons’ survival wasn’t just about the land. It was about family, love, and resilience in the face of tragedy.
But by the time the final episode rolled around, I had this uneasy feeling creeping in: Could this really be it? I mean, the series had wrapped up so neatly. Every character arc was pretty much tied up. It was as if Taylor Sheridan had already planned the end. And then… enter 1923, where we were handed the baton from James’ brother, Jacob (Harrison Ford).
Now, I’m not saying that Ford doesn’t pull off his role. He does. And Helen Mirren? Don’t even get me started on her—brilliant, as always. But what got me a bit confused was how 1923 picked up the pieces after the heart-wrenching finale of 1883, only to brush aside its brilliant, tormented characters like yesterday’s news.
From James to Jacob: The 1923 transition that missed the mark
The fact that Harrison Ford’s character, Jacob, just swoops in and takes over the ranch is one thing. But what truly irks me is that we barely get any emotional payoff for the original 1883 cast. After all, James’ death and Elsa’s heartbreaking journey were, well, kind of the foundation of 1883—but in 1923? Not much to tie that back.
For me, it felt like an abrupt plot switch. We were all invested in Elsa’s strength and James’ leadership, but when Jacob steps in and—boom—everything changes? I was left trying to catch up, much like many of the fans who also spent a good chunk of the first episode Googling who the heck was in the opening scenes.
And what do fans think?
The 1923 landscape feels like it was rushed as if someone forgot to hold our hand through the transition. Instead of keeping the emotional richness alive from the previous series, Sheridan throws us into the world of Jacob’s silent strength, with little to no build-up from the beloved 1883 era. Let’s read a few comments:
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byu/jrohrer from discussion
inYellowstonePN
1923 show fails to grip me like 1883 did.
byu/jrohrer inYellowstonePN
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byu/jrohrer from discussion
inYellowstonePN
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byu/jrohrer from discussion
inYellowstonePN
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byu/jrohrer from discussion
inYellowstonePN
So yeah, I wasn’t the only one left feeling a bit cheated. It wasn’t just the transition—it was the fact that the people we invested so much in had nothing to do with where the story was going. It was like the finale of 1883 tied everything up with a bow, only to get tossed aside for something that didn’t feel as connected. It’s a real gut punch, honestly.
Well, note that it’s not about 1923 being bad. It’s more about how 1883 deserved a better send-off. Fans wanted more of that intricate family connection, not just a quick transition to Ford’s stoic leadership. And while I’m not against new blood, it’s hard to shake the feeling that something crucial was lost in the shuffle. So, to me, honestly, 1883 deserved a bit more respect than that.
1923 season 2 will premiere on Feb. 23 on Paramount+, where all of season 1 can be streamed. 1883 is also available on Paramount+.
Yellowstone is available to watch on Peacock.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
