1923 finished its first season in February 2023 and here’s a roundup of what critics thought about the second Yellowstone prequel series.
1923, the second prequel series to the hit Yellowstone franchise, premiered in December 2022 and critics have shared their thoughts. 1923 is both the sequel to 1883 and the prequel to Yellowstone. It continues the story of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch 40 years after its establishment in 1883. Now, the new generation of Duttons must deal with the hardships of the time including the Great Depression and Prohibition. Yellowstone has an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes while 1883 has an 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, meaning expectations are high for the next installment of the Dutton family saga.
Like Kevin Costner in Yellowstone and Faith Hill and Tim McGraw in 1883, 1923 is also led by veteran actors. Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford star as Cara and Jacob Dutton respectively, and lead an ensemble of accomplished actors including, Jennifer Ehle and Timothy Dalton. Combined, Mirren and Ford have been nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one, and 13 Golden Globes, winning 2. Their talents and the captivating story from Academy Award-nominated writer Taylor Sheridan made 1923 a long-awaited project for fans of the neo-Western turned traditional Western franchise. Critics were quick to share their thoughts in reviews for 1923.
Critics Thought 1923 Was A Solid, Gritty Yellowstone Followup With Great Performances
Just like its predecessors, 1923 received excellent reviews from the majority of critics and has a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, the highest score of any series in the franchise. Overall, critics have responded warmly to the new timeline and the new characters. Unlike the other shows in the series, 1923 bounces around to different lands rather than focusing solely on the Dutton Ranch. The story of Teonna was universally praised by most critics, with many sighting it as an important acknowledgment of the revisionist way Indigenous Americans were portrayed in older Westerns. Clint Worthington writes in his review, “…these scenes are shot with an irresistibly potent tension
Much praise has been heaped on the performances of the ensemble cast. Mirren, in particular, has been called out for her layered and emotional performance. Max Gao of AV Club writes of her in his review, “Mirren [taps] into the matriarch’s quiet humanity and strength.” While some describe Ford’s performance as stiff, Ben Travers in Indie Wire describes how that inflexibility actually makes for a disarmingly irritated version of a Dutton patriarch. Whereas some reviewers make mention of the growing weariness of Sheridan’s cinematography and repetitive storytelling, many mention the separated story elements of 1923, adding a welcome puzzle-box nature to the show that keeps the series feeling fresh.
1923 Is Getting A Season 2
In February 2023, it was announced that 1923 was renewed for season 2. No set date has been revealed yet and due to the WGA strike, season 2 has been delayed. However, it will still be filmed at some point and has yet to be canceled. Actor Brandon Sklenar also confirmed that season 2 will be the finale of 1923 and there will be no season 3. The story is not nearly over for the characters in 1923 and season 2 will see Teonna Rainwater and the Duttons of the Depression era end their sagas.