Created by Taylor Sheridan.
1923 premiered on December 18, 2022.
Distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution and streams exclusively on Paramount+.
Series Review
1923 is a powerful prequel to Yellowstone that tells the story of the Dutton family trying to survive hard times after World War I.
In Season 1, we see Jacob and Cara Dutton (played by Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren) face drought, loss, and danger as they fight to protect their land.
Season 2 dives deeper into family conflicts, revenge, and survival in a changing world.
The show looks amazing, with beautiful Western scenery and strong acting.
It’s emotional, serious, and sometimes dark, showing the harsh reality of life in the 1920s.
While the story moves slowly at times, it’s worth watching for its deep characters and dramatic storytelling.
If you enjoy family drama, history, and Western action, 1923 is a gripping series that connects perfectly to the Yellowstone universe while standing strong on its own.
Ratings
• IMDb: 8.3/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
• Google Audience Score: 88% liked this TV show.
1923 (TV Series) Actors
Helen Mirren as Cara Dutton
DOB: July 26, 1945.
Bio: British actors of her generation, celebrated for her commanding presence, emotional precision, and versatility across stage and screen.
With a career spanning over five decades, she has excelled in both Shakespearean theatre and modern drama, earning Academy, Emmy, and Tony Awards.
Role: Cara Dutton serves as the matriarch of the Dutton family, a woman of immense resilience, moral conviction, and quiet authority.
She anchors her family through hardship, violence, and the changing American frontier, often acting as the emotional and ethical compass of the story.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (15 eps).
What to Expect: Commanding scenes, quiet fury, and tender moments that reveal how power and love collide in a harsh era.
Interesting facts: She has spoken about her excitement to play a frontier-era woman with grit and intelligence rather than a conventional matriarch.
She also reunited with co-star Harrison Ford for the project, marking a celebrated pairing of screen legends.
Notable works: The Queen (Academy Award), Prime Suspect, Gosford Park, The Last Station.
Harrison Ford as Jacob Dutton
DOB: July 13, 1942.
Bio: Harrison Ford is one of cinema’s most enduring and beloved leading men, known for embodying rugged, principled heroes with depth and vulnerability.
Over a career spanning more than five decades, he has headlined some of Hollywood’s most successful franchises, from Star Wars and Indiana Jones to Blade Runner.
Role: Jacob Dutton is the patriarch of the Dutton family and the steadfast leader of the Yellowstone Ranch.
A man forged by frontier hardship and unflinching duty, Jacob shoulders the immense burden of protecting his land, family, and legacy amid the violent upheaval of the early 20th century.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (15 eps).
What to Expect: Weathered pride, moral tests and scenes in which a family’s survival rests on one man’s decisions.
Interesting facts: Ford’s casting marked his first major television role in decades and brought cinematic weight to 1923.
He has spoken about being drawn to the project’s authentic depiction of family, land, and endurance, calling Jacob Dutton “a man who leads by instinct and heart.”
Notable works: Star Wars (as Han Solo), Indiana Jones franchise, Blade Runner, Witness, The Fugitive.
Brandon Sklenar as Spencer Dutton
DOB: June 26, 1990.
Bio: American actor known for his breakout performance in 1923.
Before his rise to prominence, he built a steady résumé in independent films and TV, recognized for his quiet intensity and natural screen presence.
Role: Spencer Dutton is the younger son of James and Margaret Dutton, a veteran of World War I whose experiences abroad leave him deeply scarred and disconnected from home.
When we meet him, he’s hunting dangerous game in Africa, trying to outrun his past.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (15 eps).
What to Expect: Emotional, often dangerous sequences that show how trauma and duty shape a Dutton heir.
Interesting facts: Sklenar underwent extensive physical and horseback training for the role and filmed many of his own stunts in harsh outdoor locations.
Notable works: Westworld, Midway, Vice, The Big Ugly.
Julia Schlaepfer as Alexandra Dutton
DOB: March 3, 1995.
Bio: American actress best known for her work on The Politician and 1923.
A graduate of the Atlantic Acting School in New York, she has earned recognition for her poise, emotional intelligence, and the quiet strength she brings to her roles.
Role: Alexandra Dutton (née Alexandra) is a spirited British woman who falls in love with Spencer Dutton during his time abroad.
She defies societal expectations to follow him across continents, joining his dangerous and uncertain journey back to Montana.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (15 eps).
What to Expect: Conflicted loyalty, cultural friction, and a strong emotional core as she navigates new roles and dangers.
Interesting facts: Schlaepfer’s on-screen chemistry with Brandon Sklenar was widely praised, with critics noting their storyline as one of the emotional anchors of 1923.
Notable works: The Politician, Charlie Says.
Jerome Flynn as Banner Creighton
DOB: March 16, 1963.
Bio: English actor and singer best known worldwide for his role as Bronn in Game of Thrones.
Before that, he gained fame in the UK as part of the musical duo Robson & Jerome, achieving multiple No. 1 singles in the 1990s.
Role: In 1923, Banner Creighton is a Scottish-born sheep farmer who becomes one of Jacob Dutton’s fiercest rivals.
A man of pride and resentment, Banner resents the Duttons’ control over the land and water, tensions that erupt into open conflict.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (15 eps).
What to Expect: Tough, wry humour and scenes that reveal loyalty tested by violence and the frontier’s brutality.
Interesting facts: Flynn worked with dialect coaches to capture Banner’s Scottish roots and has spoken about enjoying the challenge of playing a grounded yet volatile adversary.
Notable works: Game of Thrones, Ripper Street, Soldier Soldier, Black Mirror.
Darren Mann as Jack Dutton
DOB: May 4, 1989.
Bio: Canadian actor from Vancouver, British Columbia, known for his emotionally charged and physically intense performances.
Before 1923, he gained attention for his breakout role in Giant Little Ones (2018), which earned critical praise for its vulnerability and realism.
Role: In 1923, Jack Dutton is the son of John Dutton Sr. and great-nephew to Jacob Dutton.
As part of the next generation of Duttons, Jack embodies the passion and impulsiveness of youth while carrying the heavy expectations of family legacy.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (15 eps).
What to Expect: Impulsive, intense scenes, a character who often reacts before thinking, raising the stakes.
Interesting facts: Mann underwent horseback riding and weapon training to prepare for the role, performing many of his own stunts.
Notable works: Giant Little Ones, Embattled, Fortunate Son, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Isabel May as Elsa Dutton
DOB: November 21, 2000.
Bio: American actress best known for her breakout performance as Elsa Dutton in 1883, where she captured audiences with her emotional depth and poetic narration.
Born in Santa Monica, California, she began her career with the Netflix comedy Alexa & Katie before transitioning into more dramatic roles.
Role: In 1923, Elsa Dutton returns as the series’ narrator, guiding viewers through the Dutton family’s turbulent history with her reflective and haunting voiceovers.
Though Elsa died in 1883, her spirit and perspective continue to tie together the generations of the Dutton lineage, giving 1923 its emotional and historical continuity.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (15 eps).
What to Expect: Poetic voiceovers that frame scenes emotionally and connect the Dutton dynasty across generations.
Interesting facts: Isabel May recorded her narration after filming 1883, ensuring tonal consistency across the timeline.
Notable works: 1883, Alexa & Katie, Young Sheldon, Run Hide Fight.
Brian Geraghty as Zane Davis
DOB: May 13, 1975.
Bio: American actor celebrated for his intense, understated portrayals of working-class and military figures.
Born in Toms River, New Jersey, he studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre in New York before breaking out in acclaimed war dramas.
Role: In 1923, Geraghty plays Zane Davis, the loyal and capable foreman of the Dutton ranch.
Zane serves as a vital bridge between the Dutton family and their workers, a man defined by integrity, loyalty, and quiet toughness.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (15 eps).
What to Expect: Strong, workman-like scenes that make the world feel lived in.
Interesting facts: Geraghty’s past experience portraying soldiers and lawmen informs his portrayal of Zane’s discipline and stoic courage.
Notable works: The Hurt Locker, Jarhead, Flight, Boardwalk Empire, Chicago P.D.
Aminah Nieves as Teonna Rainwater
DOB: October 3, 1997.
Bio: American actress of Indigenous heritage whose breakout role in 1923 earned widespread critical praise.
She brings deep emotional truth and cultural authenticity to her performances, portraying strength and vulnerability with striking honesty.
Role: Teonna Rainwater, a young Indigenous woman enduring the brutal realities of a Catholic boarding school system designed to erase her culture.
Her storyline runs parallel to the Duttons’, exposing the systemic oppression of Native peoples during the same historical period.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (15 eps).
What to Expect: Scenes that confront institutional cruelty, cultural survival and personal resilience.
Interesting facts: Her portrayal of Teonna Rainwater was widely acclaimed for bringing authenticity and visibility to Indigenous histories rarely depicted in mainstream Western dramas.
Notable works: V/H/S/99, Blueberry.
Michelle Randolph as Elizabeth Strafford
DOB: September 11, 1997.
Bio: American actress and model whose role in 1923 marked her most prominent television breakthrough.
Before joining the Yellowstone prequel universe, she appeared in independent films and modeling campaigns, steadily building a versatile on-screen presence.
Role: Elizabeth Strafford, the spirited daughter of a nearby rancher whose engagement to Jack Dutton ties her fate to the Dutton family.
Her storyline captures the turbulence of young love and the sacrifices demanded by ranch life and frontier hardship.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (15 eps).
What to Expect: Romantic, fraught scenes that show how family loyalty and class shape choices.
Interesting facts: Randolph’s portrayal has been praised for grounding the show’s romantic subplot with sincerity and emotional realism.
Notable works: The Resort, Landman, A Snow White Christmas.
Timothy Dalton as Donald Whitfield
DOB: March 21, 1946.
Bio: British actor celebrated for his Shakespearean training and commanding screen presence.
Known globally for portraying James Bond in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill, Dalton’s career spans stage, television, and film.
Role: Donald Whitfield, a calculating and ruthless British industrialist whose wealth and influence make him one of the Dutton family’s most dangerous adversaries.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (9 eps).
What to Expect: Calmly dangerous scenes that reveal how business and brutality combine in the era’s power plays.
Interesting facts: Dalton’s casting raised the stakes for the show’s big-picture opponents, giving Sheridan an old-school screen villain with modern bite.
Notable works: The Living Daylights, Licence to Kill, Penny Dreadful.
James Badge Dale as John Dutton Sr.
DOB: May 1, 1978.
Bio: American actor known for his grounded, emotionally complex portrayals in both film and television.
Trained in New York, Dale’s career has spanned prestige dramas, action thrillers, and character-driven stories.
Role: John Dutton Sr., the eldest surviving son of James and Margaret Dutton, a key figure who bridges the events of 1883 and 1923.
As patriarch Jacob Dutton’s right-hand man, John Sr. helps manage the Yellowstone ranch amid violent territorial disputes and personal sacrifice.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (3 eps).
What to Expect: Scenes that flesh out family legacy and reveal how past trauma shapes present decisions.
Interesting facts: Dale’s intense, understated approach earned critical praise, with viewers noting how his performance added emotional weight to the show’s early episodes.
Notable works: The Departed, The Pacific, 13 Hours.
More Actors
Season 1 (2022)
• Caleb Martin as Dennis.
• Robert Patrick as Sheriff McDowell.
• Michael Spears as Runs His Horse.
• Sebastian Roché as Father Jacques Renaud.
Season 2 (2025)
• Jeremy Gauna as Pete Plenty Clouds.
• Jennifer Carpenter as US Marshal Mamie Fossett.
• Janet Montgomery as Hillary.
• C. Thomas Howell as Anders.
FAQ – 1923 TV Series
What is 1923 series about?
A Yellowstone prequel drama that follows the Dutton family in the early 20th century, tackling post-WWI trauma, Prohibition, drought and land conflicts.
Is 1923 based on a true story?
No, it’s fictional, set in a historical era; however, some plotlines (for example, the boarding-school storyline) draw on real historical events and injustices.
Is 1923 connected to Yellowstone?
Yes, it’s part of the Yellowstone prequel franchise (alongside 1883), expanding the Dutton family saga.
Where was 1923 filmed?
1923 was filmed in Montana, with extra scenes shot in South Africa, Malta, and Tanzania to match the show’s global storyline.
How many seasons and episodes are there?
1923 has 2 seasons with 16 episodes in total.
Conclusion
1923 is a gripping, emotional, and beautifully shot prequel that expands the Yellowstone universe with depth and realism.
It captures the struggles of the Dutton family during one of the toughest times in American history, blending strong performances with breathtaking visuals.
While it can be dark and slow-paced, its storytelling and emotional power make it worth watching.
For fans of Yellowstone or anyone who loves intense period dramas, 1923 is a must-see journey through love, loss, and survival on the American frontier.