Synopsis:
From a whirlwind romance out of Africa to the rugged mountain frontier of Montana, the sweeping series 1923 chronicles the unhindered passion and the shocking truths of the American West. Against the backdrop of a rapidly changing post-war world, Western Expansion reveals the depths of human greed and the forced assimilation of Indigenous Peoples. The critically-acclaimed drama recounts the journeys of a multi-generational ensemble as they fight for their legacies to endure and hope that those they depend on will return to the places and people they call home.
What We Thought:
Two parts of 1923 are absolutely fantastic television. The third part seems so out of place, but hopefully connects to the story in future seasons. Fans of Yellowstone will enjoy the series and if you’ve watched 1883 you’ll enjoy it as well.
I say two parts because there are two stories involving Dutton family members. One part is at the Yellowstone with Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren crushing their roles. Ford plays the brother of Tim McGraw’s character from 1883 with Mirren as his wife. Other family members of McGraw’s are also involved at Yellowstone. The second part involves a McGraw son with his story set in Africa where he is a well known hunter and veteran of World War I. By season’s end both stories connect and will continue in Season 2.
The third act is about a native girl who is being beaten and bruised in a religious school. She does something and escapes and people are sent out to search for her. This is the part that seems out of place. Yes Taylor Sheridan is showing the horrible way natives were treated, first being removed from their families and then literally having their culture beaten out of them, but as of right now she has zero connection to the Duttons, Yellowstone or the family story. I’m thinking future seasons will tie it together, but as I watched Season 1, I felt lackluster about this story because it has no connection to anything else I’m watching. Maybe she turns out to be the grandmother of Kayce’s wife in the Yellowstone series, but who knows? As of right now, the stories that have been broadcast, it feels completely separate from everything else.
Which is a shame because the acting in the series is fantastic. How Helen Mirren wasn’t nominated for an Emmy is beyond me. The Yellowstone franchise is ignored by Emmy voters despite being the most watched series on TV. Mirren is amazing and other than Sarah Snook in Succession, I can’t think of another award worthy performance that would outrank Mirren. Ford is just as good, but his character spends a lot of time off camera. The actor playing the Dutton in Africa is also very good as are Timothy Dalton and Jerome Flynn who you instantly hate right away if you root for the Dutton family.
1923: Season 1 ends on a big cliffhanger and the next season better be rushed once things get back into production. Fans of the Yellowstone universe will love this new addition even if the one storyline doesn’t connect yet. Mirren and Ford are great as is the production value. With it taking place in 1923 you see old cars and most houses lit by candlelight and cool early 20th century clothing. Sheridan’s series always look cinematic and the scope of this series is wide open whether it’s Montana, Africa or the ocean. I dig all those shows and still don’t understand how Mirren was snubbed, but if you are a Yellowstone fan then 1923 is…
Recommended!
1923 – Season 1 Bonus Content:
Over 2 hours including three all-new featurettes that explore the making of 1923, the powerful story of Teonna Rainwater (Aminah Nieves) and the forced assimilation of Indigenous children, and the editorial techniques used in the storytelling of 1923.
- Behind the Story for each episode
- Unstoppable Change: The Adventure of 1923
- I Am the Land: Teonna Rainwater
- Reflecting Humanity: The Art & Craft of Editing 1923
- Inside the Series
The Nerds Templar 