You can tell by the subtitle what I think of this show. This is about as perfect of a show as I’ve ever seen.
I started watching yellowstone last year. I was late to that party but as soon as I started it I was a fan. Albeit that show is far from perfect, but it’s enjoyable and even a guilty pleasure at times.
So when I found out about the prequel shows 1883 and 1923 I coldn’’t wait to dive in. 1923 I enjoyed but had a lot of issues with it.
1883 on the other hand I was captivated from the first minute in episode 1.
The Dutton Origin Story
It’s about a family, the Dutton’s, escorting a group of immigrants across the Oregon trail. I never knew much about the Oregon trail other than the goofy computer game about it that we played in middle school. I loved watching the origin of the Duttons and how they eventually got to Montana and that awesome mansion we see in Yellowstone.
Historical Perspective
What I thought was so interesting about the show as it showed how incredibly dangerous this time period was in history. There were so many ways to die making this move-many of which the show explores.
It really got me thinking about our history and about all the families who had their origin from settlers making the same trek. It got me thinking about my own family history and about if any of my relatives make the same journey or something similar.
It fundamentally changed the way I think about history and my family history specifically. If a piece of art, such as film or tv, changes the way I think about life or has me thinking about it long after I finished watching it, I have to give it respect.
The Characters and Actors
All the characters are written well, which isn’t a surprise being a Taylor Sheridan show. I really liked the character of James Dutton. I always like traditional male archetypes and find they are my favorite characters.
James Dutton is about as dangerous of a man as they come yet he is a loving husband and father. He's capable of being a monster-and he becomes that several times in the show, but chooses to be kind, which is how I define a good man. He’s played perfectly by Time Mcgraw.
All the characters are on point as well as the actors who play them. Sam Elliot is great in everything he does, can’t say enough about him. He has a quality that reminds me of my grandfather.
The women in the show are written very well. Taylor Sheridan especially writes women well. There are no damsels in his stories. The women in his stories are interesting, have unique strengths and weaknesses and personalities of their own. They’re not defined by the men.
I can’t think of a single actor in the series who wasn’t 10/10 in their role.
I’m not really a fan of westerns but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the show. It’s a gritty dirty look into American history.
Is it for you?
If you like adventure or survival shows. Or if you’re a fan of yellostone, I think you’ll like 1883. Although it’s so different from yellowstone it’s almost not fair to compare them. You have to suspend disbelief alot in yellowstone as it’s hard to imagine most of that shows story actually happening.
1883 on the other hand is a fictional account of something that did happen, a time in history when a lot of families died. It’s not for the faint of heart and without getting into spoilers it has the most heartbreaking ending.
I watched it for the first time a few months back and recently rewatched it again I liked it so much.
I recently got my mom on the Yellowstone train and she’s enjoying it now.
I hope you’ll check it out and let me know what you think.