1923 season two
Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren return as Jacob and Cara Dutton in the second season of Yellowstone prequel 1923. As the couple prepares for a harsh winter at their Montana ranch, the opening three episodes also follow Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) and Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer) embark on their own journeys to reunite after becoming separated at the end of the last season. The series also sees an on-the-run Teonna Rainwater (Aminah Nieves) be pursued by lawmen after having escaped an abusive boarding school.
In the same vein as Yellowstone, the latest chapter in the Duttons’s saga is a highly polished production that tackles weighty themes of family, justice and duty. There are moments of brilliance found throughout the show’s lovingly realised depiction of 1920s America. However, the show tends to indulge in the melodramatic, turning the period drama into something more akin to a soap opera.
Ford is outstanding whenever he’s onscreen. The veteran actor’s natural charisma allows him to effortlessly embody the kind-hearted but capable Western patriarch archetype that’s not too dissimilar from Kurt Russell’s Sheriff Hunt in Bone Tomahawk. Although Ford’s confident performance is still this show’s strongest asset, the other cast members are also spectacular. Schlaepfer, for example, is given plenty of time to shine during these early episodes as her character navigates the difficulties of travelling alone as a woman during that time.
This show also looks incredible. Whether it’s the wide-open countryside, blistering blizzards or bustling city streets, every part of this production is visually stunning and made all the better with a sweeping orchestral score and a methodical pacing that immerses viewers into the period. Further adding to 1923‘s grandness is a collection of eloquently crafted lines on human nature and the American Dream. Aside from some metaphors that are a little too on-the-nose, it’s all excellently done.
The main issue is that the script has a habit of becoming melodramatic. There’s more than one occasion when the narrative will put its grounded themes aside to put the focus on plot points that are more suited to daytime dramas. Although these moments are brief, they occur frequently enough to impact the enjoyment.
Fronted by strong turns from Ford and Schlaepfer, 1923 a well-crafted historic drama. Despite its ambitious scope, its reliance on melodrama stops this show from being truly amazing.
Andrew Murray
1923 season two is released on Paramount+ on 23rd February 2025.
Watch the trailer for 1923 season two here:
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