1923 Season 2 Can Finally Solve A Mystery That Kevin Costner’s John Dutton Created In Yellowstone’s First Episode

The Yellowstone flagship series brought all its most important stories to a close in Yellowstone season 5, episode 14, “Life Is A Promise.” Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) sold the family’s land to the Broken Rock Tribe, returning it to its Indigenous stewards. He settled down with his family at East Camp after the conclusion of what happened to the Dutton Ranch at the end of Yellowstone. Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Rip (Cole Hauser) moved on, too, after bidding farewell to John. Still, the Yellowstone season 5 finale didn’t touch this mystery, leaving it for 1923 instead.
John Dutton III’s Chance & Ned Dutton Mystery From The Yellowstone Series Premiere Explained
Yellowstone Secretly Introduces Chance And Ned Dutton In The Premiere
In the Yellowstone series premiere, the franchise opens up a mystery surrounding Costner’s John Dutton III that it never solves. After Lee Dutton is shot by Monica’s (Kelsey Asbille) brother, Robert Long (Jeremiah Bitsui), the family holds a ceremony for John’s eldest son at the family’s graveyard on the property, which is the final resting place of every other Dutton family member. John momentarily closes his eyes during the ceremony and transcends the surrounding scene. When he does this, he remembers something, and the graves of Chance and Ned Dutton briefly appear on the screen.
Everything We Know About Chance & Ned Dutton From Yellowstone
The Family Members Predate The Yellowstone Ranch

Despite the mystery’s lifespan in the flagship series being mere seconds, we can deduce a few things about Chance and Ned Dutton. Most importantly, the date on Ned Dutton’s tombstone reads March 16, 1863.
The most significant thing to note about this clue is that the year, presumably a birth year, predates James (Tim McGraw) and Margaret Dutton’s (Faith Hill) journey on the Oregon Trail and their settling in Montana. Beyond that, there are a few reasons to believe that Chance and Ned aren’t children of the 1883 characters.

How 1923 Season 2 Can Finally End John Dutton III’s Story Properly
What 1923 Season 2 Can Explain His Connection
1923 could be the last Yellowstone series with actual proximity to Chance and Ned Dutton unless the creator decides to make a series that predates 1883.
As it stands now, 1923 season 2 is the last time the franchise can explain Chance and Ned’s identity when the characters are close to the mystery family members in the timeline, allowing the story to have real emotional stakes for the Dutton family members it affects. Another reason that 1923 is the perfect installment to reveal Chance and Ned Dutton’s identities is because their stories could lead back to the series’ main characters.
If Ned and Dutton are Jacob and Cara’s children, not only does the timeline add up, but it makes sense that Yellowstone screenwriter Taylor Sheridan left the mystery for 1923.
There’s a real possibility that Chance and Ned Dutton are Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara Dutton’s (Helen Mirren) children. From 1923 season 1, we know that Jacob and Cara Dutton don’t have children, opting to raise John (James Badge Dale) and Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) as their boys.
It could be that Jacob and Cara erected the monument to fallen children after arriving in Paradise Valley, taking the opportunity to memorialize their kin properly. Still, 1923 can confirm Chance and Ned’s identity and explain why the pair meant so much to Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone icon.