“Taylor Sheridan Is Making 1923’s Modern Twists WAY Too Obvious – Is It Ruining the Show?”
 

Warning! SPOILERS For 1923 Season 2, Episode 2, “The Rapist Is Winter”

Yes, 1923 is a period piece about the Depression-era Dutton family, but the Yellowstone prequel is still too on-the-nose about references to modern conveniences that define the time.

Like many Americans in the 1920s, Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara Dutton (Helen Mirren) are witnessing key innovations become available. Still, the Dutton family’s constant attention to the subject feels a bit forced in 1923 season 2, especially between Jacob, Cara, Jack Dutton (Darren Mann), and Elizabeth Strafford (Michelle Randolph) at the Yellowstone Ranch.

1923 also follows Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) and Alexandra Dutton (Julia Schleapfer) as they travel to Montana. Spencer’s 1923 story is also defined by the period, with the World War I veteran working as a large game hunter in Africa.

Spencer’s story more subtly illustrates the Dutton family’s place in time, including his engagement to Alexandra Dutton, leading to a voyage across the ocean on a British liner. Still, while mountain lions and wolves make it clear that the Dutton family remains in a more antiquated period, 1923‘s characters encounter modern conveniences, and they pay too much attention to them.

Taylor Sheridan’s Writing In 1923 Season 2 Is Being Very On The Nose About Modern Conveniences

The Dutton Family Is Outspoken About The Times

Cara Dutton pays particularly close attention to modernity. In 1923 season 2, episode 1, Cara brings up the Parkers as her husband prepares to leave for town. Cara tells Jacob about Mary Parker, who has a phone in her house. Cara tells Jacob that Mary’s husband calls her when he gets to town, which keeps her from worrying about whether he made it.

While Jacob doesn’t jump on the idea, it’s not the last of the 1923 characters fretting about the modern innovations they lack. Cara also critiques modernity, such as her comment about women shaving in 1923 season 1.

As she cuts a slab of meat in 1923 season 2, episode 2, Cara Dutton calls our attention to the period again when she remarks, “An icebox in the house. What a day that will be.”

These comments continue a trend that started in 1923 season 1 when Jacob and John Dutton (James Badge Dale) take their families to town, and an appliance salesman gives them his pitch on why they should take on modern conveniences. Ultimately, the accumulation of not-so-subtle references to the ’20s of the past century makes for a few too many wink-wink, “look how old-timey everything is” moments.

Yellowstone Updating Western Genre Tropes Is A Big Reason For Its Success

Calling Attention To The Period Leans On Old Tropes

A remarkable reason for the success of 1923 and Taylor Sheridan’s entire neo-Western TV show collection is that Yellowstone has updated many genre tropes to offer audiences a new type of Western.

On-the-nose references to how old and antiquated everything is in 1923 season 2 distract from the story and take away from 1923’s potential to be a great period piece. Of course, as interesting as modern conveniences are, people likely didn’t regularly discuss what they didn’t have. It would come up, sure, but 1923 is getting dangerously close to overplaying the bit, especially with how pointed the references have been.

Donald Whitfield witnessing skiing for the first time and not recognizing the sport is a great anchor to the bygone era. The same could be said about Spencer Dutton’s first time eating pizza.

When Cara goes out to cut a piece of meat in episode 2, the antiquated root cellar where she makes her comment is enough of a nod to the period.

Cara’s comment about the modern conveniences she doesn’t have, especially when made for herself, isn’t necessary. Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton) witnessing skiing for the first time and not recognizing the sport is a great anchor to the bygone era without being a blatant period reference. The same could be said about Spencer Dutton’s first time eating pizza. Ultimately, those are the moments that work for 1923.