1883, on the other hand, elevates the visual aesthetic that has made Yellowstone so popular. With a massive budget at its disposal, 1883 fully embraced the beautiful, sweeping mountains and plains of the Old West. The entire show is set in the wilderness of the frontier, allowing its visual appeal to ascend to levels that Yellowstone can never match.
1883 And 1923 Have Higher Stakes Than Yellowstone
Death and violence often threaten in Yellowstone, as nearly every major character has been shot, beaten, or blown up at one time or another. However, the stakes can only rise so high with modern innovations in medicine and transportation. For example, John Dutton survived cancer, a ruptured ulcer, and an assault rifle attack within the span of just a few years in the show. 1883 and 1923 characters have a much higher chance of death; 1883 in particular sees danger coming from not only bullets and arrows, but from much harder-to-evade threats like snakebites, disease, and childbirth.
On top of the constant threat of death, the Duttons of the prequel series are fighting for their livelihoods and home at every turn. In Yellowstone, the Duttons could lose large swaths of the ranch and not only live, but live quite comfortably. In 1883, the Duttons are fighting to stay alive on the plains of the Old West, while a couple of generations later they’re still fighting for their family’s survival against those who would see them wiped from the land, in addition to the survival of the ranch.
1883 And 1923 Have Stronger Female Characters Than Yellowstone
Yellowstone isn’t without strong female characters, as both Beth Dutton (Reilly) and Monica Dutton (Kelsey Asbille) have their moments at various times throughout the show. However, both characters are heavily flawed as well; Beth is routinely cruel and at times operates out of emotion and blind loyalty, even if her behavior ends up destructive, while Monica is often paralyzed by indecision. Neither measures up to the strong female characters of 1883 and 1923.
Helen Mirren’s Cara Dutton is the powerful matriarch of the Dutton clan in 1923, and she is equal parts smart and fierce. When her husband Jacob is shot and fighting for his life, Cara steps up and even stands in for him to lead the local cattle owners’ association. She takes full command of the Dutton family in Jacob’s absence, leading with strength and authority. Similarly, Isabel May’s Elsa Dutton of 1883 is independent and brave, even if she’s occasionally naive. Both of the two lead female characters from the prequels are stronger than any found in Yellowstone.
1923 Expands The Yellowstone Universe Beyond The American West
While Yellowstone and its spinoffs are meant to be Westerns, 1923 did the franchise a favor and expanded the world beyond the American West. The season 1 story of Spencer Dutton, the youngest son of James and Margaret Dutton, takes place overseas, as Spencer is a big game hunter in Africa when the series opens. As he attempts to make his way back to the United States, Spencer and his fiance, Alexandria, move across Africa and parts of the Mediterranean.
By showcasing an entirely new setting for the Yellowstone franchise, Spencer’s story provides some much-needed variation in aesthetic. As a former soldier and big game hunter in Africa, Spencer still embodies many of the typical qualities associated with cowboys, but in a new and visually exciting way. Yellowstone rarely leaves the areas around the ranch, much less travels to a new continent.
