1923 Review: A Strong Yellowstone Prequel with an Overlong Finale
1923, the prequel set within the Dutton family universe, has finished its two-season story. I found it a strong, impressively produced western, full of dramatic weight and striking period atmosphere. But my reaction is not quite as uncomplicated as the word ‘masterpiece’ would suggest: the first season held me more consistently, while the second became increasingly slow as it approached its conclusion.
What makes the series worth discussing is not simply its connection to Yellowstone. It has its own characters, conflicts and sense of historical hardship. Across fifteen episodes, it manages to tell a relatively contained story without feeling like an endlessly extended franchise product.
Season one: the more balanced experience
For me, the first season is the stronger of the two in terms of rhythm and emotional impact. Its introduction to the characters and their struggles is immediately gripping, and it maintains tension while establishing a world in which territory, tradition and family survival determine almost everything.
Two episodes stand out in particular. The third has real emotional power and brings the human side of the conflict into focus. The fourth is among the most satisfying combinations of character development and narrative momentum in the whole series.
Season two: bigger production, slower storytelling
I can see why somebody might judge the second season technically superior. The craft is superb, the dramatic scale grows and the production feels even more ambitious. Yet as a viewer I missed some of the first season’s urgency.
From fairly early on, I felt I could sense the broad direction of the ending, which made parts of the journey feel like a prolonged wait. The final episode is dramatic and gives the major characters a substantial conclusion, but at close to two hours I found it overextended. It has memorable moments; it just does not always know when to stop.
That distinction matters in my overall assessment. I admire the scale and ambition of the ending, while still wishing it had been edited more tightly.
Do you need to have seen Yellowstone?
Not necessarily. 1923 works as an entry point into the Dutton universe, and its period setting gives it a different flavour from the modern-day drama at the centre of Yellowstone. Familiarity with the wider family story adds context, but I would not consider it a requirement.
That said, if I had to pick the most emotionally complete work from the broader family timeline, 1883 would still be my choice. Its shorter, self-contained narrative left a more powerful impression on me.
The wider Taylor Sheridan universe
Taylor Sheridan has developed a recognisable style: family conflict, struggles over land and power, hard choices, strong visual settings and a fascination with the way institutions shape individual lives. That approach extends beyond his westerns.
Landman takes some of those power struggles into the oil industry, with Billy Bob Thornton anchoring its hard-edged drama. Lioness applies a different kind of pressure through military and intelligence storylines. Tulsa King is lighter in tone, pairing criminal conflict with humour and star charisma, while Mayor of Kingstown explores the severe world of prisons and power structures.
The family westerns remain the backbone: Yellowstone is the central series, 1883 the unusually moving earlier chapter, and 1923 another ambitious account of the forces that shaped the family.
Final verdict
I recommend 1923 for its performances, historical setting and overall production quality. Two seasons give it room to breathe without stretching it into an open-ended saga.
But it is not perfect. The first season offered the more consistent emotional experience for me, and the second season’s final stretch can feel slower and longer than necessary. Those reservations do not erase its strengths — they simply keep my praise measured.
For more on Sheridan’s other series, see our article on his changing television partnerships. This review follows my original Spanish analysis of 1923, including its best episodes and the wider Sheridan universe.
