If Taylor Sheridan’s 1944 prequel follows through with what the 1923 Season 2 finale has set up, these Duttons are about to roar.

Spoiler Alert !!!
Spoilers for 1923 Season 2 Ahead- Proceed with caution!

You know what they say: the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. And in the case of the Dutton family, that tree is a storm waiting to hit. After the gut-wrenching finale of 1923 Season 2, I can’t escape the feeling that the stage has been set for a sibling rivalry of epic proportions in the 1944 prequel.

With the birth of John Dutton II and Elizabeth’s child growing up in the shadow of the Dutton legacy, we’re in for a showdown that could split the family right down the middle. I mean, you don’t name a kid John Dutton and expect him to just sit quietly in the back, do you? These Duttons might clash, and if history is anything to go by, it won’t be pretty.

1944: The bitter sibling rivalry looming between John II & Elizabeth’s child

 1923 season 2 | Credits: Paramount
When Alexandra, before her tragic death, named her son John Dutton, the significance wasn’t lost on me. With Spencer’s older brother having been the original John Dutton, her child now carries the torch as John Dutton II, bridging the bloodline between 1923 and Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III in Yellowstone.

Ergo, we can say that the little boy is the key to the past and future of the Dutton family. Also, the birth of this child isn’t just a plot device—it’s a full-blown time bomb ticking, ready to explode in the upcoming 1944 prequel.

But let’s not forget about Elizabeth. Her return to the East, pregnant with Jack’s child, has set the stage for some juicy drama. It may seem like the end of her story in 1923, but this is where the Duttons shine—when you think they’re out, they’re never out. This child, born around the same time as John II, could easily find their way back to Montana in 1944.
Helen Mirren and Michelle Randolph in 1923 | Credit: Paramount
Here’s where things get murky: Elizabeth’s child might not just return to learn about their roots. There’s a chance they might want to lay claim to the Yellowstone itself. That means if this kid takes a page from Jamie Dutton’s playbook, there could be a serious challenge to John II’s claim to the ranch. Imagine it: two cousins, both determined to rule the same land, their fates forever entwined by blood and ambition. I’m telling you—this could lead to the most dramatic sibling rivalry yet.

Could we see John II and Elizabeth’s child come to blows over the ranch? Absolutely. And the beauty of it all is that Taylor Sheridan has masterfully laid the groundwork for this conflict in the 1923 season 2 finale.

By planting the seeds of this rivalry now, he’s giving us a glimpse into the future of 1944—a future where the Duttons, no longer united, could tear each other apart in their desperate bid for control of the land that has defined them.

1923 left us hanging—Now 1944 must deliver the Dutton family’s legacy or risk falling flat

As 1923 ends and we look forward to the 1944 prequel, I can’t help but wonder what’s next for the Duttons.

Season 2 of 1923 had the perfect opportunity to give us a compelling bridge to 1944. This was the time to lay the foundation for the next generation of Duttons, especially with characters like Spencer and Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer) in the mix. Instead, we saw one character’s arc basically disappear into thin air, while others were treated like pawns in a game that no one even cared to play.
Harrison Ford, Robert Patrick, and Jeffrey Leaf in 1923 | Credit: Paramount
By disappearing, I’m talking about the fate of Alex, Spencer Dutton’s (Brandon Sklenar) love interest, who was left in a state of limbo at the end of 1923’s second season. Fans were heartbroken when she died tragically, alone in the unforgiving cold, from frostbite and hypothermia. Her death, though devastating, felt like a finality that would push Spencer into a darker place. However, 1944 brings her back into the conversation—and not in the way fans were hoping.

The fire that was ignited in 1923, despite its flaws, has the potential to burn even brighter in 1944, but only if the show chooses to take its time and fully explore the consequences of the family’s fractured relationships. The question isn’t just about who survives the inevitable war for the land; it’s about who survives the war for the Dutton legacy.

And if 1944 doesn’t give us the deep, meaningful conflict I’m hoping for, then the entire Dutton family story could come crashing down like a house of cards. In short, 1923 left us hanging. But now, it’s up to 1944 to pick up the pieces, or else the Dutton legacy may be nothing more than a fleeting shadow of what it could have been.

The drama is ripe for the picking, and the Duttons—whether fighting for survival or legacy—are not to be underestimated!

1923 season 2 is streaming on Paramount+.