1923 Season-Premiere Recap: The Dead of Winter

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1923, which originally aired 100 million years ago (in reality, in February 2023), was a genuine soap opera – though with a penchant for violence. The tale unfolded as an intense love story between an American big game hunter and a British countess, but the strictures of class and tradition often disrupted their romance. A family found itself torn apart by legal issues, while another ancient family struggled under the burden of debt. It delved into themes such as miscarriages and secret weddings; it even put Harrison Ford’s character in a coma!

The opening episodes of “The Killing Season” take a darker turn. In the first part of season two, we encounter a broken prostitute who’s kept captive by mining magnate Donald Whitfield, hidden away in his closet. (One might wonder, what purpose does this prolonged narrative serve?) Shortly after, we witness an unsettling scene of rape in the bunkhouse. Later, U.S. Marshal Kent accidentally injures a child with his horse during an argument with Father Renaud, who is chasing Teonna Rainwater through the mountains. (One may question, who bestowed this ruthless individual with authority?) The series unfolds as a continuous flow of misery, interspersed with views of the American countryside. I can only imagine that by Monday morning, I’ll learn that 1923 has become the most popular show on television, but will anyone be able to admit they found it enjoyable?

Throughout the episode, there were several instances where things turned out kindly, or fortunately. For one, let’s express gratitude to Taylor Sheridan for providing a comprehensive recap of the previous episodes on 1923, as I had forgotten many details about what happened earlier. This is not a criticism of the series but rather a reflection of how quickly events can unfold in such narratives.

In a notable turn of events, Teonna Rainwater, who endured brutal torment in the initial season before exacting deadly retribution, experiences a fortunate change. Renaud and Kent manage to locate her in Oklahoma, where Runs His Horse thinks he can conceal his Crow daughter among the Comanche. Unfortunately, this leads to disastrous consequences for the indigenous tribe, who are tormented despite their lack of involvement with Teonna. It’s later revealed that Runs His Horse has unintentionally guided his teenage sweetheart and her boyfriend Pete, now portrayed by Jeremy Gauna, into the protective grasp of a ranching operation in Texas rather than the Great Plains. (The demise of Cole Brings Plenty, who previously played Pete, was signified by an “In Memoriam” sequence at the start of the episode.)

As I sat there watching this film unfold, I couldn’t help but notice how the movie subtly explores the concept of self-sufficiency and its role in shaping the lives of our trio of fugitives. In a heartfelt conversation, Runs His Horse shares tales of life before the arrival of white men in the West, painting a picture of a time when everyone lived off the land and knew how to survive. He explains that as the barter economy evolved, people lost touch with essential survival skills like crafting bows and arrows. This, according to him, is how the U.S. government manipulated the Native Americans. If they could have continued to live independently as they had in the past, the government would have been obsolete.

However, while this narrative serves well as a moral tale teaching self-reliance to Teonna, it falls short when presented as an accurate account of how tribes came to be confined on reservations. The harsh realities of disease, violence, expulsion, and ethnic cleansing were the true causes that led to the loss of Native American culture and their forced relocation, not the other way around.

Despite some troubling aspects, there’s an optimistic undertone in Runs His Horse’s narrative that hints at the persistence of traditional Native American life. He consents to his daughter marrying Pete and, somewhat unintentionally, agrees to their pre-ceremony intimacy. Pete appears momentarily bewildered upon finding Teonna undressing before him. This is the contentment that Native Americans can discover when they devise a means of living independently from the white man’s influence in the West.

In a short while, Texas will welcome Spencer Dutton, who is currently working as a stoker on a ship sailing towards Galveston. Upon our reunion, he’ll be halfway across the Atlantic and far from his wife. His only companion is another boilerman, a young Italian named Luca, making his way to the New World to avoid Mussolini’s wars. Initially, Spencer corrects Luca on the proper method of loading coal into the burner, although he has been doing it correctly since they departed port. In our second encounter with Luca, Spencer saves him from a potential rape attempt by deckhands who were either asleep or feigning rest nearby. Our third meeting with Luca occurs when Spencer persuades him not to jump overboard.

It’s puzzling that Luca is contemplating suicide, given that his ordeal seems to have ended with the ship’s officer taking justice into their own hands. However, it might be that Luca has faced such struggles before, and this incident was simply the one that caught someone’s attention. Spencer, in a prophetic yet vague manner, tells Luca, “People aren’t defined by what happens to them; they are defined by their actions.” Indeed, Spencer is a hero, demonstrating courage and selflessness. As for his new friend, he’s a hustler, always finding ways to survive. When Spencer reveals he lacks the funds to reach Montana where his family needs him, his friend devises a plan to work as a boxing promoter and bookie, setting up fights for the Lion Hunter and taking bets.

The brief nature of our boat journey is evident as none of the contestants are given personal names. In the first bout, it’s a match between the Lion Hunter and a colossal figure, which Spencer swiftly defeats with a low blow. The second fight pairs the Lion Hunter against an ex-military man, who Spencer savagely bites. The night is gruesome, yet by its end, Spencer has earned enough money to reach Bozeman – a goal I had almost resigned myself to never achieving and still find improbable in my heart. An ambitious Italian remarks that the world consists of creators and takers; however, Spencer seems to represent a third path. Men who react more than they shape their world. Men who struggle to get by.

I’m quite certain that Alexandra Dutton will manage to finish her pilgrimage to the Yellowstone ranch and embrace the challenging lifestyle she believes she’s prepared for. Following her painful separation from Spencer at the end of the previous season, she spends some time wallowing in self-pity at her family estate. However, she eventually persuades an old friend named Jennifer to sell their family heirlooms to gather funds for a ticket to America. She can’t afford to wait idly in Sussex for Spencer to save her because she’s running out of time. A shocking revelation: she doesn’t have nine months before giving birth, and the baby could potentially be the grandfather of John Dutton III (also known as Kevin Costner).

Once Alex arrives in Montana, she’ll find herself right at home with the Dutton women, provided she acclimates to the cold first. The ranch has a history of producing strong and determined women, much like Alex, who has shown similar traits. Though it might seem quirky or innocent for her to declare, “I’m off on my next adventure,” as she prepares to travel alone to New York on a third-class ticket, while pregnant, it’s not hard to envision her connecting with the rough crowd Jennifer mentioned. In fact, Alex has proven to be more adaptable than any other character we’ve seen on 1923.

Throughout much of the first season, Montana served as the most captivating stage for the series. However, now it’s winter in the Western Mountains, turning the landscape barren and the roads into snow-covered paths. The Duttons, struggling to keep their ranch afloat amid this year’s tax burden, have sold off a significant portion of their herd. Yet, they are already fretting about next year’s financial challenges. Donald Whitfield holds the lien, but the true menace is the federal government. This bureaucratic entity, filled with takers, poses a common adversary for both the rancher and the Native American communities.

Jacob travels on a horse into town during the night for Zane, Yellowstone’s foreman, and his wife’s mixed-race trial, which is still not happening when the episode concludes. It seems that the trial serves more as an opportunity for Jacob to leave home, allowing Cara to be by herself on the ranch. The opening scene of the 1923 series depicts her shooting a trespasser, hinting at a conflict that will arise later in the first season. The final episode of the second season hints at an earlier event as Jack’s wife, Lizzie, is about to be attacked by a mountain lion outside due to the alluring sunlight on the snow. A hint of spring approaching.

In Bozeman, life carries on as usual. Streets get cleared, appointments get set, winter is just another season. However, on the ranch, it poses a danger. Everything seems threatening. Cara takes aim at the creature through a closed window, meaning she shoots him from within the house. The Duttons have suffered losses of their livestock and workers. Despite sending letters to Spencer, one might understand if Cara feels they’ve also lost their long-missing lion hunter. All that remains is this lodge.

The first season of 1923 was like a peaceful contemplation session. Its storylines wandered leisurely amidst stunning landscapes. The quiet, gruff characters seemed to whisper secrets directly into your ear, much like an ASMR shopping experience. However, Spencer’s ocean voyage, completed in just an hour, felt surprisingly fast-paced. With only seven episodes left until the finale, if it continues at this pace, there might even be room for a satisfying conclusion.

It’s challenging to imagine a different outcome for the ranch and the family given what transpired in Yellowstone. To some extent, the story of 1923 seems like it has reached its conclusion. The return of Spencer Dutton to see his Aunt Cara or Jack Dutton taking charge of the ranch doesn’t seem to change much, as does the question of where Spencer and Alex’s child grows up – whether with wealthy relatives in Sussex or a turbulent cowboy family in the West. Ultimately, it seems that the outcome of this particular land dispute among rich white men doesn’t matter too much when we consider the numerous conflicts yet to come.

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2025-02-23 23:54