Teonna Rainwater’s Redemption: The 1923 Ending We Needed

by

Warning: SPOILERS for 1923 Season 2’s Finale – “A Dream and a Memory”

In the final episode of 1923‘s second season, it was Alex Dutton (Julia Schlaepfer) we hoped for a brighter future, but I’m content that another character survived instead. The shows 1883 and 1923 are prequels to screenwriter Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone series. While Yellowstone leans towards neo-Western themes, blending traditional Western elements with contemporary context and drama, its prequels like 1923 are more rooted in conventional genre aspects. In the finale of 1923‘s second season, there were two well-executed gunfights, and Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) assisted his aunt and uncle, Cara (Helen Mirren) and Jacob Dutton (Harrison Ford), in emerging victorious from each encounter.

As a film enthusiast, I’ve been captivated by the journey of the Dutton family, but equally intriguing is the tale of Teonna Rainwater (Aminah Nieves), introduced in season 1 of 1923, who attends a U.S. School for Native Americans in North Dakota. Teonna, a member of the Crow tribe, shares Montana as her home with the Duttons, though it remains unclear how she is connected to them, even after the conclusion of season 2. Interestingly, both share the Rainwater surname, hinting at a possible link to Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham), the tribal chairman of Broken Rock and initially an adversary, but now managing the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch under John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) guidance.

Teonna Lived In 1923’s Finale, While Alex Dutton Died

Teonna Rainwater Redeemed Her Awful 1923 Story

Following the distressing events that unfolded for Teonna Rainwater in 1923, the series finale sees her standing trial for the murders she carried out. In season 1 of 1923, Teonna avenged herself against the nuns who abused and sexually assaulted her – a practice prevalent in assimilation schools across America during that time. After encountering Marshal Mamie Fosset (portrayed by Jennifer Carpenter), who pledges to testify on Teonna’s behalf, linking her to the deaths of Marshal Kent (Jamie McShane) and Father Renaud (Sebastian Roché) is disproven in court. Consequently, Teonna learns that her case has been dismissed, allowing her to walk free.

Given all the hardships she’s faced, it’s just as astonishing as she is that Rainwater finds a fresh beginning. However, Teonna’s story doesn’t follow a typical happy ending. After her court hearing, she tells Two Spears (Dougie Hall) that her newfound freedom has come at a heavy cost – the lives of Pete Plenty Clouds (Jeremy Gauna) and her father, Runs His Horse (Michel Spears). Despite this tragic outcome, Teonna perseveres, creating something from her struggles. Unfortunately, we must note that Spencer’s wife does not share the same fate, as her death is a significant event in Alex Dutton’s storyline from 1923.

In the second season of 1923, Alex Dutton, just like Spencer’s partner, went through an emotionally harrowing and unforgettable ordeal. She was subjected to multiple horrors, including being assaulted at Grand Central Terminal and attacked on a train headed to Chicago. From the very beginning, Alex’s story in 1923 season 2 was filled with hardships. I had hoped for some victories for Alex in the finale to offset her heart-wrenching journey, but instead, she met another tragic fate – succumbing to frostbite after delivering John Dutton prematurely. In contrast, Teonna Rainwater manages to turn her terrible 1923 story around and find redemption.

Why Teonna Rainwater’s 1923 Story Was Subversive

Teonna’s Win Is Vital To Taylor Sheridan’s Storytelling

In the finale of season 2 of “1923”, although it would have been wonderful for Alex to live and connect with Spencer’s family, upon reflection, I found myself satisfied that Teonna Rainwater experienced a positive conclusion instead. In Taylor Sheridan’s tales set within the Yellowstone universe, happy endings are scarce, making it significant when characters like Teonna receive one. Given the scarcity of such outcomes in the American West narratives typically portrayed, Teonna’s uplifting ending is vital because it challenges established perceptions about this era. Historically, Native Americans have been underrepresented and underserved within the Western genre, but Teonna’s story offers a more comprehensive view of their experiences during that time.

In traditional Western movies, characters like Teonna are often portrayed as antagonists without a clear reason for their hostility. However, in the show “1923,” while Teonna does display hostility, her backstory reveals her motivations, shedding light on the genuine assimilation efforts taking place across the United States in the 1920s to erase Indigenous cultures. For instance, Sister Mary’s (Jennifer Ehle) harsh treatment of Teonna for speaking her language and the tragic events surrounding Rainwater reflect this struggle. From the start, the “1923” storyline, as presented by Sheridan, challenges the stereotype in film and television that Native American aggression is unjustified.

In many Western stories, Native Americans are often marginalized and stereotyped as aggressive or missing altogether, while their unique tales remain untold. However, Taylor Sheridan challenged these conventions by making Teonna a significant character in the series 1923, giving a Crow narrative prominence and weaving it into the heart of the show’s plot. Regrettably, Native characters are often written off or eliminated in such narratives, but the finale of 1923 deviates from this pattern by allowing Teonna’s story to continue. Fortunately, Teonna found a positive resolution in the series, which I’m pleased to see.

Read More

2025-04-30 03:49