The Mountain Lion’s Hidden Symbolism in 1923 Season 2: What It Reveals About the Dutton Family

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for 1923 season 2, episode 1.The mountain lion in the premiere of 1923 season 2 had a lot of hidden symbolism behind it, and its real meaning serves as a big insight into the Dutton family’s story. In the premiere of 1923 season 2, Jacob Dutton (Harrison Ford) encountered a mountain lion on the porch. Though it ran off, it came back to terrorize Elizabeth (Michelle Randolph), and Cara (Helen Mirren) had to shoot it with a shotgun. Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) even had a conversation about cougars with his Italian shipmate, and 1923 made it clear that the mountain lion was more important than it appeared.

What wasn’t as clear, however, is what the mountain lion actually meant for 1923 season 2. Normally, a cougar or any other wild predator would never dare get so close to humans, and the entire encounter seemed strange and special. Taylor Sheridan certainly had a reason to let the Duttons contend with a mountain lion on top of all their other worries: it serves as a preview of 1923 season 2 and the entire saga of the Dutton family as a whole. By looking at the deeper meaning of the puma, fans can find out exactly what the entire cast of 1923 has in store.

What 1923 Season 2, Episode 1’s Mountain Lion Means For The Duttons

Danger Is Literally At The Duttons’ Doorstep In 1923 Season 2

The mountain lion in 1923 season 2 was quite significant. The most direct interpretation of the mountain lion in 1923 season 2 is as a metaphor for the danger the Dutton family is facing. A cougar, one of the most notorious ambush predators in the world, was literally stalking the Duttons’ doorstep in much the same way Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton) ambushed them at the end of 1923 season 1. The mountain lion waited for Elizabeth, a weaker person than Jacob, to strike, and Whitfield also waited until the Duttons were at their weakest to pay their back taxes and seize their land.

Whitfield isn’t the only danger that the Duttons face, however, as they also have to contend with Banner Creighton (Jerome Flynn). With that in mind, the fact that 1923 chose to accentuate the distant howling of wolves after Cara (Helen Mirren) shot the mountain lion is important. The cougar could also represent Creighton, as “dealing” with him and his fellow sheep herders in 1923 season 1 opened the door for Whitfield to strike. Without the natural competition a mountain lion provides as another apex predator, the wolves will likely become even more bold. Once the Duttons deal with Creighton, Whitfield may similarly become an even bigger threat.

On top of the threats from “predators” like Creighton and Whitfield, the Duttons also have other dangers facing them that the mountain lion helps illustrate. 1923 season 2 has already gone to great lengths to illustrate how bleak and awful winter is on a ranch. The Duttons eat nothing but stew and stale bread, they can barely leave their lodge, and the cold threatens everything they have. When Jacob first saw the mountain lion, he thought it was just trying to get warm, which showed that even the creatures designed to brave the winter were under threat.

How Spencer Dutton’s Life Hunting Lions Ties Into 1923 Season 2

Spencer Is Supposed To Be The Savior Of The Duttons & The Only One With Experience Fighting Stronger Enemies

Ever since Jacob was shot by Banner Creighton and his men, Spencer Dutton has been presented as a savior figure to both the Dutton family and the Yellowstone as a whole. As Cara often thought, if Spencer were only in Montana, the Duttons wouldn’t have any trouble with Creighton or Whitfield. Spencer certainly ties into 1923 season 2’s mountain lion metaphor, especially considering his history of being a big game hunter who often hunted lions in Africa. If the mountain lion represents the danger at the Duttons’ doorstep, Spencer represents their way out.

It’s not entirely clear how he’ll do it yet, but Spencer is almost certainly going to save the Yellowstone ranch. Spencer’s experience hunting big game will definitely come in handy when he has to physically fight Creighton and his lackeys. He’ll probably even use some of the same tactics in that fight, such as drawing Creighton out with bait and waiting in ambush. Whitfield, however, is the larger “lion” Spencer will have to hunt, and his gun won’t be the right weapon for that prey. Regardless of how he approaches it, however, Spencer Dutton has his sights set on a new type of lion in 1923 season 2.

Why 1923 Had Cara Shoot The Mountain Lion Instead Of Jake

Spencer May Be A Lion Hunter, But Cara Fiercely Protects The Yellowstone In The Men’s Absence

Though Spencer is a lion hunter and has been set up as the savior of the Yellowstone throughout 1923, it’s symbolically significant that he wasn’t the one to actually kill the mountain lion. Instead, Cara Dutton shot the cougar while Jacob, Jack (Darren Mann) and the rest of the men were in Bozeman. That was even after Jacob had a chance to kill the mountain lion at the start of the episode, yet he held his fire and let the puma run off. As he has many times in the past, Taylor Sheridan used the mountain lion to say something about the Dutton family tree’s women.

It’s notable that just before the mountain lion tried to hunt Elizabeth, Jake, Jack, and the rest of the cowboys were last seen in the speakeasy in town. While the Dutton men were getting drunk, the Dutton women were busy protecting the ranch from dangers like the mountain lion. It’s a trend that started with Beth in Yellowstone: Cara and the Dutton women may not be seen as leaders, but they’re just as responsible for protecting the ranch and the family as Jacob and other male counterparts are. Relying on the women of the family has been a huge source of strength for generations of Duttons.

Taylor Sheridan’s History Of Using Animals As Metaphors Explained

Sheridan Has Used Animals Like Coyotes, Wolves, & Cattle As Symbols In Yellowstone, Landman, & More

Taylor Sheridan is no stranger to using animals for their symbolism. The coyote in Landman‘s finale, for instance, served as a representation of Tommy Norris’ (Billy Bob Thornton) struggles with the oil industry and his wild nature. Yellowstone also frequently uses animal symbolism: the Duttons’ cattle and horses are a symbol of the old world they’re trying to protect, and the stubborn way the entire family clings to their land. The wolves that encircled the ranch also served as a symbol of the dangers the Duttons faced, just as the cougar does in 1923, as well as the force of nature fighting for its land.

Sheridan even named an entire show to take advantage of the symbolism surrounding an animal: Zoe Saldaña’s Lioness. In Lioness, Joe leads an espionage program that literally takes advantage of how overlooked yet dangerous women can be, just as female lions are the ones who actually hunt in the wild instead of their male counterparts. Animals and their symbolic meanings have always been deeply important to Sheridan and his writing, and the mountain lion in 1923 season 2 is just the latest example of that.