Warning: SPOILERS for 1923 Season 2’s Finale – “A Dream and a Memory”
Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone prequel, 1923, has come to a close, along with a long-running mystery regarding the Dutton family. As the Yellowstone franchise expands with new prequels, we continue to learn more and more about the history of the Dutton family tree. We know how the Duttons traveled to Montana in 1883, and we know how Yellowstone ended, but there are still pieces in between that paint a more complete picture of the storied family.
Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III is the lead of Yellowstone, and the most iconic character Taylor Sheridan has created. He’s the quintessential Dutton, and he descends from 1883’s James Dutton. We saw John Dutton I in 1923 season 1 before he was killed, and we also saw John Dutton II in Yellowstone flashbacks at the end of his life. One of the longest-standing mysteries has been the origin of John Dutton II. Until today, we hadn’t confirmed who his parents really were.
1923 Season 2’s Finale Is The Origin Of John Dutton II
We Finally Know Who Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III’s Grandparents Are
1923’s season 2 ending is tragic, as even though Spencer heroically rescues Alex from certain death in the cold, she still meets her end in a hospital later in the episode after giving birth to their son. Alexandra Dutton sacrifices her life so that John Dutton II can be born, finally clearing up the mystery. Since the beginning of 1923 season 1, John II’s parentage could have been either one of two possibilities: the pairing of Spencer and Alex or the pairing of Jack and Elizabeth.
1923 season 2 revealed that Elizabeth was pregnant, suggesting that her son might have gone on to be John II. This would have made sense, as Jack’s father was John Dutton I, and he might have wanted to name his son after him. With Jack’s death and Elizabeth leaving the ranch, Spencer, Cara, and Jacob will be the ones to raise John Dutton II, carrying on the legacy of the Dutton ranch after the violent ending to its conflict with Donald Whitfield and Banner Creighton.
How John Dutton II Connects To Kevin Costner In Yellowstone
We Saw John Dutton II’s Death In Yellowstone
As mentioned, John Dutton II is the father of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III. There has yet to be a TV series specifically oriented around him, but we saw him briefly in Yellowstone flashbacks, played by Dabney Coleman. In fact, we only ever saw John Dutton II on the day of his death, as John III sat with him in the mountains, watching the valley of their ranch as he passed on. With his birth in 1923 in mind, he would have been roughly 80 years old at the time of his death.
