1883 and 1923

 I was an early adopter when the TV series Yellowstone premiered. I loved the location and the complex storylines, especially about indigenous land reclamation and casinos. But I ulitmately only watched the first 2 seasons - as it caught on and the audience grew, the storylines got soapier and sillier.

I had no real interest in the prequel series and I didn't want to add another streaming service to my panthenon. But, on a recent flight, I watched a couple episodes of 1923 in lieu of a movie and I was kinda hooked. Paramont is only $12 a month, so I thought I could afford to subscribe for a month to catch the two series. 

I really enjoyed 1923. The cast is great and the storylines have some punch and pathos. I think the series reflects Taylor Sheridan's strengths better than Yellowstone does - his sentimentality and his poetic turn with dialog. Helen Mirren is a treasure of course, and the Montana locations are used to tremendous effect (though season 2 will be filmed in Texas due to tax incentives the production company received). In this series, the Duttons have been established in Montana and the main conflicts are between the sheep and cattle ranchers, and with the mining industry represented by Timothy Dalton (in a mustache-twirling role as Donald Whitfield). Jacob Dutton, played by Harrison Ford, is not a strong and silent pioneer hero, but a more ambiguous figure, closer to the patriarch John Dutton (the third?) as portrayed by Kevin Costner. There are also two charming romances happening in two locations, both very watchable (though it starts to become rather noticeable that, in Taylor Sheridan's universe, the only women who settle the West are stunning, ethereal blondes). The tangential story about an indigenous girl who escapes a cruel Catholic boarding school is perhaps even more compelling than the various plots involving the Dutton clan (the actress, Aminah Nieves, is incredible, I hope she finds the kind of success that Lily Gladstone has enjoyed).

Once I finished 1923, I turned with a bit of reluctance to 1883. Not sure why I thought wouldn't like it, but I couldn't have been more wrong. The macho, pioneer spirit bullshit that Taylor Sheridan worships works much better in this historical setting and the genuinely stirring voiceover by Elsa (Isabel May) lands surprisingly well. The casting is pitch perfect and the performances are flawless. The high-powered cameos add a welcome touch of fun. My only complaint is that 1883 is just too damn sad - so many people die, it's kind of exausting. I read some complaints about the historical accuracy, especially regarding the route and the geography of Texas, but those seem like minor complaints when a series is this well done. The story explores grief and love and freedom and loyalty, and asks what we owe each other as human beings. Although there are plenty of strong and (mostly) silent pioneer male heroes to go around, the story is essentially Elsa's - her perspective on the events, and the arc of her growth. The female characters in 1883 and 1923 are more rich, interesting, and fleshed out than anything I saw in the 2 seasons I watched of Yellowstone, so Taylor seems to be maturing... 

I probably should have watched the prequels in chronological order, but no matter - I'll be thrust back into 1923 next year, to find out what happens after the many cliffhangers of the final episode of the first season.