Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer) and Spencer Dutton’s (Brandon Sklenar) romantic ending in 1923 season 2’s finale gives the Yellowstone saga its second version of Heaven. After taking separate arduous journeys to Montana in 1923, Spencer and Alex are finally reunited in 1923’s epic finale, but only for a brief time. Alex soon dies of complications from frostbite and hypothermia after giving birth to their son, John Dutton II. Spencer exacts revenge on Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton) for Alex’s death before inheriting the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch.
While Taylor Sheridan’s flagship Yellowstone series was a 21st-century Neo-Western, Yellowstone’s prequels, 1883 and 1923, follow more traditional Western genre tropes. However, Sheridan underscores 1883 and 1923 with spirituality and philosophical musings about the West and man’s place on Earth. In 1883’s finale, Elsa Dutton (Isabel May) tragically dies from an arrow wound in the arms of her father, James Dutton (Tim McGraw).
1883’s closing moments reveal that Elsa went to her version of Heaven, which is “unique” to each person. Elsa’s eternal joy is riding the boundless West with her Native American husband, Sam (Martin Sensmeier).
Alex & Spencer’s Ending In 1923 Gives Yellowstone Its Second Version Of Heaven
“What Took You So Long?”
1923 season 2’s finale proved Heaven in the Yellowstone saga isn’t exclusive to Elsa Dutton. In the Titanic-like final moments of 1923, Spencer Dutton is reunited with Alex after his death in 1969 at the age of 80. In Alex and Spencer’s ideal afterlife, they are back on the British ocean liner they sailed on in 1923 season 1’s finale. Of course, Alex teased Spencer – “What took you so long?” – but the couple are once again young and beautiful, enjoying the happiness in their Heaven that life denied them in 1923.
1923 also confirms Elsa’s narration that each person’s version of Heaven is specific to them in the Yellowstone saga. There’s no uniform version of the afterlife. Elsa and Sam live in their Heaven the way they lived in 1883, but without the violence and tragedy that hounded them on the Oregon Trail. Spencer and Alex get a perfect version of the 1920s grand ball that they only fleetingly enjoyed in 1923 season 1’s ending before they were unjustly separated.
Alex Coming Back In Taylor Sheridan’s Next Yellowstone Prequel Could Work
Could Alex Come Back As A Ghost In 1944?
With 1923 now over, the Yellowstone saga is moving onto more spinoffs, including the next prequel planned by Taylor Sheridan, 1944. Set 20 years after the end of 1923, 1944 will follow the Duttons during World War II, and will likely center on Spencer and Alex’s son, John Dutton II, who will be about 20. Elizabeth Strafford’s (Michelle Randolph) child with the late Jack Dutton (Darren Mann) may also be part of 1944. But will Alex be in 1944 in some form, the way Elsa Dutton was an ethereal presence in 1923?
Brandon Sklenar and Julia Schlaepfer have floated the idea that Alex could return as a ghost in 1944. While it sounds absurd at first, there could be merit to Alexandra continuing to be a presence in Spencer’s life. Alex could replace Elsa as 1944’s heavenly narrator and be the omniscient chronicler of Spencer’s life running the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. Perhaps Spencer could even have visions of Alex. By introducing Heaven in 1883 and continuing the afterlife in 1923, Taylor Sheridan has the leeway to carefully introduce more supernatural elements into 1944.
Kevin Costner In Yellowstone Didn’t Get His Version Of Heaven
Yellowstone Is Different From Its Prequels
Elsa, Spencer, and Alex Dutton received romantic versions of Heaven that rewarded them for the injustice and tragedy they suffered in life throughout 1883 and 1923. The more grounded, modern-day Yellowstone, however, did not include spiritual elements or a hopeful version of the afterlife. Several Duttons and other major characters died throughout Yellowstone, including John Dutton III (Kevin Costner), but they didn’t get rewarded with their personal versions of eternal bliss.
It’s also possible that present-day Duttons like John don’t get a version of Heaven like the ‘purer’ Elsa of 1883 and Alex and Spencer of 1923 deserved.
Had Kevin Costner not quit Yellowstone midway through season 5, it’s probable that John Dutton III wouldn’t have been killed off. Once Costner exited and Taylor Sheridan opted to write out Yellowstone’s lead character with a violent death, they didn’t have Kevin to perform any scenes of John in Heaven, even if Sheridan had scripted them. It’s also possible that present-day Duttons like John don’t get a version of Heaven like the ‘purer’ Elsa of 1883 and Alex and Spencer of 1923 deserved because they are more morally compromised than their ancestors.
