1923 season 2’s penultimate episode is a bloodbath of multiple character deaths, but one major name killed off in Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone prequel is still a huge shock. 1923 season 2, episode 6, “The Mountain Teeth of Monsters,” starts with the extended Dutton clan receiving hopeful news: Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) is coming home. To ensure his nephew’s safe arrival, Jacob Dutton (Harrison Ford) waits for Spencer in Livingston, Montana, leaving Jack Dutton (Darren Mann) and Zane Davis (Brian Geraghty) to guard the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch.

With 1923 season 2 moving into its endgame, several characters died in the penultimate episode. Father Renaud (Sebastian Roche) killed Marshal Kent (Jamie McShane) because the crooked lawman murdered Pete Plenty Clouds (Jeremy Gauna) and other natives during their hunt for Teonna Rainwater (Aminah Nieves). Teonna then killed Father Renaud after the priest murdered Hank Plenty Clouds (Michael Greyeyes). Alexandra Dutton’s (Julia Schlaepfer) friends, Paul (Augustus Prew) and Hillary (Janet Montgomery), froze to death driving Alex to Montana.

However, they are all supporting characters, and I didn’t expect a Dutton to die before 1923 season 2’s finale.

Jack Dutton’s Death In 1923 Season 2 Episode 6 Is A Shocker
Killing Jack In 1923 Season 2’s Penultimate Episode Was Unexpected

Jack Dutton’s death in 1923 season 2, episode 6, “The Mountain Teeth of Monsters” was a genuine shock. Although Jack foolishly set up his own demise when he left his defense of the Yellowstone Ranch to rendezvous with Jacob in Livingston, I didn’t see the youngest Dutton male being gunned down by Banner Creighton’s (Jerome Flynn) men coming. Typically, Jack didn’t think about who the cowboys claiming to be from the Livestock Commission really were, and they gunned him down when he was defenseless.

It was already a bad sign when Jack bragged to the interlopers on horseback that his brother, Spencer, was the best gunman around. When Jack claimed to be “second best,” he didn’t have a chance before Creighton’s men riddled him with bullets. Dutton sons dying is nothing new; Lee Dutton (Dave Annable) was killed off in Yellowstone’s series premiere, and Jack’s own father, John Dutton (James Badge Dale), died in 1923 season 1. But Jack had a lot to live for, and his abrupt death before 1923 season 2’s finale is still a jaw-dropper.

Jack Dutton Never Lived Up To His Potential In 1923
Jack Remained A Callow Youth Until He Died

The tragedy of Jack Dutton in 1923 is that he’ll never get to grow up and reach his potential. Although Jack was in his early 20s, he was callow and naive after growing up on the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. Still, Jack was brave and likable, and he was a willing recipient of Jacob and his aunt, Cara Dutton’s (Helen Mirren), wisdom. Sadly, Jack will never accumulate and earn lifelong wisdom himself. Jack is like Luke Skywalker if Luke was content to live on Tatooine and never looked to the horizon and dreamed of taking steps to a larger world.

Although Darren Mann shared scenes with Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, Jack passed away before Spencer could return home to the Yellowstone. Jack never gets to see his uncle again, and Mann does not share any scenes with Branden Sklenar or Julia Schlaepfer in 1923, assuming Alexandra does make it to Montana to reunite with her beloved husband. Jack once represented the future of the Yellowstone Ranch, but now he’s one of the many Duttons whose blood has seeped into the land their family has given everything to defend.

What Happens To Elizabeth Strafford In 1923 Now That Jack’s Dead
Elizabeth Has No Reason To Stay At The Yellowstone

Jack Dutton’s sudden death leaves behind another tragedy: his pregnant young bride, Elizabeth Strafford (Michelle Randolph). The long-suffering Elizabeth received happy news that she can conceive, after all, after she lost her baby with Jack in 1923 season 1. Not only does Elizabeth not know that Jack died in 1923 season 2, episode 6, but her unborn child will now grow up without a father. However, Jack’s death solves a Yellowstone mystery and establishes that Spencer is John Dutton III’s (Kevin Costner) grandfather by process of elimination.

After her winter ordeal of being attacked by a mountain lion, bitten by a rabid wolf, and forced to endure rabies injections in her stomach, Elizabeth planned to leave Yellowstone and travel to Boston. With Jack now gone, Elizabeth’s future in Montana seems moot. Jack was the sole reason Elizabeth stayed in Paradise Valley. If Lizzie survives 1923 season 2’s finale, it’s likely she will travel east and leave her bad memories of the Yellowstone – and Elizabeth’s dreams of her lost life with Jack Dutton – behind.