Warning: Spoilers ahead for 1883, 1923, and Yellowstone!
The Duttons have a rich family tree supporting the Yellowstone franchise, and the second outing of 1923 can piece together a mysterious gap in the fabric of Taylor Sheridan’s neo-Western. The Dutton family tree in Yellowstone begins with the story of Margaret and James Dutton in 1883. Real-life partners and country musicians Tim McGraw and Faith Hill kick off the Yellowstone timeline with their family’s northwestern journey from Texas to Montana. The Yellowstone 1883 cast includes James and Margaret’s children, John (Audie Rick) and Elsa (Isabel May) Dutton.
The Dutton Family Tree Still Has A Mystery About John II’s Father
1923 Can Connect The Dots
Despite the rich history of the Dutton family line, we still don’t know how Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III relates to his predecessors. We know that Dabney Coleman’s John Dutton II is the father of Costner’s character. Yellowstone season 2, episode 10, “Sins of the Father,” introduces John Dutton II. John Sr. goes on one last horseback ride with John Dutton III, and they travel to a special spot where John Sr. advises Costner’s character to never let anyone take “a goddamn inch” of the ranch away. Then the character passes away with his head on John’s shoulder.
| The Seven Generations of Dutton Ranchers | Series | Generation |
|---|---|---|
| James Dutton | 1883 | First |
| John Dutton I | 1883, 1923, Yellowstone | Second |
| Spencer Dutton | 1923 | Second |
| Jack Dutton | 1923 | Third |
| John Dutton II | Yellowstone | Fourth |
| John Dutton III | Yellowstone | Fifth |
| Peter Dutton | Yellowstone (mentioned) | Fifth |
| Lee Dutton | Yellowstone | Sixth |
| Kayce Dutton | Yellowstone | Sixth |
| Tate Dutton | Yellowstone | Seventh |
| John Dutton IV | Yellowstone (mentioned) | Seventh |
Yellowstone establishes how John II’s story ends, but there’s little information about how it begins. Sheridan has not confirmed John Dutton II and III’s link to the prequel characters. Wes Bentley’s Jamie Dutton announces that his father is a fifth-generation Montana rancher while setting up John Dutton’s Montana governor acceptance speech, so we can deduce that John Dutton II was part of the fourth generation. The plot suggests that John’s father could be Jack Dutton (Darren Man), a third-generation Dutton, but plenty of buzz surrounds the theory that Spencer’s whirlwind romance in 1923 is the missing link to John Dutton II.
1923 Season 2 Images Shows Spencer & Jack’s Story Continuing, Which Could Include An Answer
The Duttons’ Journey Continues In 1923
People shared 1923 season 2 images ahead of its February 23, 2025 release, and they confirm the continuation of Yellowstone‘s biggest mystery. The 1923 images confirm that Spencer and Jack are alive and well in season 2, meaning that anything is still possible. Buzz exists around the possibility that Spencer dies at the end of the prequel’s second outing. Even if that’s true, Spencer could still conceive an heir to the ranch before his untimely death. Sklenar says the following about 1923‘s ending (via Forbes):
I mean, the finale of the series is probably one of the best things I’ve read in my life. I’ve kind of known how it was going to end since day one – Taylor [Sheridan] kind of told me. I knew the full arc of Spencer from day one, so in shooting part one, you’re mindful of where he needs to go. I’m really excited.
The trailers for 1923 season 2 confirm that Spencer, Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer), Jack, and Elizabeth Strafford (Michelle Randolph) all return for the second outing. All of John Dutton II’s prospective parents officially returning for the next installment signals that 1923 will continue to play out the Dutton family mystery in season 2. While the timing makes sense that Jack is John Dutton II’s true father, 1923 season 2 leaves the door open for all the tantalizing possibilities.
