“1923”: Season 1 (2022 – 2023) created by Taylor Sheridan, starring Helen Mirren & Harrison Ford / Z-View

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1923: Season 1 (2022 – 2023)

Written by: Taylor Sheridan

Directed by: Ben Richardson (ep. 1 – 4; 7 & 8); Guy Ferland (ep. 5 & 6)

Stars: Helen Mirren, Harrison Ford, Brandon Sklenar, Julia Schlaepfer, Jerome Flynn, Darren Mann, Isabel May, Brian Geraghty, Aminah Nieves, Michelle Randolph, Caleb Martin, Robert Patrick, Marley Shelton, Brian Konowal, Timothy Dalton, Michael Greyeyes, Sebastian Roché, Dakota Ogden, Brian Brown, James Badge Dale, Jamie McShane, Joseph Mawle, Bruce Davison and Michael Spears 

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Forty years have passed since the events in 1883.  Jacob (Ford) and Cara Dutton (Mirren) raised their nephews John and Spencer Dutton to adulthood.  Along the way they built one of the largest cattle ranches in Montana.

1923 follows three main storylines:

  • John, Cara as well as family and friends work the Dutton ranch.  John Dutton is trying to hold the ranch together.  Cattle prices are down. It is going to be a hard winter.  The bank won’t loan enough money to buy hay to feed the heard.  Then sheepherders begin encroaching the Dutton Land.  Behind the scenes rich landowner Donald Whitfield (Dalton) has plans to steal the Dutton spread.  When the Duttons go to war with the sheepherders, people on both sides are killed.  Things are escalating.   Cara writes Spencer and says he is needed at home.
  • Spencer Dutton (Sklenar) fought in World War I and then traveled the world as a big game hunter.  While in Africa he meets Alexandra.  She’s British and engaged to be married to a man she doesn’t love.  When Spencer leaves for his next assignment, Alexandra leaves with him.  They will have several adventures and another run-in with Alexandra’s ex before they receive the letter to come back to the ranch.
  • Teonna Rainwater (Nieves) is a young Native American suffering abuse at an Indian Boarding School run by the Catholic church. Teonna is headstrong and has several confrontations with the sister and priest running the school.  Things continue to go downhill with Teonna being beaten and abused until she can take it no more.  She kills two of the abusive sisters and goes on the run.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Each storyline is compelling and features interesting characters that you love or hate.  It’s so well written, acted and directed that when the storyline shifts from one to the next, you don’t mind.  It will be interesting to see how everything comes together.  Taylor Sheridan has another winner.

1923 is perfectly cast from the starring roles to the smallest guest appearances.  The direction, editing and music jell to create one of the best shows on television.  Bring on season 2.

1923: Season 1 (2023) earns 5 of 5 stars.