Still, Spencer suffered a tragedy in 1923 season 2’s finale, with his wife, Alexandra of Sussex, succumbing to complications of hypothermia after an extended amount of time in the cold. Her death marks a grave loss for the family amid their Prohibition-era struggle, but Alex’s fate isn’t the only death we witness. Spencer Dutton’s time jump in 1923 season 2’s finale sees the war hero collapse on his wife’s grave, dying 45 years later. After the finale, it was clear that viewers interpreted Spencer Dutton’s ending differently, and each perspective has compelling ramifications.
Viewers Interpret Spencer’s Final 1923 Scene Differently
After Alex Dutton’s fate in 1923 season 2’s finale, the episode jumps decades into the future, showing Spencer Dutton’s death in 1969. Spencer’s sister and 1923’s narrator, Elsa Dutton (Isabel May), explains that Spencer survived almost half a century after the family’s war. Still, he never forgot his soulmate. Elsa tells us that Spencer was intimate with a widow after losing his partner, having another son with her, but never committing to a life with her. Elsa reveals Spencer, therefore, had two children. Before Alex’s death, Alex and Spencer had a son, John Dutton, so Spencer’s bloodline continued after 1923.
Many believe that Spencer was John Dutton II’s father after the events of 1923 season 2, since he and Alex named their son John. John Dutton II, played by Dabney Coleman in Yellowstone season 2, is John Dutton III’s father. As the parent of Coleman’s John Dutton II, Spencer would be the grandfather of Kevin Costner’s character, John Dutton III. In Yellowstone season 4, John tells Jimmy Hurdstrom (Jefferson White) that his grandfather lost a leg. Therefore, if Spencer is John Dutton III’s grandfather, the war hero loses a leg sometime between 1923 season 2’s finale and his death.
Some viewers believe that 1923’s closing scene confirmed that Spencer was John Dutton III’s grandfather.
Why Spencer Dutton’s 1923 Ending Is So Important To Yellowstone’s Story
We Still Don’t Know Who John Dutton III’s Grandfather Is
The ending 1923 scene is worth scrutinizing because Spencer Dutton’s fate has massive ramifications for Yellowstone’s story, impacting John Dutton III’s place in the Dutton family tree. If Spencer indeed walks with a prosthetic in 1923 season 2’s finale, that means he lost a leg in the 45 years that passed, and that he is the link to Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III. This would confirm that Taylor Sheridan broke the Dutton family tree in 1923 season 2’s finale. Spencer is a second-generation Dutton, so being the father of fourth-generation John Dutton II doesn’t quite add up.
1944 is set to be 1923 season 2’s follow-up, taking place 20 years after the events of the family’s war against Banner Creighton, picking up amid World War II. It’s entirely possible that Spencer would return to the front lines, a seasoned war hero from the first major international conflict. If Spencer’s war story parallels life on the ranch in 1944, then we could witness him lose a leg, confirming once and for all the link between John Dutton III and his ancestors. We could also witness Spencer’s son incurring the injury, similarly solving the mystery that orbited 1923’s events.