Taylor Sheridan’s 1923 came to a dramatic end, and fans are still trying to process everything that went down. The Spencer and Alex storyline had been building for what felt like forever, so naturally, expectations were sky-high for their final chapter. But just when everyone thought they’d finally get a breather, Sheridan threw one last emotional punch.
Now, in classic internet fashion, fans have started rewriting the ending, and one alternate version has taken off like wildfire. This twist involves Alex being kidnapped, and the way it plays out is wildly gripping. It’s the kind of plotline that makes the original ending look a bit underwhelming in comparison.
The fan-created version doesn’t just change the mood, it reshapes the entire story’s emotional payoff. Whether you’re still mourning or just curious about what could’ve been, this alternate ending is causing serious waves, and for good reason.
It turns out the most gripping ending to 1923 didn’t come from Taylor Sheridan; it came from Reddit. One fan’s alternate version of the Season 2 finale has gone viral for all the right reasons, and honestly, it’s got people wishing Sheridan had handed over the script from the start.
Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren in 1923 ( 🌐 𝑾𝒆𝒃𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆: 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒔.𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐 – 𝑶𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑵𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒍
In this fan-crafted rewrite, Alex makes it into town without frostbite, gangrene, or tragedy chasing her down. But plot twist, she gets kidnapped by Whitfield’s goons while searching for the Duttons. Why? Whitfield wants to ransom her to take over the Yellowstone Ranch peacefully. Sounds like a clean, devious plan, until Spencer shows up.
Now here’s where it gets juicy. Banner, grossed out by Whitfield’s villainy, switches sides out of guilt and becomes Team Dutton. He even spills the beans about a secret body-dumping spot, classic Yellowstone vibes. Spencer uses Banner’s testimony in court to legally boot Whitfield off the ranch, despite his tax games.
Then comes the ultimate move, Spencer and Banner offer a fake surrender, rescue Alex, torch Whitfield’s place, and then deliver one final blow, train station style. Oh, and Banner gets the brand as a reward. Brutal, brilliant, satisfying.
Julia Schlaepfer as Alex Dutton in 1923 🌐 𝑾𝒆𝒃𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆: 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒔.𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐 – 𝑶𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑵𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒍
Alex survives but loses the baby from all the stress, and we’re still left guessing the Dutton family tree. But at least the plot has meat.
Reddit’s eating it up. Check out some of fans’ reactions-
Honestly? Same.
1923 Season 2’s real finale explained
Taylor Sheridan doesn’t write happy endings. He writes earned endings, ones wrapped in gunfire, heartbreak, and legacy, and 1923’s finale, “A Dream and a Memory,” delivered all of that with a rifle blast and a final goodbye that’ll haunt you like a Wyoming wind.
The Dutton-Whitfield war came to a brutal end as Paradise Valley turned into a war zone. Cara Dutton was sniping mercenaries with an elk rifle, Elizabeth clutched a shotgun in the living room, and Jacob waited at the train station, hoping Spencer would arrive before everything burned to ash. Spencer did come, just late enough to lose what he fought across continents for, Alexandra.
Julia Schlaepfer as Alex Dutton and Brandan Sklenar as Spencer in 1923 🌐 𝑾𝒆𝒃𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆: 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒔.𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐 – 𝑶𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑵𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒍
After surviving a blizzard in what was a mobile coffin, Alex was found by Spencer and brought back aboard his train. She was frostbitten, gangrenous, and knew she wouldn’t survive. But she stayed strong enough to give birth to their son, named John, and share one last moment of sarcastic, tragic romance with her husband.
Actor Brandon Sklenar later revealed the heartbreak behind that scene in an interview with ScreenRant.
There’s the profound feeling of love… knowing he’s not going to get a minute to show her how much she means to him.
He said Spencer lived 45 more years holding onto that love, and that final scene, Spencer dying on Alex’s grave in 1969 as a shooting star streaks overhead, was the “ultimate payoff.” No IVs, no sunblock, all heartbreak.
Meanwhile, Spencer gave Whitfield the Dutton version of an eviction notice, a bullet to the head, and a burning mansion. Teonna survived, barely, and rode off to reclaim her life. And the Duttons? They buried their dead, raised little John Dutton II, and dared anyone else to come for their land. Love may have cost everything, but it still won.