As the title suggests, 1883 takes place before the events depicted in Yellowstone. The story explores the Dutton family’s time settling in the West during the late 19th century. The drama focuses on James and Margaret Dutton, played by real-life couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. It is revealed in the show that James and Margaret Dutton have a large family, including children Elsa, John Jr., Spencer, and in-law Emma.
In 1883, Elsa Dutton (Isabel May) is a 17-year-old girl who narrates actions through her inner monologue. Naive and innocent at first, Elsa becomes a hardened frontierswoman with expert survival skills by the series’ end. John Jr. (Audie Rick) is a five-year-old boy in 1883, while Spencer Dutton has yet to be born. While 1883 primarily focuses on Elsa Dutton, most of John Jr. and Spencer Dutton’s storylines take place in the spin-off 1923, four decades after events depicted in 1883.
