The final episode of season two of 1923 aired last night (April 6), and viewers were left moved by the emotional conclusion.
The show is a sequel series to 1883, with both serving as prequels to hit Western Yellowstone, telling the history of the Dutton Family through the ages. 1923’s final episode brings this era to a close, with the franchise’s creator Taylor Sheridan believed to be working on a follow-up, titled 1944.
Last night’s epic finale saw the Dutton family fight the villainous Whitfields over control of the Dutton ranch. There’s a race against time as a pregnant Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer), stranded in a car and facing hypothermia, is reunited with her love (and father of her baby) Spencer (Brandon Sklenar). Their happiness is short-lived, however, as their arrival in the town of Livingston is met with Whitfield’s gang, intending to kill Spencer and seize control of The Dutton’s land.
After a firefight at the Livingston train station and at the Dutton home, matriarch Cara (Helen Mirren) and husband Jacob (Harrison Ford) keep their land and family safe.
However, Alex does not meet the same end, as the rigours of her ordeal lead her to die
after giving birth. The baby is revealed to be John Dutton Jr, who would go on to be the father of Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone character, John Dutton III.
The tragic end of a beloved character, not to mention the show’s key love story, left many viewers bereft. “Life isn’t fair” said one person on X (formerly Twitter). “Not everything has a fairy tale happy ending. Finale was beautiful and tragic”. Another exclaimed: “Watching the 1923 finale and I’m gonna sue everyone involved in this series for giving me hope and then breaking my heart”.
The shooting star at the end got to me.
Life isn't fair. Not everything has a fairy tale happy ending. Finale was beautiful and tragic.
😭😭😭💔#1923TV pic.twitter.com/yAKXoJh0na
— iLEADFARMER (@iLEADFARMER) April 6, 2025
watching the 1923 finale and i'm gonna sue everyone involved in this series for giving me hope and then breaking my heart
— katie (@tayoncemclipa) April 6, 2025
The performance of Mirren, who got involved in the action in this episode as Cara took a sniper role defending her home, impressed many. “Helen Mirren sniping muthafuckers down on the #1923Finale has to be one of the greatest & hottest things I’ve ever seen her do on screen” said a user, with another adding: “Helen Mirren deserves all the things for what she did in this season”.
Helen Mirren sniping muthafuckers down on the #1923Finale has to be one of the greatest & hottest things I've ever seen her do on screen 😍🤠😆 pic.twitter.com/czOw09cZMh
— PINCHE TACO LOK0 💀💀 (@Nand076) April 6, 2025
Helen Mirren deserves all the things for what she did in this season #1923Finale pic.twitter.com/7NSVfdNHYg
— 👑✊🏾🐍⚖️ (@EdubEsq) April 6, 2025
Finally, the show’s closing moments, which show Alex and Spencer symbolically reunited, brought a tear to viewers’ eyes. “A beautiful way to end” said one user. “Spencer and Alex reunited forever”.
❤️ A beautiful way to end #1923TV.
Spencer and Alex reunited forever. #1923Finale pic.twitter.com/R85AERbk4M
— 𝒾𝓈𝓃𝓉𝒹𝒶𝓋𝑒𝑜𝓃𝑒 (@IsntDaveOne) April 6, 2025
"Took you long enough" #1923TV #1923Finale pic.twitter.com/kwlCye0KGD
— PABLO ATREIDES (@grandpablo) April 6, 2025
One fan took it even further, saying: “Probably the best single episode in television history, and I’ve watched a lot of TV”.
I just watched the season finale of ‘1923’…. It was better than the Houston/Duke game and it wasn’t close. Probably the best single episode in television history, and I’ve watched a lot of tv pic.twitter.com/5Y67kRttDI
— mitchell lee (@Mr_MitchellLee) April 6, 2025
In December, the main Yellowstone series came to its conclusion, with fans divided over the finale.