Surprising Link Between Yellowstone’s 1923 and The Madison Spinoff Revealed!

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Warning: SPOILERS for 1923 Season 2’s Finale – “A Dream and a Memory”

It’s still uncertain how Taylor Sheridan’s upcoming Yellowstone spin-off, The Madison, will tie into the Dutton family, but the second season of 1923 might have provided some clues. In the final installment of the 1920s Dutton tale, Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) eventually returned to the Yellowstone Ranch. Although Spencer was a significant character in 1923, his storyline remained distinct from his family’s. He didn’t arrive at the ranch until the end of 1923‘s second season, taking charge of its management following his victory against Banner Creighton (Jerome Flynn) and Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton). However, Spencer’s success was overshadowed by a heavy dose of sorrow.

In the final episode of season 2, which took place in 1923, Spencer’s wife, Alexandra of Sussex (played by Julia Schlaepfer), tragically passed away due to complications from hypothermia following a prolonged exposure to cold weather. Despite managing to survive this ordeal, Alex Dutton (the character played by her) later succumbed at the Bozeman hospital after giving birth to John Dutton, choosing not to undergo the life-saving procedure. Consequently, only Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara (Helen Mirren) remained as surviving Dutton couples from the events of 1923, since Jack Dutton’s (Darren Mann) character met his end in the penultimate episode, leaving Elizabeth Strafford (Michelle Randolph) a widow. However, it’s worth noting that Elizabeth’s storyline remains undecided in the finale of 1923, hinting at potential future appearances of her and her kin in another Yellowstone series spin-off.

Yellowstone Fans Believe Elizabeth Strafford’s Descendants Will Be In The Madison After 1923’s Finale

The Madison Will Tell The Clyburn Family’s Story

In season 2 of Yellowstone, which aired in 1923, Elizabeth Strafford departed the ranch. Some viewers speculate that her kin will appear in The Madison. This contemporary narrative will focus on the Clyburn family, who relocate from New York City to Montana following their patriarch’s demise. Leading the Clyburn family is Michelle Pfeiffer as Stacy Clyburn, portrayed as the affluent matriarch. In addition, the Clyburn family consists of Stacy’s daughters, Paige McIntosh (Elle Chapman) and Abigail Reese (Beau Garrett). According to Deadline, one is characterized as self-centered, while the other is depicted as resilient.

No matter their differences, portrayals of The Madison’s residents and Stacy’s family suggest that the Clyburns are quintessential New Yorkers. This notion has led many Yellowstone fans to speculate that the Clyburns could be descendants of Elizabeth Strafford, possibly originating from the city she moved to following the end of season 2 in the year 1923. However, it’s yet unclear if Elizabeth did indeed move to New York after 1923. Yet, during the Prohibition Era, Elizabeth’s aspirations and drives were predominantly urban-oriented, leaning towards East Coast lifestyle and culture. She expressed a desire to be on the East Coast during the winter of 1924, although her preference was for Boston.

How The Madison’s Story Could Connect To 1923

The Clyburns Are From New York City

It appears that the Clyburns’ decision to relocate to Montana might stem from the passing of their matriarch, Stacy’s husband. It’s possible that they are drawn to this location because it is where their forebears originated. If so, the Duttons could be their ancestors, either Stacy or her spouse. In that case, her move could serve as a way to feel more connected to her late husband during her grieving process. Alternatively, if Stacy has ties to the Dutton family tree, her move might be an attempt to reconnect with her roots. However, it’s also possible that their move has no connection to the Duttons at all.

In simpler terms, if Stacy’s family is linked to Jack and Elizabeth, “The Madison’s” story could shed light on what happened to Elizabeth Strafford after the end of 1923, revealing how her tale branched off. It’s possible that, as Cara suggested, Elizabeth fell in love with another man following Season 2 of 1923, and moved to New York with him. When she got married officially, unlike Jack and Elizabeth’s unofficial ceremony, Elizabeth would have taken her new husband’s surname, explaining why the Clyburns bear a different last name than the Duttons, despite their supposed connection. However, Elizabeth’s child with Jack would still tie the family to Montana.

Why It Makes More Sense For Elizabeth’s Descendants To Be In Yellowstone’s 1944 Spinoff

Elizabeth’s Unresolved Story Will Come Back Sooner Than Later

It’s intriguing to consider that descendants from The Madison might link to Yellowstone, but it seems more plausible for either Elizabeth Dutton or her offspring to appear in the upcoming prequel, 1944, Taylor Sheridan’s follow-up to 1923. Following the conclusion of 1923 season 2, we’re left wondering about Elizabeth’s fate and whether she’s still pregnant. Given that 1944, which unfolds 20 years after the events in 1923, provides an ideal setting to further explore Elizabeth’s story and her child’s life, it makes sense for the characters and plot of 1944 to be more closely tied to those in 1923.

It’s worth noting that following the season 2 finale of Yellowstone in 1923, we learned that Alex and Spencer’s child was named John Dutton. This discovery by Taylor Sheridan broke the Dutton family tree established in Yellowstone. If we follow this thread, John Dutton II (father of John Dutton III from Yellowstone) could be Spencer and Alex’s child since they named their son John. However, this seems to skip a generation. Instead, it could be that Elizabeth’s baby is the actual connection to Kevin Costner’s character in Yellowstone. Such a twist would add an interesting layer to the Dutton family tree, and 1944 could be a fitting time for this revelation, either confirming or further shrouding the family’s history with mystery.

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2025-05-01 16:59