Warning ! SPOILERS For 1923 time of year 2 , Episode 1 , " The Killing Season "

Watching the1923season 2 premiere might have someYellowstonefans wonder why Elsa Dutton ( Isabel May ) narrates the prequels but not Kevin Costner ’s series . A simple-minded response exists . The youthful female storyteller with a chummy southerly accent hail from the stamp of1883,which acquaint the earliest phallus of theDutton family tree . Elsa get together her parents , James ( Tim McGraw ) and Margaret Dutton ( Faith Hill ) , as they travel northwest from Texas to Montana on a strain of the Oregon Trail .

Despite her indomitable flavor , Elsa Dutton died at the ending of1883,setting up her family ’s next try as the keeper of the largest ranch in Montana Elsa ’s portion in1883inspired the family to settle in Montana so they could live where she died . The Dutton family ’s journeying clean up in1923on the land where she was laid to rest . Elsa ’s recurring narration have her immortal in theYellowstonefranchisedespite her fate . Still , there ’s a cause Elsa does n’t recur throughoutYellowstoneas in Taylor Sheridan ’s prequels .

A custom image of Beth and the Yellowstone Ranch in Yellowstone

Why Elsa Dutton Only Narrates Yellowstone’s Prequels 1883 & 1923

Isabel May Plays Elsa Dutton In 1883

Elsa Dutton does n’t narrate the originalYellowstoneseries mainly for logistical reasons.1883debuted on Paramount+between 2021 and 2022 , age after the flagship began in 2018 , so , for starters , the independent series predates Elsa ’s polar narration . Isabel May was cast as Elsa Dutton age after Sheridan create his flagshipYellowstoneseries , which bank on modern characters like Kevin Costner ’s John Dutton and Kelly Reilly as Beth to tell the story instead .

Beth connects to one of the best characters in the Yellowstone franchise , which rise that Kelly Reilly ’s Dutton is her spiritual heir .

1923 , the good continuation of1883,includes Elsa ’s narration despite the quality ’s death . It take in horse sense that Elsa yield , explaining what happened to her female parent and beginner . Elsa ’s tale in1923is constituent despite her deathsince she continues the story she begin . While it gain sense thatYellowstonecouldn’t include Elsa before the character existed , it ’s still deserving considering why the flagship did n’t let in her tale more inlaterYellowstoneseasons .

Landman-Season-2-Release-Window-Revealed,-With-Two-Other-Taylor-Sheridan-Shows-Also-Returning-In-2025

Elsa’s Spirit Has Been Forgotten By Yellowstone’s Modern Dutton Family

Yellowstone Exists Over A Century After 1883

Considering thatthe modern Dutton family has forgotten Elsa ’s spirit , it did n’t make sensation to includeElsa Dutton ’s narration inYellowstoneuntil the season 5 stopping point . InYellowstone ’s series ending , Elsa Dutton ’s narration narrate the story of the promise that her founding father made . Elsa ’s yarn talks about how her family has been forget by its modern character , which get sense since more than 100 years separate them .

Elsa describes the fierce wheel of wintertime as " the kill season , " which give the episode its championship .

Elsa ’s absence inYellowstonemakes her paying back in1923season 2 even better . Elsa has propinquity to the1923characters since her brother , Spencer Dutton ( Brandon Sklenar ) , is fundamental to the story . Elsa ’s narration caps1923season 2 ’s premiere after a wad Leo the Lion appears on the Dutton family ’s porch in1923season 2 , episode 1 . Elsa describes the fierce cycle per second of wintertime as"the killing season,“which feed the episode its championship . Unfortunately , Elsa knows the nature of life and demise better than most .

Walton Goggins smirking as Cooper Howard in Fallout season 1

Summary

Yellowstone is a neo - westerly drama serial produce by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson , centered on the Dutton family and their fight to protect the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch from various adversary , including earth developers and nearby reservations . Premiering in 2018 on Paramount web , the show has been praise for its word picture of big businessman conflict , family loyalty , and rural conflict . It has expand into a franchise with spin - offs such as 1883 and 1923 , and an coming continuation serial is in development .

Elsa Dutton and John walking with a funeral procession after Lee Duton’s funeral

Custom Image by Ana Nieves

Beth smokes in Yellowstone

Yellowstone (2018) TV Show Poster

Yellowstone

1883

1923