1883 Prepared Michelle Randolph For Elizabeth's Devastating 1923 Finale Scene
If you thought the Season 1 finale of "1923" would provide a sense of calm or closure, you must not be familiar with Taylor Sheridan's suite of television shows. The ending of Season 1 was a turbulent affair for the Dutton clan and Dutton-adjacent characters. War is ratcheting up between Jacob Dutton (Harrison Ford) and his adversaries; Teonna Rainwater (Aminah Nieves) is still on the lam; and Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) and Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer) are giving major Titanic vibes in the wake of their separation at sea. Perhaps the most tragic plotline belongs to Elizabeth Dutton (Michelle Randolph), who suffers a miscarriage in the finale.
Michelle Randolph may not have known exactly what was in store for her character, but she prepared by watching Sheridan's other "Yellowstone" prequel series, "1883." Starring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill as John Dutton's (Kevin Costner) ancestors, "1883" tracks the family's harrowing journey from Texas to their eventual home in Montana. Along the way, they encounter venomous creatures, sinister adversaries, and the cruelties of nature.
"I know Taylor's writing because I watched 1883," the actress told Deadline. "I had only read the first three episodes when I booked the job, so I didn't know what was going to happen exactly. But I had a few ideas."
1883 proved that Taylor Sheridan's scripts can be both hopeful and heartbreaking
Fans of "1883" know that when it comes to the fate of the Dutton family, Taylor Sheridan can be ruthless. The single-season finale came to a devastating finish when Elsa (Isabel May) succumbed to her wounds, shocking even Paramount executives.
Michelle Randolph, then, was familiar with Sheridan's capacity for writing somber scripts. That being said, "1883" also revealed Sheridan's tenderheartedness as a screenwriter, particularly when it comes to the family's resilience. For Randolph, that skillset translated to "1923."
"I have not been disappointed in all of the growth that Elizabeth has gone through, the hardship," Randolph said. She also spoke about the miscarriage's effect on Elizabeth and Jack, and what it might mean for their future as a couple. "I think it really deepens the love story between Elizabeth and Jack," she said. "It's made them stronger as a couple."
In the episode, Elizabeth miscarries while taking a bath, and a doctor stops the bleeding and saves her life. "It's a very intimate scene and I wanted to be really careful with it because it's something that a lot of women have experienced," said Randolph. Still, tragedy begets hope, and in the bleak aftermath, Elizabeth and Jack have a moving conversation about fate and destiny. The pair wonders if they'll be able to have children, raising even more questions about the Dutton family tree to be answered in "1923" Season 2.