When Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone series premiered back in 2018,

it was highly regarded for bringing a specific kind of

contemporary Western to television. Little did audiences know that

it would also be the start of a “Taylor Sheridan Universe” of shows on Paramount+. While each Sheridan series is great in its own way, the greatest of them are

Yellowstone and its spin-offs. For a writer who thrives in the Western genre, telling stories in the conventional Western design was always going to be a must for Taylor Sheridan. He took it a step further

With the ability to finally play in a quintessential Western arena, it made sense to connect each spin-off’s storyline to his already mega-popular Western family, The Duttons. The first spin-off/prequel, 1883, was released in 2021 and followed the first generation of Duttons as they made the move westward. Sheridan had planned to continue this series but was told by executives that it would not last beyond one season. They changed their tune well after Sheridan had already killed all the characters. His reaction to this was the 1922 sequel/prequel/spin-off 1923, which followed the next generation of Duttons in prohibition-era Montana. Each series is great for different reasons, but all have undeniable connections to one another that only die-hard fans recall.

10.The Duality of a Dutton Is a Consistent Theme

Appears In: Yellowstone, 1883, 1923

In all three Yellowstone shows there is a consistent theme of the Duttons that defines them. For the sake of having more control over their situations, the Duttons, in many cases, are equal parts elected officials for the law and unpredictable criminals lawlessly doing whatever is necessary to protect what’s theirs. Playing both sides of the law has allowed the Dutton Ranch to withstand threats on both sides of that line more effectively. Working on both sides has also meant multiple moments of characters wrestling with their own morality, as their intentions are always good, but circumstances often force tough decisions.

Although 1883 is a different kind of story altogether, protagonist James Dutton, played by Tim McGraw, utilizes the title and badge of a lawman from time to time in order to aid his allies and gain support for his goal of traveling westward. Furthermore, ten years later, after establishing a ranching presence in Montana, James officially became a deputized ranger. In 1923, James’ brother Jacob Dutton, played by Harrison Ford, was the first livestock commissioner in the history of the Dutton family and utilized the title to his advantage. In Yellowstone, John Dutton was livestock commissioner and later Governor of Montana, while his sons Kayce and Jamie had titles such as livestock commissioner and attorney general. As for their criminal activities, the constant bloodshed in each series speaks for itself.

The Yellowstone Dutton Ranch is the central location and main point of emphasis for the plot and the characters in Yellowstone and its spin-offs. While the land itself is desirable to outsiders for multiple reasons, its importance to the Dutton Family is a lot more personal: it’s how they make a living. Whether it’s basic farming or livestock ranching, the Duttons have built an entire empire on the backbone of their most important contribution to the state of Montana. As one of many ranching families, The Duttons often engage in various activities surrounding their trade in all three Yellowstone series.