1923 Season 2 has solved a long-standing Yellowstone mystery (& it’s connected to John Dutton)

While many might not have seen the tragic death in 1923 Season 2's penultimate episode coming, it might have solved a significant mystery relating to Kevin Costner's John Dutton III in Yellowstone.

Taylor Sheridan is continuing to build on the Yellowstone lore and the Dutton family tree through its prequel spin-off series, 1883 and 1923. While both the spin-offs have filled major gaps in the Dutton history, the question about John Dutton III's grandfather was still a mystery.

From a flashback in Yellowstone Season 2, we know Costner's John's father is John Dutton II, but the question about his ancestry loomed large in the franchise.

Given the circumstances and the year, fans have long speculated that either Spencer or Jack would be John Dutton III's grandfather. But after Jack Dutton's tragic death in 1923 Season 2, he would likely not be the grandfather Costner's John has heard stories about, since he died so young.

While the mystery behind John Dutton III's biological grandfather still remains, it is likely that Spencer is his grandfather, whom he has heard stories about.

More on John Dutton III's grandfather in our story.

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Jack Dutton's death in 1923 Season 2 partly solved a Yellowstone mystery

Who is John Dutton III's grandfather? This is one long-standing mystery among the Yellowstone fans that has plagued them since the parent show and its many spin-offs' inception.

While Jack Dutton's death in 1923 Season 2 should have completely ruled out the possibility of him being John Dutton III's grandfather, he still remains a contender because his wife, Elizabeth, was again expecting a child in the latest episode. And while Jack died in the latest episode, he still fathered a child, who could very well be John Dutton II.

Yellowstone Season 2 showed a flashback of John Dutton II, in which the current patriarch reminisced about his father. While the flashback did not explicitly lay out the year and his age, it was implied that Jack Dutton II was born around 1924. This means either Alexandra or Elizabeth will give birth to John Dutton II, making him John Dutton III's father.

This would still not have solved the mystery of John Dutton III's grandfather had he not shared a key anecdote about his grandfather in Yellowstone Season 4. According to a conversation between John Dutton III and Jimmy Hurdstrom, the Dutton patriarch revealed that his grandfather lost a leg and felt the worst pain in his toes.

Since Jack Dutton died in 1923 Season 2 and had both legs during his death, it eliminates him as the grandfather Dutton referred to in Yellowstone, likely making Spencer his grandfather.

However, since adoptive families are a tradition in Sheridan's universe, with Jacob and Cara taking in Spencer and John Dutton Sr., it is likely that Elizabeth will still be a part of the Dutton family, even after her husband's death.

If that is the case, Spencer will likely take care of Jack Dutton's child as his own, which would make him the grandfather John Dutton III referred to in Season 4.

While either Elizabeth or Alexandra's son could become John Dutton II in the future, Spencer is likely John Dutton III's grandfather, at least the one he had heard stories about, since Jack died at such a young age.

If this were true and Spencer is actually the grandfather John Dutton III is talking about in Yellowstone Season 4, he might lose a leg in the final showdown between the Duttons and Donald Whitfield in the 1923 Season 2 finale, which would prove this theory 100%.

Also Read: 5 Kevin Costner TV shows and movies that are a must watch as the actor turns 70

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