Yikes folks if you thought things were rough for the Duttons before buckle up because "1923" Season 2 Episode 4 "Journey the Rivers of Iron" kicks the drama into overdrive. We're talking gruesome surgeries train escapes and villains getting even more villainous. Let's break down all the wildness from this week's episode and see if the Duttons can catch a break anytime soon (spoiler alert: probably not).
Gruesome Brain Surgery and a Glimmer of Hope? Back at the Yellowstone Ranch
This episode jumps right into the thick of it with Zane the Yellowstone foreman facing a life-or-death situation. Remember that brutal beating he took? Well it turns out it's bad enough to require some seriously intense old-school surgery. Jacob and Jack are rigging up this device straight out of a horror movie to hold Zane's head still for a doctor to drill into his skull. Yeah it's as squeamish as it sounds and poor Jack nearly loses his lunch watching the whole thing.
But surprisingly the surgery is a success! Zane pulls through and is already itching for revenge which is just classic Dutton toughness. Jacob assures him justice will be served. Meanwhile Jack shares the good news with Lizzie but she is still packing her bags for Boston seemingly done with the ranch life.
In a surprising turn Jacob has a heart-to-heart with Lizzie empathizing with her and reminding her how much she means to Jack. Cara even brings in Lizzie's rabies shot but it’s extra painful. Turns out there's a reason for that Lizzie is pregnant! Finally some good news for the Duttons amidst all the doom and gloom.
Alex's Train Trouble and Spencer's Wild Ride: Duttons on Separate Disaster Courses
Remember Alex Dutton? Yeah she is still having a rough time. After getting robbed and beaten in New York City she manages to jump on a train headed west. But things are not exactly smooth sailing. She is broke sporting a black eye and ends up in a crowded bunk car a far cry from her usual first-class travel. Talk about a fall from grace.
Spencer's journey is no less chaotic. After his friend Luca bites the dust Spencer gets picked up by a sheriff in Fort Worth. Turns out this is not a friendly ride. The sheriff wants Spencer to finish that illegal booze delivery he ditched so they can catch the bootleggers. Spencer agrees reluctantly facing jail time if he doesn't.
Of course things go sideways. A shootout erupts Spencer gets handcuffed to the steering wheel but being Spencer Dutton he escapes jumps onto a moving train (sound familiar?) and even manages to rescue a tarred-and-feathered woman along the way. This guy cannot catch a break. Once on the train he faces down some squatters who want to tax him for space. Let's just say Spencer handles it in true Dutton fashion with a shotgun.
Whitfield's Evil Plan and Banner's Moral Dilemma: The Villains Plot Against the Duttons
Back to the bad guys Donald Whitfield is back and even more sinister than before. He is wining and dining investors pitching them his vision of turning Bozeman into a tourist hotspot for the wealthy elite. His plan? Build a ski resort pave a freeway and make Montana the next big thing.
But first he needs to get rid of Jacob Dutton and his pesky ranch. Whitfield tasks Banner Creighton with assembling an army of sheepherders and miners to take the Yellowstone by force. Banner seems a little uneasy about outright killing the Duttons especially since his previous grudge was more personal revenge. His wife however is all for it seeing it as a way to secure their family's future.
Whitfield tries to soothe Banner's conscience by claiming it's all "legal" because he is paying Dutton's taxes and plans to foreclose. He even shows Banner a map of an ungoverned area perfect for dumping bodies. The episode takes an even darker turn when one of Whitfield's captive women accidentally kills another and Whitfield suggests Banner uses the body for "practice" in body disposal. Seriously creepy stuff.
Teonna's Precarious Safety and Elsa's Ominous Voiceover: Trouble on the Horizon
Meanwhile Teonna Pete and Runs His Horse are finding some peace with a group of cowboys in Texas. However their safety is threatened when Teonna spots "wanted" posters with her face on them. America is still hunting her down. Even in beautiful Texas trouble is looming.
The episode ends with a voiceover from Elsa Dutton (from beyond the grave or time?) talking about the fleeting hope of spring and how winter always returns. It's an ominous reminder that even with small victories and glimmers of hope for the Duttons more hardship is likely on the way. Will Spencer make it home? Will Teonna find real freedom? Will the Duttons survive Whitfield's schemes? We will have to wait and see.
Key Moments from 1923 Season 2 Episode 4 "Journey the Rivers of Iron":
- Gruesome but successful brain surgery on Zane Davis.
- Lizzie Dutton reveals she is pregnant much to Jack's delight.
- Alex Dutton faces danger and robbery in New York but makes it onto a train west.
- Spencer Dutton escapes police custody and hops a train after a shootout.
- Whitfield reveals his tourist resort plan and orders Banner to eliminate the Duttons.
- Banner grapples with his conscience but ultimately agrees to Whitfield's plan.
- Teonna's "wanted" posters appear threatening her newfound safety.