WHO IS SPENCER DUTTON’S SECRET SON IN 1923? The second season of Paramount+ drama 1923, a prequel to Yellowstone, closes with a twist that adds a new layer to the Dutton family legacy. Spencer Dutton (played by Brandon Sklenar) returns to Montana as a battle-hardened World War I veteran, determined to protect his family’s land from the powerful and corrupt Donald Whitfield (played by Timothy Dalton). Alongside him is his beloved wife Alex Dutton (played by Julia Schlaepfer), who later gives birth to their son—John.
Initially, the doctors doubt the newborn will survive beyond an hour, but John defies the odds and lives on, becoming a crucial part of the Dutton family tree. This child, John Dutton II, is the grandfather of John Dutton III, portrayed by Kevin Costner in Yellowstone. But the most shocking part of the finale? John isn’t Spencer’s only child.
As the final moments unfold, the show hints that Spencer had a second son with a woman who remains unnamed. After Alex’s death—shortly after childbirth—Spencer is left heartbroken. His love for Alex is so deep that he never remarries or commits to anyone else in the same way. However, grief and loneliness eventually lead him into the arms of a widow, also mourning the loss of her partner.
WHAT HAPPENED IN 1923 SEASON 2 FINALE? EXPLAINED
Though their relationship doesn’t evolve into marriage, it results in the birth of Spencer’s second child—another son whose name remains a mystery. This son is not raised on the Dutton Ranch and is absent from the wider Dutton narrative as seen in Yellowstone.
Spencer’s bond with the widow seems to be more about comfort than love. She, like Spencer, understands grief and perhaps that mutual sorrow brings them together, if only for a short time. Despite fathering another child, Spencer chooses to remain emotionally loyal to Alex—never giving the widow the title of his wife. This decision also shapes the fate of the child—he’s not legally recognized as part of the Dutton family and grows up away from the ranch, likely with his mother.
Will Elizabeth Dutton’s Baby Survive in ‘1923’? Could Her Child Connect to Yellowstone?
In the world of Yellowstone, we only see John Dutton II, portrayed briefly by Dabney Coleman, with no mention of a brother. That makes sense, considering the second son’s background. As an illegitimate child, he likely wouldn’t have been accepted as an heir or even lived close to his half-brother. It’s even possible he died before the events of the modern series.
Still, Spencer’s mysterious second son leaves a door open. Could he—or his descendants—appear in future Yellowstone spin-offs? With Taylor Sheridan’s universe continuing to expand, the unknown son could become a bridge to new stories or forgotten chapters of the Dutton legacy.
Keep an eye out for more twists and turns as the Yellowstone universe unfolds.
For more updates, previews, and recaps on 1923, stay connected with tvacute.com.
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