IR TV Review: 1923 - EPISODE 1 [Paramount+]
The essence of the "Yellowstone" universe reflects in overcoming odds and battling personal demons which might lead to ruin. This story though has an open book in many ways that Taylor Sheridan can populate any way he wants to within the geography per se (in this case Montana). After "1883", recruiting some heavy hitters like Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren is an interesting approach. Ford as Jacob Dutton is well suited to the role but his personage, like most of his characters post Indiana Jones and Han Solo, looms large but the gruffness and rage that he can still summon at times adds a degree of authenticity, even though as an actor he does now seem like a man out of place. Helen Mirren fares better, seamlessly melding into the background as the matriarch. However, even in an early sleeping scene (which is when we are introduced to them the first time together), there is an ease that is undeniable) -- which many of today's newer actors sometimes don't have the nuance to fill.
Of course, as with the formula or cadence of Sheridan's odes, there has to be a journey, a goal and a conflict and the 1st episode does create those paths and the reasoning is sound, and the history specific. It does make sense moving the story from 1932 to 1923 since the former would no doubt have been interesting but also would have presented different problems of capitalism whereas this is just close enough after World War I and not as removed from the Old West to be prevalent. While family and the dynamics of what it entails in the central Dutton clan is important, two external timelines are interesting in their own right. One involves an internment camp per se which speaks to the native cleansing while another (and the most dynamic) occurs overseas in a key spot with a character that has odes to a certain other with tinges of Robert Redford as well. Separating stories with distances is a new approach and at times takes a viewer out of the main story but as long as they move towards a triggering and yet epic conclusion, the build is worth the ride. B+
By Tim Wassberg
