1883 has come to an end on Paramount+ and so has the pioneers' journey along the Oregon trail.
Episode 10, "This Is Not Your Heaven," surely has viewers reaching for the tissues as our characters parted ways for the final time. As we knew from the events of Episode 9, Elsa (Isabel May) is likely to die, but the Duttons do find brief hope for her survival during the finale.
While 1883 has always been a Dutton family origin story, Taylor Sheridan's prequel series really connected the dots in the final episode, showing how Montana came to be home for the family in Yellowstone.
Episode 10 was a marginally longer episode than the previous nine, so here's the Season 1 finale recap for 1883.
Saying Goodbye to 1883
The mood is somber amongst the pioneers as the finale of 1883 begins. Elsa is still proudly riding up front but, as we know from the conversation between James (Tim McGraw) and Margaret (Faith Hill) in Episode 9, her days are numbered.
They approach a nearby fort where an ex-soldier surgeon informs them that he can't perform the operation required and they should seek a bigger nearby fort. It's a blow for the travelers as they also desperately need medical assistance for Josef (Marc Rissmann), whose snake bite is getting worse, and his wife Risa (Anna Fiamora) who suffered a serious neck injury after falling off of a horse.
James and Shea (Sam Elliott) discuss their next move. Unfortunately they can't stay in the fort as it's owned by the "deputies" that they killed in Episode 9. Instead they agree to head north before then moving on to Oregon in the spring.
James pulls Margaret for a tough conversation and once again tells her that Elsa's days are numbered as she suffers from the arrow wound. James tells her that they'll head to Montana, and wherever Elsa dies, that's where they'll stay. Margaret assures him that she'll visit their daughter every day until she dies too.
Shea announces the new plan to the remaining group, but many of them aren't on board and stay at the fort, telling them they'll follow their tracks. Josef, despite his severe injury, wants to push on with them. As the wagon containing a passed out Elsa travels into the distance, cowboys Wade (James Landry) and Colt (Noah le Gros) follow on behind to say their goodbyes after she wakes. Their affection for each other is clear and despite being close to death's door, Elsa waves them off with a witty remark that has them grinning before riding off.
During a stop on the trail, James and Shea bond by the fire and Shea tells the story of how his wife saved his life during the war by tricking him into thinking she'd left him, but in reality she was just dragging him away from a forthcoming battle.
Thomas (LaMonica Garrett) takes a look at Josef's worsening leg. It's swollen, discolored and full of marks that shouldn't be there—it's pretty obvious the leg will have to go, and Josef agrees.
The key players in the camp prepare to perform the makeshift surgery on him by getting him blind drunk and sterilizing their equipment. Everyone holds him down and, impressively, Thomas manages to saw the leg off in two sharp hacks.
Elsa, who it turns out has been asleep for three days of travel, comes out of the wagon looking slightly perkier after the deed is done. Seeing Josef and his now severed leg, she quips: "Sure glad I didn't get shot in the leg."
While our named characters push north, we see that the immigrants from the group who had stayed behind are shot, raped and killed by bandits. As Elsa puts it in her voiceover, tragedy is contagious, and unfortunately there is still more to come within Episode 10.
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As they travel on, the terrain starts to get noticeably different. Barren plains have been replaced with grassy lands and forests. As Elsa and the remaining wagon see a trio of Native Americans riding slowly in their direction, Elsa understandably starts to gallop away but she collapses and falls off her horse.
Shea approaches the Native Americans, now standing above Elsa. Spotted Eagle, a kind older man played by Oscar-nominee Graham Greene, informs him they have a doctor who could help her. They dip a shaking Elsa into a cold stream before taking her into a sweat lodge. For a while there is hope, but the elder informs James that the Lakota people's arrows are dipped in manure and designed to be fatal.
Elsa realizes for the first time that she is going to die and breaks down. Through heartfelt sobs, she makes her father promise that she can choose where she's buried. He solemnly agrees.
By the campfire again, Thomas and Noemi discuss what life will be like together when they finally reach their destination. Meanwhile, Josef awakes, still reeling from his leg amputation, to find his wife dead next to him. It's unclear what the cause of death is, but it stemmed from the neck injury she sustained at the same moment Josef was bitten by a snake.
Shea and James once again have a heart to heart which proves revealing for viewers. At 75-years-old, Shea tells James that in the six months he's known Elsa, he can tell she has lived, smiled and loved more in her short time than he has.
James then realizes that in order to get Elsa to Montana in time, so that she can choose her final resting place, he must take her ahead of Margaret, who will stay behind with John and the wagon. James and Elsa share a horse and she shares tear-jerking goodbyes with her mother, and then with Shea, who she says she'll meet on the beach one day.
Once James and Elsa have traveled for a few days, they come upon a plot of land which seems to be the exact location of the modern day Yellowstone Ranch. They move on some more and Elsa announces that this is the spot.
She chooses a nearby tree, and father and daughter sit against it for hours. As they rest they talk until they both fall asleep.
Eventually, James hears Elsa talking, and she softly says, "I'm not scared. I'm not scared dad," and in that moment, she dies in the arms of her father on the Yellowstone Ranch in Montana.
One Year Later
We don't see the future of the Duttons, but we do see how the other surviving members of the pioneers are getting on.
Josef, learning to live life with just one leg, seems to have found himself a plot of land and he sets about building something for himself. Thomas, Noemi and her children have done the same, finding a spot in a field not far from a stream, just like he'd promised.
It also seems as if Shea has made it to the beach in Oregon, just as he'd mentioned to Elsa he wanted to do in Episode 6. As we know, he believes his wife can experience the ocean too through his eyes and he says: "Just look at that Helen."
The camera moves away and from a distance we see Shea shoot himself just as he'd threatened to do from the first episode of 1883.
We don't see what happens to the Duttons. As we know through flashback scenes in Yellowstone they settle in Montana and have another child. We may see more of James, Margaret, John Sr. and their new child Spencer Dutton in a future season of 1883 which has been confirmed by Paramount.
The final shot of the series sees Elsa riding off across the open plains with her Comanche husband Sam (Martin Sensmeier). Her voiceover concludes: "I know death now. I've seen it. It had no fangs, it smiled at me. And it was beautiful."
All ten episodes of 1883 are available to watch on Paramount+ now.
FAQs
What happened to the characters at the end of 1883? ›
Meanwhile, James and Margaret agreed to settle the land wherever Elsa dies. An Indigenous man then pointed James to Paradise Valley, where she and Elsa rode for Elsa to pick her own grave. By 1883 season 1's ending, 1883's Elsa Dutton, the show's protagonist and narrator, finally succumbed to the infection and died.
What does the last scene of 1883 mean? ›The Yellowstone spinoff series 1883 ended in a mix of tragic death and hopeful optimism for the show's settlers. 1883's ending - explained from a historic point of view - painted a stark picture of how those who were part of the Westward Expansion survived, loved, and died along the Oregon Trail.
Who is Elsa Dutton to John Dutton? ›Elsa Dutton - John's great aunt
Elsa is the sister of John Dutton Senior, but her relationship with Costner's character is more complicated. As John Dutton Junior came into the mix, Elsa is Costner's character's great aunt.
Sam. A Comanche warrior who the Duttons met along the wagon trail in 1883, Sam professed to have taken his name from the man who killed his wife. He later began a romance with Elsa Dutton, and the two married without official ceremony.
Are they killing Elsa in 1883? ›Warning: the following contains Spoilers for 1883.1883's season 1 finale killed off its most important character, and while the death is tragic, it was necessary in order to move the story of the Duttons in a worthwhile direction.
Does Elsa ever see Sam again? ›With one final piece of narration, Elsa explains that she is now in Heaven and we see her reunite with her Comanche husband, Sam, after the pair got married in episode 8. The pair are overjoyed to see one another and they gallop off into the sunset across the picturesque Great Plains.
Is Elsa buried on the Dutton Ranch? ›Is Elsa buried on the Dutton ranch? Resting in-between her mother and father is Elsa Dutton, the first of the family to be buried on this land, and the founder of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch dream.
Is Elsa Dutton mentioned in Yellowstone? ›'Yellowstone' Reveals Gravestones of James, Margaret, and Elsa Dutton, Solidifying Their Fates. Fascinatingly, this sequence also reveals the gravestones of 1883's James, Margaret, and Elsa Dutton to us as Summer discovers them. Each is spattered with blood, signaling the violent, tragic legacy of this family.
What happens to Elsa Dutton? ›What does Elsa Dutton die from? Elsa passes away in episode 10 “This Is Not Your Heaven” after succumbing to injuries from being shot by an arrow in episode nine “Racing Clouds.” She died after developing an infection from the tainted arrow that went through her liver.
Which Dutton is in Africa? ›Spencer Dutton
Spencer was apparently born sometime after James and Margaret settled in Montana and was not featured as a baby back in 1883. At some point, he left to fight in World War I before finding himself in Africa.
Is James Dutton John's grandfather? ›
James Dutton is John Dutton's great-great-grandfather. In the series 1883, James and Margaret Dutton have two children, John, also known as John Sr., and Elsa. John Sr., who is just a young boy in 1883, is John Dutton's great grandfather.
Did Elsa Dutton marry Sam? ›Who was Elsa Dutton married to? Sam. A Comanche warrior who the Duttons met along the wagon trail in 1883, Sam professed to have taken his name from the man who killed his wife. He later began a romance with Elsa Dutton, and the two married without official ceremony.
Did Elsa have a baby in 1883? ›Who does Elsa end up with in 1883? and their new child Spencer Dutton in a future season of 1883 which has been confirmed by Paramount. The final shot of the series sees Elsa riding off across the open plains with her Comanche husband Sam (Martin Sensmeier).
Who is the father of Elsa Dutton's baby? ›Who does Elsa fall in love with on 1883? As the group travelled James' eldest daughter Elsa Dutton (Isabel May) fell in love with a cowboy, Ennis (Eric Nelsen). In episode five, the two made it official, consummated their relationship and planned their future with the promise to dedicate their lives to one another.
Who is Elsa Dutton's father? ›Elsa Dutton
Elsa (Isabel May) was the oldest child of James and Margaret Dutton, and also the voice of 1883's narrator.
What does Elsa say before she dies 1883? When she finally starts to go, she has a few final words for her father after seeing a bird. “You birds sure are smart,” Elsa says to the bird. Then, as James awakes from a nap, she says, “I understand it now.”
Does Elsa stay with the Indian? ›Does Elsa stay with the Indian in 1883? This symbolic act sees the Indians rally together and ride. Off the back of this, Elsa decides to stay with the Indians now.
Is there a season 2 of 1883 coming out? ›1883 Season two is going to be released as a mini TV series. The First season was already released and got the love of the audience. The audience is eagerly waiting for the 1883 Season 2 Release Date.
Does Elsa find Anna once upon a time? ›Belle's been hiding something. Anna, back in Arendelle from her past sojourn to Misthaven/the Enchanted Forest, reunites with Elsa, who now has more control over her powers. She also meets the Snow Queen, her aunt Ingrid.
Why did Elsa leave Sam 1883? ›Elsa was also planning to split from the group to stay with Sam, but after many goodbyes, everyone decided they were going to Oregon anyway. Even Elsa decided to leave her boyfriend so she could find out where Oregon was, while planning to return to the plains in June to reunite with him.
What happens to Sam the Comanche in 1883? ›
At long last in episode 10, her fate was confirmed as the injury proved too much for frontier medicine and she tragically died in her father's arms.
What was the Elsa Dutton error? ›Although the episode makes reference to Elsa's striking blonde hair, the costume department apparently didn't pay enough attention when covering up Isabel's modern extensions. Other fans noticed the error, and accused the series of not staying accurate to the show's 1883 setting.
Who are the 7 generations of Duttons? ›John Dutton III (born sometime in the 1950s) of Yellowstone would be Generation Five, which means Kayce, Jamie (adopted), the late Lee Dutton, and Beth Dutton would all be Generation Six, and young Tate would be Generation 7. And that's exactly what Tim McGraw himself has confirmed.
How is Spencer Dutton related? ›Spencer is the son of James and Margaret Dutton, who you might remember from the prequel series, 1883, and he's the nephew of Jacob Dutton (played by Harrison Ford).
Is Spencer Dutton Elsa's brother? ›Spencer Dutton
Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) is John and Elsa's brother in 1923, and the character who is currently hunting lions abroad. Spencer was apparently born sometime after James and Margaret settled in Montana and was not featured as a baby back in 1883.
A yet-unannounced 1923 character may have been revealed in Yellowstone season 5, which shows that a woman named Patience Dutton - born in 1931 - is buried in the Dutton Ranch graveyard.
Who is Elsa Dutton in love with? ›As the group travelled James' eldest daughter Elsa Dutton (Isabel May) fell in love with a cowboy, Ennis (Eric Nelsen). In episode five, the two made it official, consummated their relationship and planned their future with the promise to dedicate their lives to one another.
Where does Elsa Dutton get buried? ›Where did the Duttons bury Elsa? In the 1883 season 1 finale, the caravan's long journey finally ends. Elsa Dutton surrenders to death and picks the spot in Paradise Valley where he wants James to bury her.
Is Dutton Irish or Scottish? ›The surname Dutton is primarily of English origin, a place-name referring to denizens of one of two villages, one in Cheshire and one in Lancashire. Another line of Duttons in the United States descends from a German family whose name was originally spelled DERTING or DARTING.
How many kids did James Dutton have? ›Margaret Dutton
She and James had three children in total: Elsa, John, and Spencer.
How many children did James and Margaret Dutton have? ›
James Dutton
He's married to Margaret, and they have three children: Elsa, Spencer, and John Dutton Sr. The character is also seen during flashback scenes in season 4 of Yellowstone. James has two siblings: Claire, who shares the screen in 1883, and Jacob, who makes his appearance in 1923.
Rip Wheeler is an employee at Yellowstone. He is the "fixer" and sometimes the bruiser for the Dutton Family. He is also the husband of Bethany Dutton and John's son-in-law.
Did James Dutton have a sister? ›Claire Dutton was the sister of James Dutton. Claire and her daughter, Mary Abel, joined her brother, James, and the rest of his family in Fort Worth, Texas, after her husband, Henry, passed away.
Did James Dutton have 2 sons? ›The caravan was heading toward Oregon, but the Dutton family had to settle in Montana after the death of their daughter, Elsa (Isabel May). Elsa was the main narrator of 1883 and appeared via voiceover in the first episode of 1923 as well. James and Margaret also had two sons: John and Spencer.
What happened to the Duttons at the end of 1883? ›By 1883 season 1's ending, Elsa finally succumbs to the infection and dies. Elsa's last wish was for her to pick where she'll be buried, and James and Margaret decide to settle whichever land Elsa chooses – the birth of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch.
What happened to Shea at the end of 1883? ›1883 ended its first season in brutal fashion. The Yellowstone prequel starring Faith Hill and Tim McGraw wrapped its 10-episode season by killing off both their onscreen daughter, Elsa Dutton (Isabel May), and Pinkerton agent Shea Brennan (Sam Elliott).
What happens to Sam at the end of 1883? ›At long last in episode 10, her fate was confirmed as the injury proved too much for frontier medicine and she tragically died in her father's arms.