Grading 1883: Praise, Criticism and Reaction To the Yellowstone Origin Story 

I actually love 1883 way more than Yellowstone and I love Yellowstone. Tim McGraw was amazing! Like really! The emotional weight of his role!! Sam Elliot, Faith Hill, Lamonica Garret and of course Isabel May, she’s a star! Can’t wait to see more from her. Freaking Stellar cast for a great story.

1883 was a great stand alone series that told its own story. However, it was the prequel to Yellowstone, explaining how where the Cuttings came from and how they ended up in Montana. It also set the premise for the Dutton's and the native Americans. I give it an A.

I loved it. I'd give them a A+ for storyline and acting. I thought Elsa's narrative made the show. And yes I live in TN and people do talk like that even now. It's a slow way of life and in this day and time we need that. 👍

The series started off amazingly, some good strong characters and interesting storyline. It was brutal at times but that gave it an authentic feel. Unfortunately, the show later devolved into a western about a super powered teenage girl who is the best at everything, cow rustling, philosophy, fighting, shooting and even extreme endurance. Not to mention everyone wants to marry her. Friends and foe alike never fail to remind the viewer she is the best at everything, literally. The show had so much potential but doesnt come close to Yellowstone.

This is a no brainer for me. A+ for writing, acting and cinematography.. Taylor Sheridan is THE master storyteller of our time. Just brilliant. The scene where Shae consoles Elsa after Ennis dies is quite simply one of the most extraordinarily written and acted scenes in the history of television or cinema. I didn’t think it was possible for Taylor Sheridan to create a series that was as compelling as Yellowstone. I was wrong.

A, straight across. Minimal weaknesses, probably should have been eleven or twelve episodes as some things seemed hurried in the end. Emotionally to me it was phenomenal.

A+ from me!! Loved Elsa!

I find it shocking no one has done an analysis of Beth and Elsa as Dutton daughters.

Great show. So much better than Yellowstone is, at least for me

My only complaint about the show was Elsa was getting annoying every time she feel for another guy. The show could have really done without it. Or least have left her faithful to the first cowboy she feel In love with. That second “marriage” she went into was over kill and not necessary.

I may be the opposite of most people here in that I started watching 1883 with no idea it was an origin story for anything. I just loved it as a historical look at the journey west and true depictions of what those people would have encountered. I'd never watched Yellowstone and only seen very minimal advertising for it. So when I found out I was watching the Yellowstone origin story I was excited and went to watch some Yellowstone with the expectation of 1883. I'm Australian and I love Mcleod's Daughters, so I think I was expecting something similar but an American version and not so focused on women. Wow was I wrong! I was expecting the same kind of integrity and family loyalty the 1883 Duttons show and a deep value of the journey their ancestors took to get there. So you can imagine my shock seeing the Duttons and Rip killing people just because they got in the way, being so nasty to each other and basically antiheros. Maybe if I'd come in to it knowing what I was getting in to I would have warmed to it more, but I just couldn't get in to it! In 1883 the violence and killing is in context... it was such a kill or be killed time, and our main characters have integrity about the violence and killing and we can really appreciate their position. They also express having feelings of guilt about killing. I absolutely LOVED 1883 but couldn't get on board with Yellowstone after starting at 1883 and wanting to see where this awesome family ended up generations later.

This was my kind of show. I love westerns.

I canceled P+. What a joke. Does anyone on the planet know when and where "Yellowstone, 1883, 6666, 1932" will be seen next? P+ is a fubar company! Edit: D.

I loved it A+ for me. I never wanted to watch Yellowstone but now I will because of 1883 I hope they make season 2 I'm all in

You're all wrong! I cried a bit at every episode. Elsa was incredible. I fell in love with the relationship between Faith and Tim. He could have told his daughter in the last episode that he was proud of her even though she was a little loose with her affections which I don't believe would be of the times. I don't believe I could watch it again within a couple of years but I was eager for every new episode. And Taylor Sheridon has become one of my all time best storytellers. I think there should be several awards for acting, direction and film work; most certainly for an ensemble cast. I'd rank it up there with The Wire and Game of Thrones.

I absolutely loved it. Beautifully written and the actors did an outstanding job A+

Loved 1883! Billy Dukes saw the episode with the tornado, bandits, as to hurried; I disagree. I found myself holding my breath wondering what was happening next. A+ in my view. Beat Yellowstone any day..

I’m looking forward to 1932. I hope we see how the Train Station came about.

It's important to remember that critics' comments are only that, and they seem to have forgotten the millions of people who tuned in to watch 1883 and 1923-both series I have already watched twice. The acting is far and above anybody's expectations, and each actor delivers whether they have a starring role or a small part. Taylor Sheridan has become America's great storyteller. If you're reading this comment, remember critics are just that. Also, remember that Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and even Shakespeare had their critics. However we remember the greats, but who remembers the critics?

This is definitely rewatchable show, I absolutely love it. I wouldn’t just watch it if I found it mid way on the TV, I would only watch it start to finish.

I am hooked on Taylor Sheridan's stuff and because of this I watched Mayor of Kingstown and Sicario. New kid on the block-- I will watch anything he does now! Yellowstone+=A 1883 =A Mayor of Kingstown =A. The only show I have ever given an A+ is "Breaking Bad"!

Different people like different things. I watched many episodes 3 or 4 times. That rarely happens for me

A+ all the way, I am 54 but our son will be 10 thought he was cool because I let him watch! Cannot wait for more!!!!

I loved the show. I thought the entire cast was great acting The story was great. Faith Hill and Isabel May were super since they have not acted that much. May, I loved her narration. I could hardly wait from one episode to the next. Sam Elliott, is the best in anything.

With all of the shows and movies today I really find a Western theme a refreshing change. Great acting and the loss of key members always kept you wondering who would be next. Good job of getting our emotions pulled in all directions over each episode. I have read that some thought it was a bit to busy with all of the things that they encountered but it is a show and if we just have to watch them ride horse for an hour who would watch it? Again nice change of pace and I really liked the characters and actors they picked for them! Thumbs up for me….

Love this all every bit of it.,they all of this show hoping they coming back ,I am just happy that l didn't have to go thur this myself.A+

I'm glad I saw this show 1st. Have not seen Yellowstone. Tom hanks was in there. Didn't even notice lol

The ending felt rushed and scattered. Why ditch the cattle now? They could of sent them on with the guys later. And Faith’s character seemed too stoic when saying goodbye to her daughter for the last time. As a mother I don’t think I could of kept a tear back and I would want to hold her one last time. Ridiculous. Seemed like Elsa would of picked the rock vs the tree as a reference for future spin offs. And how could Joseph make a farm settlement on his own with 1 leg and crutches? Doesn’t make sense. Also I figured she would of asked for her yellow hair to be sent to her husband Sam after she died. And when she died it made sense that she would of seen Enise since he had died as well. Sam Elliot suicide in the end made him look weak. I had hoped he would of learned the lessons of precious life through all of his life’s experience including the trail. I loved 1883 until the end.

I was hooked from the start. Mighty great acting, historically accurate wardrobe, and close to period firearms. The plot at times did not match the time period, such as making 1883 North Texas appear to be unsettled frontier. Maybe 10 to 20 years earlier, but by 1883 it was not that remote. Still, I too give it an A-.

This 1 season blows the entire Yellowstone series out of the water.

One of the greatest series in 25 yrs. The girl should get a Emmy award for her performance. The rest of the Emmy awards should go to everyone else in the series.

A++

I LOVED Faith Hill!

I loved loved this show. I have not been so glued to a series in a very long time like this one. And I can honestly say my husband loved it also. My other favorite one has been yellow stone I am an avid fan of it also.

Loved it. One of the best shows I've ever seen. Didn't care for Yellowstone. I watched the first three episodes and was done

Really enjoyed 1883 - Re: Finale I was upset the outcome for Elsa BUT after going back to the Yellowstone pilot and watching Lee Dutton’s death, my estimation of 1883 went way up. John Dutton mourning his son, taking him to the forest, cradling his body under a tree. “We’ll find a spot together,” he says. Then a bird comes along… things come full circle.

Was A+ all the way for me I loved it

Love the custom made clothing! Hats are the best

C-, those that think it is historically accurate need to do some research. Real slow and drawn out, Elsa falling in love once then again so quickly after first death says list bs love.

Real proof that you shouldn't be on drugs when you try to rate a great TV show.

I can’t say I loved it. I was thinking that when Elsa got her period, they would say she had her “courses”, After that, I listened to the words more. I couldn’t help but hear language that was not relevant to the time period. It turned me off. I liked the overall story, of how the Duttons came to be where they are in Montana.

Charlie Goodnight was in 1883 because he was in the Lonesome Dove universe, as well as being a historic figure. There's a lot of homage to Lonesome Dove in this show.

I give the total show an A. There are spots that it was an A+ and then spots it was a B+. For me, a little less romance and fluff between characters and more of historical action about the travel. I would have liked to see a whole show about the group making it to a waystation tired and beat up, meet other groups (Irish, Swedish, Italians, Blacks) and try to trade and interact with them. Some of the people in the group decide to stay. Others from different backgrounds join and then the "New" wagon train move on. What I do not want to see is follow up stories on the settlers. People come and go in our lives all of the time and we never know what happened to them. Let them be, do not have a flashback or side story or some character talk about "You know that buffalo solider that came across with your Great Great Grandpa he settled in OR and......" That is a Hollywood thing, real life that does not happen. My grandfather had many friends in WWII and to this day my mother and or aunts would not be able to tell me anything about them after my Grandpa stopped interacting with them.

I loved it. Don’t care what critics say.

They killed it and I'm from nj. Dope ass show...

I would give a solid A. Enjoyed very much.

I thought 1883 was great, I even think it's better the Yellowstone. The scenery, acting, action, gunfights and cinematography was amazing. I especially liked Elsa, Sam Elliot, Tim Mgraw and LaMonica Garrett. LaMonica Garretts and Sam Elliots characters were the best and most badass. Yellowstone, 1883, and 1923 are some of the best shows of all time, the best shows since Walker, Sopranos and the Wire. Yellowstone Seasons 1. 9/10 2. 10/10 3. 10/10 4. 9/10 5. 8/10 Yellowstone Prequel 1. 1883 10/10 2. 1923 10/10 I like the prequels more than Yellowstone. All three shows are pure entertainment. They should make another prequel set in the 60s/70s and center it around John Dutton II.

The acting was good , BUT im sorry starting this trip with only 2 people signed on one suicidal 75 yr old seemed Negligent , and having the 3 Men who are capable of protecting the group run off multiple times and leave the main group at risk was ridiculous. WHAT was the attrition rate 95 % ?

Outstanding

It was awesome, very entertaining

I loved this show

Both shows fantastic 😍😍😍😍😍 love these actors they are not telling us how to vote and live! Love this show... Hollywood dying. But this is real......

Amazing show and dynasty of shows all together

After listening to the 3 critiques of the series 1883 I think I would give it a B rating but for different reasons. To begin with I was drawn to the show for Content, I have pioneer ancestors, and the headliners Tim Mcgraw and his wife Faith Hill. But I felt that every episode was rushed. Too many things happened in the same episode leaving me to wonder if anyone would survive the journey except the Duttons who we know survive because of the Yellowstone Ranch. But first of all when reading historical accounts from wagon train pioneers, some have some of those experiences, but not having the wagon train captain killing them and not all between the first and second river crossings. There were delays due to lack of supplies, language barriers and equipment breakdowns. But there was also a LOT more of day to day travel that we did not see because Sheridon had a short time line so he could bring out his next three series that he was also working on, I felt that he could and should have done a second season and not rushed everyone through this one. We are left wondering what happened. Unless we look through the remarks about the ending, you are left to wonder if or how they ever get to the location where they eventually built the Yellowstone ranch. Even more you are left wondering if Margaret and little John Dutton makes it. If someone had not followed the Yellowstone series and watched this series for it's own value, it could not really make sense without help from critics or comments from outside the production. It needs to be explained to the audience. That is a shame because it had so much going for it until the last two episodes. They were even more rushed and were almost like an afterthought. Like, "and James Dutton made it to Yellowstone, without his family, the end". In the episode where they show Margaret Dutton at a table sharing a table with the two boys, we don't automatically know that's the Yellowstone ranch, we never see her visit Elsa's grave, we don't even know her name or if James is anywhere around or even alive. So, yes is was good as a historical film, history does not fill in all the blanks without research, but I felt it could have filled in enough blanks for the series to stand on it's own without filling in all the blanks. People talk to each other, especially on a journey of this magnitude. Margaret was a key person on this journey but rarely spoke to her daughter and we never see her speaking to anyone else but the train's leaders. The women of the train would have brought their concerns to her and she would have discussed some of those with James and we never see that.

Wow!! Super Tragic! Even the Donner Party had more survivors than this. I suppose it was allegorical of every chaotic scenario possible in a wagon train, but it would have been more realistic with fewer deaths. I say a C+.

I'm sad to say but I give it a D. I really really wanted to love this show, but didn't, for many reasons. They started losing me with Elsa and the constant narration and horrible accent. I didn't sign up to Paramount+ to watch a teen romance novel. They really lost me with the ridiculous tornado episode. Has Taylor or ANYONE on his team ever witnessed or been in a tornado? All credibility was lost when they had Elsa in all her lust jump on top of Sam and start kissing him while a tornado was blowing over them!!! FFS - really? When all of them stood up after the tornado blew over, it's completely dry, no moisture on the grass, their clothes and hair completely dry, no muddy dirt, no grass/weeds laying down from the wind, NADA, NOTHING. I'm sorry but I could overlook some of the things throughout the show but this was too much. I could go on and on but won't. To be honest, I have not watched the last episode yet. Before the weekend is over I'll watch it...who knows, after the last episode I may change the grade to D- or F. I absolutely love Yellowstone but not impressed with 1883 at all.

I enjoyed the series and watched all episodes at least twice. Not so much that I couldn’t get enough but more to see if I missed anything. The technical side of the series was excellent except the lack of sidearm variety. Aside from Sam Elliot I thought that Faith Hills acting was a wonderful surprise. She seemed made for the role and man can she ride a horse. The story seemed to be borrowed from both Lonesome Dove and Dances With Wolves and was difficult for me to find true realism in the story line. I like Charles Goodnight though. I give it a B+.

I absolutely loved it! I am anxiously waiting for the 2 season. This to me is one of the best movie series I have seen in a while. So hurry up and let's get on was With the 2 season !!!!!

Question. Why didn’t they take the train out of St.Louis. By 1883 the Transcontinental railroad was open.

I totally agree with your statement about watching it again. I feel like I enjoyed it while it was on but I don't feel like I'd stop and watch a rerun if it happened to be on. I also agree with the statement about Taylor Sheridan. He really didn't need to make a cameo that big. It was totally distracting for me and I had to just go along with it. I highly respect Taylor's vision and creation of these shows and deserves all the accolades for it but he should really try to stay out of his shows especially now that he's more known.

A+

B+. It was excellent, very gritty. But I agree it was a little bit drawn out. I am more a fan of dialog and story progression than long, boring closeups. There were too many of those. Elsa falling for Sam so soon after Ennis was a surprise. Granted, Sam was more mature than Ennis in some ways, and he was exotic to her. The one thing I thought made zero sense was her agreeing to ride on to Oregon with her family after marrying Sam, with the understanding she would return to him in the spring. Her skills would help the family and few remaining in the wagon train survive I suppose, but that just seemed like it was written to find a way to explain the Dutton ending up in Wyoming, not Oregon. I didn’t think it was believable that she would leave Sam. She was so passionate about everything that interested her, and that was Sam at that point of the journey.

The experience was grueling and painful and takes a masochist or a psychopath to want to repeat watch but this was the most exquisite work of art ever. (I agree about ep 7 )

Isabel May stole the whole show. When she died, it was such a let down, I was angry. Not sure how I feel about these one season shows. I guess the main point is to just get a glimpse of the lineage "before"... Yellowstone.. Taylor Sheridan is one of the best writers as far as his development of a character. You have to really " know" all about them to care and be able to understand what they are feeling. You can have the best story in the world, but if characterization is weak, it ruins it, for me. I would give this show an "A" for sure.

I loved the show

Very good, I like .

Loved Loved it... ❤❤ #10+

A+, you cant change my mind

A qualification about the date chosen. I think conditions depicted, especially on the road were a quite a bit better developed by that time. Seems more like 10 years before. As for the Germans, isn was never explained why the Germans were headed for Oregon when there was plenty of space in central Texas for Germans. The narration was sometimes too flowery and anachronistic, a tad newagish. And, the Duttons were all southern protestants in background. The Comanche boy friend was a little too much. An actual person from that era would have “wilder” in his speech and manner. The character is more like somewhat from the “Civilized Nations". The Comanches were on the short side. as a whole, being famously awkward on the ground, albeit some of the greatest horsemen of history.

D

Me personally, I liked 1883 better than all 4 season of Yellowstone because 1883 is the sort of old western I’d want to see, I’m more into the old western, than the modern days western.

I enjoyed every episode of 1883..Although, I was a bit disappointed with the goodbye scene between Margaret and Elsa..I know Margaret had to be strong, but she was never going to see her again..Any mother who has a daughter would have broke down crying and she didn't..I think they did a great job showing the goodbye between Elsa and her father because all through the series we learned of their special relationship. I still want to see how the Duttons established their ranch from that point on..I don't want to skip to 1932.. I want to see each generation progress, but Taylor Sheridan wants to pick out certain time frames and not explain everything

Great show love it all my years 60 of them at least OK??!!!

A+ And it finished perfectly. The writing was superb as all Taylor Sheridan writing is and the execution was phenomonal. Sterling is full of crap. The Tom Hanks character was key to the backstory of James and his later interaction with Elsa after the confrontation at Doan's Crossing. The fact that he told her a civil war story when in that Antietam flashback Elsa talks about how much the civil war affected her Dad made that scene at Doan's even more impactful. And who cares who played General Meade? The fact it was Hanks didn't change the perception of the scene. heck, I didn't recognize him the first time I was watching it. It sounds like everyone is trying to sound like professional critics when the podcast and the videos were portrayed as a couple of fans reviewing.

More than A+ and I am truly an old lady...71.

A loved it !!!

Had huge expectations. Found it to be a teenage girl drama. Last episode was so slow and painful. Could have been great if we got the stories of the interesting characters instead of the worst.

A+, wish they would do more seasons

I enjoyed the show, the story and acting was terrific. The show was filled with historical inaccuracy though.

A+A+

The Writer can have anyone in his work.

A- ? Is your scale like F, A-, A, A+?

A+ for me too. Love the story I love the way it was told I narrated by the Elsa character. Fell in love with her I wanted her to do well I wanted her to be happy and boo-hoo my eyes out when she died. Broke my heart.

I think they were all awesome. Loved Elsa. They all get A+ from me

A++it's on the level of lonesome Dove well a little bit higher and lonesome Dove

I just wish Faith would do more. I think she was amazing. I wish we could get her to do more stuff. She said that she enjoyed the experience, so why not keep going???

C , But it was better then anything else on TV .

Don’t you ever disrespect Sam Elliot that is a living legend

1883 is 10X better than Yellowstone could ever dream of being. Yellowstone is nothing but Young And The Restless.

A++++++

Has anyone tried comparing Elsa with Daenerys Targaryen? Wispy blonde girl comes into her power during a long journey across a dry continent, along the way going native and marrying a native warrior and biting into the raw heart of a horse/buffalo. Can't get pregnant no matter how much she wants it. Dies at the end. There's more similarities than one might expect. Blonde girl biting into the heart of a big animal stands out big! Captain Shea is her Ser Jorah: he loves her but he is old and he is damaged and both know nothing can come of it.

Historically it's an F sort of a remake of LONESOME DOVE which also is an F historically which was based on the opening of the GOODNIGHT LOVING TRAIL in 1866 which yes had real hostile Indians involved the Comanches the Indians were long since pacified in Montanna. The Sioux the Chiayne (sic) and Arapaho had the living crap beaten out of them in 1877 after the Custer mess by the federal government and their enemies the Crows.

1883 is a 76 out of 100. C If you like modern day tv shows then it will seem like a home run, but if you’re looking for authentic western entertainment then you’re gonna have a difficult time watching it. Because it feels cheesy and manipulative. I think the execution fell a little flat. It has Great intentions, but it’s a modern day soap opera.

Taylor Sheridan using Tom Hanks was genius. Who else you gonna get who in mere seconds can bring such gravitas? Billy Bob Thornton, same thing. And these were not cameo's either. Maybe that is what has your "writer" so confused. These were solid performances by top rank actors playing powerful characters. When you can't devote an hour to showing what it was like to be a general or a marshal but want to get it across in an instant this is how you do it. Taylor Sheridan is genius. Your "writer" should focus more on what we actually got than preening in the mirror. What we actually got was simply the greatest story yet told about the American frontier. What we got, if it was a movie, would steal the show from Dune. I have watched the whole series at least 5 times now. As I told my wife last night, I thought they forgot how to make movies this good. That's right. Movies. This is beyond TV series. This is a full-blown cinematic experience, spread out over 10 parts. So far. Taylor Sheridan has said as much himself. Your "writer" might want to check that one out. The quality of the story-telling is Shakespeare on steroids. Probably no one today even knows what that means. Shakespeare wrote poetry, which is not mere rhymes. Poetry is using language in a more sophisticated way that evokes feelings and memories that transcends mere words. 1883 is rich with this. Overflowing. Honestly, the people you got in this video are way too full of themselves. Not to knock Yellowstone, it was the best thing on TV until 1883, but you actually think the over the top machinations and branding and military ops are better? Maybe step away from the fancy microphone, go read some great literature, spend a lifetime living some actual life experience, gain an ounce of humility, and come back to it? Because you give any aspect of 1883 anything less than A+ and you got something wrong in your head.

A+..…..best show since Breaking bad

There is no show w/o Elsa.

I disagree about the good TV, I've rewatched the whole season already and my nephew is coming to watch it with me. I love Yellowstone and wait for new episodes to come out but it's gotten alot more blatantly sexual over the seasons. And I could say more violent, of course then someone would say how violent 1883 was...but it seems I expect pioneer movies to be violent. I grew up watching Westerns and know horses, it seems to be very authentic. And I didn't even know Tom Hanks was in it.

I only got three shows in and stopped. I thought lots of the acting was good. All the main characters and Billy Bob Thornton come to mind. I just could not believe how helpless the pioneers were made out to be. It was ridiculous IMO and unbelievable. Also the incessant voice overs. Really did not like. I hope 1932 will be more believable. God knows what kinda hoops I will have to jump through to see it though. Still have never seen Yellowstone, it's ridiculous!

I condemn it with fire and fury. You do not create a unique free spirit full of optimism and grit to stand her ground like Elsa, and then kill her off. Might just as well kill Prometheus in the first act. What's left? More boring fatalism and ordinariness. Sheridan shirked his responsibility. Phtoohy.

A