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Tragedy Strikes in ‘1923’ Season Two Finale: Alexandra Dutton’s Fate Revealed
Spoiler alert: Details from the “1923” Season 2 conclusion are discussed below. Stream the finale now on Paramount+.
The season concluded with a heartbreaking event.
In the Season Two finale of the “Yellowstone” prequel, “1923”, which aired Sunday, April 6, Alexandra “Alex” Dutton (portrayed by Julia Schlaepfer), the wife of Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar), met a tragic end. This dramatic turn of events has deeply affected viewers of the Paramount+ series.
Julia Schlaepfer on Alexandra Dutton’s Death
“It’s devastating, it’s heartbreaking. It’s truly tragic,” actress Julia Schlaepfer, 30, shared exclusively with The Post regarding her character’s demise.
“I understand that some viewers might be upset by this conclusion, and I completely empathize,” she continued. “It’s a bittersweet circumstance because I hold Alex in such high regard, and I grasp the narrative necessity behind it. However, I am still deeply mourning her… I am significantly grieving Alex.”
Reflecting on her character’s journey, Schlaepfer offered insights into the emotional weight of Alexandra’s fate in “1923”.
Finding Out About Alexandra’s Fate
Schlaepfer revealed that she learned of Alexandra’s impending death several months before the commencement of filming for Season Two.
“I received the scripts from [creator Taylor Sheridan], along with a message to call him after reading them. I was completely unprepared for what was to come,” Schlaepfer recounted.
Anticipating the Character’s Demise
However, the actress admitted she “had a premonition.”
She recalled her conversations with Sheridan: “I consistently told Taylor, ‘Alex is going to die, isn’t she?’ And he would respond, ‘I’m not sure yet, I haven’t decided.’ I simply had this intuition. It’s not that I desired it, but I think… after watching enough of Taylor Sheridan’s work, you anticipate significant events.”
Schlaepfer’s Reaction to the Death Scene
Upon reading Alexandra’s death scene in the script, Schlaepfer described her emotional response: “I wept. And, I prepared myself to embrace her struggle… It was a profound honor, and genuinely the greatest gift of my career and personal life. I cherished portraying her and conveying that narrative.”
Alexandra’s Harrowing Journey
Throughout the season, Alexandra endured a grueling ordeal. The pregnant Englishwoman faced starvation, assault, and freezing conditions during her solitary voyage from New York to Montana, aiming to reunite with Spencer at his family’s ranch in “1923”.
Working with Harrison Ford During a Pivotal Scene
During the childbirth sequence, Spencer was absent, engaged in securing their family’s future. Consequently, Jacob, Alexandra’s pseudo father-in-law, was present to offer support.
“That day was unequivocally the most extraordinary day of my acting career,” Schlaepfer reminisced about filming with Harrison Ford to The Post. “It marked my first collaboration with [Harrison Ford]. It had been several months. I was nearing the end of my filming schedule, feeling worn out and depleted – both personally and in character as Alexandra. I was incredibly eager to observe Harrison Ford’s working style; I deeply admire him.”
Ford’s Leadership and Kindness on Set
Ford demonstrated “exceptional leadership,” she effused.
“He’s incredibly compassionate and humorous. He possessed an innate sense of when to inject levity with a joke to ease the atmosphere. And, he provided me with complete creative freedom. He looked after me so attentively that day. I doubt he fully grasps the extent of his impact on me — I hadn’t even realized Alexandra needed someone to simply offer comfort. And he stepped into this paternal role. He was remarkably generous with me.”
Schlaepfer recounted that at the conclusion of the emotionally charged birth scene – knowing Alexandra’s limited time to raise her son – “we exchanged glances and both were tearful. He embraced me warmly and held me briefly.”
Ford exuded a “paternal” presence on set. “I was unaware of my need for [that],” she stated. “He’s simply the best. He’s so relaxed and amusing. It’s an experience I will treasure for my entire life.”
A “Titanic”-Style Reunion in the Afterlife
The finale concluded with Alexandra and Spencer experiencing a “Titanic”-esque reunion in the afterlife, set at a 1920s dance. Voice-over narration informed viewers that Spencer passed away 45 years after Alexandra, depicting the characters reuniting in the beyond.
“When she dies, there’s still a significant portion of the script remaining,” she explained. “As I continued reading, eager to discover subsequent events, it transitioned to their scene together. And another wave of tears overcame me.”
The Strength of Their Love
She further added that filming their concluding moment “was incredibly meaningful for Brandon [Sklenar] and myself. We’ve shared significant experiences together, both personally and through these characters in ‘1923’. Seeing them reunited, elegantly dressed, underscores the enduring strength of their affection for each other.”
“They are destined to find each other in every subsequent lifetime, even though their time in ‘1923’ was prematurely cut short,” Schlaepfer concluded, reflecting on the poignant ending of “1923” Season Two.