1883: A Yellowstone Origin Story Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

1883: A Yellowstone Origin Story Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 30, 2022

Considering the gargantuan success that is Yellowstone (seasons one, two, three, and four now available on Blu-ray) it is not at all surprising to see the show bearing the fruit of a spinoff series. This particular spinoff, 1883, was born of a brief season four look back to the Dutton family origins. That story is expanded here to ten full episodes, featuring the same main cast, and building on the legacy that will eventually propel the series forward to the time, place, and people that audiences have come to know and love (and maybe hate) over the last few years on one of television's biggest current properties.

Official synopsis: From visionary creator Taylor Sheridan comes a prequel to television’s #1 show, Yellowstone. 1883 follows the original Dutton family as they embark on a journey west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America. It’s a stark retelling of Western expansion, and an intense study of one family fleeing poverty to seek a better future in America’s promised land — Montana. This acclaimed series features a star-studded cast including Academy Award nominee Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, with cameos from Academy Award winners Tom Hanks and Billy Bob Thornton, and Rita Wilson.

So many spinoffs tend to hover around the same time and place of the original; Better Call Saul comes to mind as one of the best; it does not play parallel to Breaking Bad but certainly within the same era. 1883, as the title suggests, pushes the Yellowstone story backwards some 135-140 years to tell the origins of the Dutton dynasty, here the physically and emotionally arduous journey to settle the land that would be the Dutton legacy. The show brings a series of complexly woven characters to the screen but in a manner that is not identically dynamic to the main show, which is understandable given the different time, sensibilities, family stature, political landscape, technology, and so on and so forth. This is a separate show, but also equal, in terms of universe building by taking a large step into the past to do so.

The show's production design is first-class, every bit as elegant, in its own rugged way, as the main show. Like Yellowstone, scenery and terrain and all of the dangers associated with the West are present, here with their own unique flavors and signatures as they exist in a different time. Casting is special; the leads inhabit the characters, not only behind costumes and carefully applied makeup but at the unseen soul level; there's a depth of narrative that the actors add to the written script that brings enhanced authenticity and audience connection. This show is not dependent on Yellowstone; it works well on its own merits and enjoys the benefits of connective tissue without being fed exclusively through them.

The following episodes comprise season one. Summaries are courtesy of the Blu-ray packaging.

Disc One:

• 1883: The Dutton family embarks on a journey west through the last bastion of untamed America. James arrives in Texas, where he and his family prepare to make their way through The Great Plains in search of a new home and the promise of opportunity.
• Behind Us, a Cliff: Thomas and Shea recruit James and some local cowboys to corral a herd of cattle. As they begin their journey, the caravan is confronted with some of the many dangers they will face along the way.
• River: James butts heads with Shea and Thomas about an important decision. Tensions rise in camp when an accusation is made. Elsa begins a flirtation with a cowboy.
• The Crossing: The group faces the harrowing task of crossing the river with their wagons and supplies. Thomas and Noemi grow closer.

Disc Two:

• The Fangs of Freedom: Shea and Thomas cope with the aftermath of the river crossing, but there is little time to grieve and no shortage of challenges ahead. Elsa and Ennis share a romantic moment.
• Boring the Devil: Shea helps Elsa cope with her loss. The group crosses another river and prepares to enter Indian territory. Thomas buys Noemi a gift.
• Lightning Yellow Hair: Elsa makes an unlikely friend. The group faces a harrowing challenge from mother nature. The camp searches for one of their own.
• The Weep of Surrender: Elsa makes a big decision. Shea faces doubts as winter looms.

Disc Three:

• Racing Clouds: A misunderstanding leads to a battle with serious consequences.
• This Is Not Your Heaven: James and Margaret face a heavy decision. Shea and Thomas take bold action to help one of their own.

1883: A Yellowstone Origin Story Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Paramount brings 1883 to Blu-ray with a high quality 1080p transfer. The picture quality is sturdy and attractive, bringing out the finest of the complex and deeply lived-in production design elements. The period costumes are particularly noteworthy for the fine point complexity of fabric, adornments, and the rugged signs of wear and caked-on-dirt. Faces are rich in weathered details – pores, lines, wrinkles, dirt – and hairs are dense and clear. Terrain is expressively sharp and tactile through the various locations, whether within manmade towns or out in the open country. Color output is very impressive; there's a sense of vitality and vividness at work, but not so high a yield as to distract from the weathered and rugged period look. Still, bright dresses, red blood, and natural greens are all splendidly accurate and satisfying. Black level depth and clarity are solid. Skin tones look true. Noise is light and there are no other pressing source or encode issues of note.

1883: A Yellowstone Origin Story Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The included Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack is the only audio option available throughout the series (English SDH subtitles are also optionally available). The track is very good, bringing life to large, wide-open spaces through lightly engaging and immersive atmosphere through the various wide-open terrains. Things get a little denser in towns which are more tightly packed with sounds of people, trotting horses, and other elements that fully draw the listener in. In all cases surrounds are used in balance. Musical reproduction is a high point for spacing and clarity; fronts dominate but surrounds carry content as necessary. Various action scenes deliver satisfying depth and engagement, including gunshots, running horses, and other sounds of battle. The subwoofer opens up to add necessary, but never overpowering, depth. Dialogue drives the series and is presented clearly with good prioritization from a natural front-center position.

1883: A Yellowstone Origin Story Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This three-disc Blu-ray release of 1883: A Yellowstone Origin Story contains supplements on all three discs. No DVD or digital copies are included. This release does ship with a non-embossed slipcover.

Disc One:

• Behind the Story (1080p): Brief episode-by-episode overviews. Included on disc one are 1883 (3:27); Behind Us, a Cliff (5:06); River (5:37), and The Crossing (5:42).

Disc Two:

• Behind the Story (1080p): Brief episode-by-episode overviews. Included on disc two are The Fangs of Freedom (4:48); Boring the Devil (4:42); Lightning Yellow Hair (4:42), and The Weep of Surrender (4:42).

Disc Three:

• Behind the Story (1080p): Brief episode-by-episode overviews. Included on disc three are Racing Clouds (5:47) and This Is Not Your Heaven (6:17).
• A Land of Peril & Wonder: The Journey of 1883 (1080p, 48:06): Writing the story of 1883 as if a novel, the series' origins in season four, Fort Worth shooting locales, trains in the series, costumes, cattle, photography, plot and narrative details, characters and performances, making the Civil War scenes, Tom Hanks' cameo, friendships off the set, Native American portrayal, making a key final scene, and more.
• From Cast to Cowboys: Creating the Pioneer Spirit (1080p, 21:46): Preparing the actors to play authentic cowboys.
• 1883: The Road West (1080p, 40:45): Another lengthy piece that overs some terrain explored in previous extras: project origins, story, characters, the real history depicted in the show, production design authenticity, cowboy camp training, and much more.
• Inside 1883 (1080p, 4:19): Again, this piece covers some familiar elements already explored in previous extras: writing the show like a novel, the real history behind the show, cast and characters, cowboy camp, production design, story details, and more.

1883: A Yellowstone Origin Story Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

1883 is at once a radically different world compared to Yellowstone yet despite the flashback setting, fresh characters, and new challenges, it rings very true and authentic to the larger Yellowstone world. Paramount's three disc set offers, in addition to the show, rock-solid video and audio presentations and a ton of extras, though much of the content repeats in the final two, mostly superfluous, supplements. Highly recommended.