1923: Season Two Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

1923: Season Two Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman September 11, 2025

Fans of the Yellowstone universe have been spoiled rotten over the years, with not one but two spinoffs to devour and two more in the works. It's been a good time to be faithfully following the Dutton line and legacy, especially here with 1923, the second series spinoff following 1883, both taking a good, long look into the past of the world of Yellowstone, including the ancestry and the action that preceded Yellowstone and made the family the powerhouse, with a target on its back, that started it all in Yellowstone proper. 1923 (a season one review can be found here) pairs two legendary leads, Harrison Ford and Helen Miren, as unforgettable forerunners to the Dutton legacy, surrounded by an unforgettable cast of characters who come together to breathe new and necessary life into the larger picture of the Yellowstone saga.

To say much of the plot around 1923's second and final season would be to spoil some significant runs both early and late, but suffice it to say that Jacob (Ford) and Cara (Miren) Dutton find themselves in the midst of significant conflict that promises, one way or another, to either shatter the Dutton legacy or impress upon the world that the family is here to stay, and dominate, in future affairs. But, as with all good stories in the Yellowstone universe, there are significantly interconnected and deeply moving and meaningful secondary plot lines, threads, and characters to follow, including the trails and trials of of Alex (Julia Schlaepfer) and Teonna (Aminah Nieves) which in many ways embody as much the human spirit and condition as they do the Yellowstone spirit and condition.

Season two is a fine television experience that isn't afraid of dealing with a number of moving parts. It does so with gusto and efficiency alike, throwing everything out there but finely weaving it all together on the way to a stunning climax that is as potent as any upper end feature length film. There are revelations -- and repercussions -- that sharply reshape and redefine the world to come that fans have fallen in love with in Yellowstone. Sheridan certainly knows his world, and he uses the broadest strokes and the finest subtleties alike to bring life, vitality, purpose, passion, power, and overall narrative excellence to the screen. Sheridan does not cut corners in his storytelling, and he pores over every fine detail. The result is a season -- and a series -- that is deeply detailed and sometimes slow to develop, but it's always on pace in its evolution and always hits home for audience expectation. Season two slow boils and then explodes, slow boils and then explodes; it's a balanced experience that captures his formula quite well while adding significantly to the overall narrative arc that is being painstakingly woven together through, now, multiple decades. 1923 is short lived at two seasons, especially compared with the mainline series' five (six, really, if you count the double-length fifth season) yet it never feels shortchanged. Sheridan gives the material room to breath, explore, and explode, making for a wonderfully dramatic and dynamic experience that may not outclass Yellowstone but certainly comes right along side of it as a necessary part of the larger puzzle.

As with every Sheridan production, the writing is phenomenal, with each character more than a mere cut-out or generic trope or type. While at this point any story will have some of that, Sheridan is capable of building flesh and blood from pen and ink, taking common core dramatic currents, classic human interest elements, and familiar dramatic ebbs and flows and bringing a real sense of shape and life to them. Sheridan's work must be a dream for actors, which is perhaps why he['s found so many wonderful actors for his many works, 1923 being no exception. Ford and Miren are just about as good as ever, in large part because of the meaty content he's given them but also, of course, because of their experience in bringing richness and life to their characters over the decades. They are surrounded by an excellent collection of secondary stars, each of whom elevate the material with depth and realism that does not just satisfy story elements but rather elevates the material to content worth caring about. Of course, it is all framed in the trademark and stunning cinematography, music, and editing that are hallmarks of a Taylor Sheridan production.

1923: Season Two Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Paramount brings 1923's second and final season to Blu-ray with another impressive 1080p transfer. Much like its season one counterpart, season two's presentation is tack sharp and dependably robust. It captures the texture-heavy period attire with attention-grabbing ease while delivering complex facial and skin details -- pores, facial hair, scars, scratches, every little detail -- with enough tangible depth and detail so as to make characters all but tactile. Natural landscapes sprawl across the screen with delightful definition, and handmade location environments are rich in every way. Color output thrives on the format. It would have been nice to see what Dolby Vision could do with everything from natural greenery to snow (and maybe someday we will), but there is no denying that the SDR colors on display here push that format for about all it's worth. Whites are bright and crisp, blacks are deep without dithering, and skin tones look spot on across every character face. Natural landscapes are beautifully rendered, and various examples of clothing -- from the brightest hues to the most reserved earthen tones -- appear steadily rich and satisfying. There is a little bit of snowy noise at play, but it's really only a bother if sitting too close to the screen. I noted no other source or encode issues worth mentioning.

1923: Season Two Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The included Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack satisfy's the show's needs, and then some. It's expansive as necessary and intimate when it needs to be. The sprawling environmental settings often allow for rich ambient content -- like gentle blowing winds and other outdoor supports drawing the listener in -- while more high impact gunshots and action elements play with all power and stage fill one could want from a modern TV soundtrack in the 5.1 configuration. Even without the added benefit for surround back or Atmos channels, there never seems to be a gap in anything at play. Even music enjoys fluid movement, effortless spacing, and precision clarity. Low end is never rumbly but it does deliver enough depth to support score and action alike to satisfaction. Dialogue is clear and robust with natural front-center placement.

1923: Season Two Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

1923: Season Two contains supplements on all three of the include Blu-ray discs, with everything but the "Behind the Story" episode synopses included on disc three. No DVD or digital copies are included with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.

Disc One:

• Behind the Story (1080p): Brief episode-by-episode overviews. Included on disc one are The Killing Season (4:12), The Rapist Is Winter (6:54), and Wrap Thee in Terror (7:20).

Disc Two:

• Behind the Story (1080p): Brief episode-by-episode overviews. Included on disc two are Journey the Rivers of Iron (7:42), Only Gunshots to Guide Us (5:55), and The Mountain Teeth of Monsters (9:17).

Disc Three:

• Behind the Story (1080p): Brief episode-by-episode overviews. Included on disc three is A Dream and a Memory (19:24).
• Darkness Cannot Hide: 1923 Returns (1080p, 38:16): A comprehensive exploration of the 1923 story: where the show has come from since season one, where it is in season two, the complexity and beauty of Sheridan's writing, direction and cinematography, characters and performances, the sprawling drama at play throughout the show's world, key moments in the season, favorite moments amongst the cast, and much more.
• The Shroud of Winter: Production Design and Costumes (1080p, 13:23): As the title suggests, this supplement explores the show's exquisite sets, authentic props, and period-appropriate costumes.
• The Women of 1923 (1080p, 3:23): A lighting-fast piece focusing on, yes, the crafting and accuracy of the female characters from 1923.
• 1923: Teonna's Story (1080p, 5:25): A short piece focusing on one of the season's most compelling characters: Teonna Rainwater. The extra explores the character's ethnicity, life and motivations, place in the larger Yellowstone universe, and more.
• What Would You Bring Back from 1923? (1080p, 1:52): A fun piece in which the cast discusses what relic from the past they would like to reintroduce into 2025.

1923: Season Two Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

1923 goes out with jut the right notes, delivering a fine final season that is big yet also intimate, satisfying but also leaving fans maybe longing for a bit more forward movement and storytelling in the century or so between 1923 and Yellowstone. There's still a lot to know between these years, but for now, what's here makes for a fine sendoff for the two-season spinoff. Paramount's three-disc Blu-ray set delivers excellent video and audio presentations and a solid array of bonus features. Recommended.