Yellowstone fans have grown accustomed to a lot of violence, a lot of foul language and some nudity. So you would think fans of its spinoff, 1883, would be ready for anything.
But if there’s one thing 1883 fans can’t stand- it’s seeing Sam Elliott cry. And when a clip aired Sunday that showed just that, fans took to social media to vent their surprise.
The prequel seemed to anticipate this reaction, because it also tweeted about the moment. On Twitter, the official 1883 account did some emoting of its own.
Fans of 1883 Can’t Handle Sam Elliott’s Tears
For fans of the new Paramount+ show from Taylor Sheridan, co-creator of Yellowstone, it was clearly jarring to watch Elliott crying. The gifted character actor is no doubt capable of the full range of human emotions. Still, fans just weren’t ready to see the toughest cowboy on 1883 shed some tears.
Elliott Credits Sheridan for Strength of New Yellowstone Prequel
And what does Elliott himself think of the scene in which he cries? We don’t know about that specific scene. But Elliott has called Sheridan “a brilliant writer” and spoke to the universal themes that play out on 1883.
“It all starts with the writing, and Taylor Sheridan is a brilliant writer,” Elliott said in a statement this summer. “I think the western genre speaks clearly to both of us. The classic struggles of man against man, man against nature and man against himself. It’s all there, in 1883, and I’m honored to be a part of it.”
In 1883, Elliott plays Shea Brennan, the leader of the group of settlers traveling from Texas to Montana and a cowboy with great sadness behind him. He does not suffer fools gladly, and he and James Dutton (Tim McGraw) soon develop a rapport.