Brandon Sklenar, who plays Spencer Dutton in 1923, reveals the cut dialogue that would’ve explained why his character blamed Whitfield (Timothy Dalton) for Alexandra’s (Julia Schlaepfer) death. The explosive season 2 finale of the Yellowstone prequel saw Spencer and Alex reunited after being separated for the entire season, only for her to die after giving birth to their son. At the same time, it brought an end to the conflict between Whitfield and the Duttons, though not without casualties.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sklenar explained why Spencer blamed Whitfield for Alex’s death even though it seemed unrelated in the 1923 season 2 finale. The actor revealed that he initially had longer dialogue in the scene where Spencer recounted everything that happened following the war Whitfield started. Read his full explanation below:
There was a bit of dialogue that I had in that [confrontation] scene, but we cut it out. Spencer was incredibly emotional during that bit of dialogue, and we had already had this emotional moment with Alex. So it just felt like the balance would’ve been off, and they felt it was more effective to go right to the point with Whitfield. They felt that people would feel that and understand why without having to spell it out.
But initially, there was a bit of dialogue where Spencer essentially said the same thing: “You came after my family, and that forced me home.” He went through the chain of events as far as why he feels that Whitfield is responsible. So I think the fans of the show can understand why it’s Whitfield, without us fully explaining it, as you have. None of this would have happened had Whitfield not come after the Dutton family. Alex would not have followed Spencer home, and she would not have gotten stranded in the snow. His family also wouldn’t be in the position they’re in, and Spencer wouldn’t be on this war path where he’s now standing there with a gun at Whitfield’s head. So it is his fault.
What Brandon Sklenar’s Comment Means For 1923 Season 2’s Ending
Alex Is Collateral Damage In Whitfield’s Attempted Land Grab
In the same interview, Sklenar further explained that the scene in the 1923 season 2 finale was “essentially the resolution to Spencer’s character arc,” with the show primarily focused on the character’s journey home out of duty and commitment to protecting his family. In a previous interview, the actor stressed that Spencer is a protector, and he was forced to embark on a journey because his family was under attack. Otherwise, he would’ve stayed in Africa or been with Alex the whole time.
The cut dialogue offered some context for why Spencer blamed Whitfield for his wife’s death, and at the same time, served to explain why Spencer had to kill the businessman. The Dutton family would never truly be safe from Whitfield and his greedy schemes otherwise, which left the Dutton heir with no choice.
Our Take On Spencer And Whitfield’s Confrontation In 1923
The Cut Dialogue Made The Scene Authentic To Spencer’s Emotional Journey
The lack of explanation in the 1923 finale’s ending is authentic to Spencer’s extremely emotional experience, having just lost his wife not long ago. Spencer had so much love for Alex, but sadly, he would never get the chance to express it to her, as their love story ended too soon. Understandably, Spencer would regret leaving Alex’s side to defend the ranch, which took away the little time they had before her passing, though he didn’t have a choice because of Whitfield.
It makes sense for Spencer to demand the person who caused the greatest tragedy in his life to at least acknowledge Alex’s existence. Given how quickly Spencer pulled the trigger after Whitifield said Alex’s name, he wasn’t looking for a full apology but a cause for him to put an end to everything. The lack of dialogue made the scene extremely powerful because it made Spencer’s pain palpable in 1923.