Y: Marshals is on its way, and that means you’ll want to prepare. One of the ways to prepare for a spinoff of a series is to watch the main series. However, Yellowstone is much bigger than just the main series, as it already has two prequel spinoffs.
1883 and 1923 tell the stories of the early days of the Dutton Ranch. In the first of the shows, we see how the family ends up in Montana, taking a journey across the wilderness to get to what will become a new home. Then in 1923 we get to see how the family fights to keep the Ranch throughout the Great Depression and the fallout after World War I.
Do you need to watch the two shows to understand Y: Marshals? We take a look at why it’s not necessary but could be useful.
Y: Marshals is set years after the prequel shows
The title of the two spinoffs tell us the year in which those shows take place. 1883 is when James and Margaret Dutton head across the wilderness to Montana, a place that wasn’t originally where they intended to settle. Then we jump to the year 1923 for the next part of the story.
With these shows being set so far into the past compared to Y: Marshals, there’s no need to really watch them to understand the new series. After all, nobody from those two shows are still alive, and their legacies are really just a memory at this point.
The one that does have characters still alive in is Yellowstone. After all, Kayce Dutton has grown up on the parent show, going frorm troubled ex-Navy SEAL to ranch hand, so out of all the shows, that’s the one to watch to catch up on.
Understanding the legacy of the Dutton Ranch in the Yellowstone prequels
Something to keep in mind though is that the Dutton Ranch has a legacy. The ranch has been passed down through the generations, and we get to see how it all began on 1883. There is also the start of the prophecy that states the land will only remain in Dutton hands for seven generations.
1923 gave us a look at the fight that Jacob and Cara Dutton had to keep the land. We saw the fight for Spencer and Jack afterward, which would then lead to this reminder that the Duttons have always protected their land. It’s why there is so much pressure on the land being passed through the family, putting pressure on those who want to go their own way.
Of course, watching the prequels isn’t all that necessary. Those who have lived through families who view it important to keep land in a particular family name will understand the legacy and the struggles with that. However, it’s a great way to understand Kayce Dutton’s backstory and character development due to this legacy.
Y: Marshals will premiere on Sunday, March 1 at 8/7c on CBS. Catch up on the prequels and on Yellowstone on Paramount+.
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