1923's Brandon Sklenar Explores The Dutton Men's Generational Throughline

"1923," which serves as the prequel to the hit show "Yellowstone" and something of a sequel to "1883," may be set long before the events of its parent series, but it follows a lot of the same patterns that "Yellowstone" has established. And one of the big ways in which it mirrors the popular drama series is in how it presents its male Dutton characters, at least according to "1923" star Brandon Sklenar.

"We never really spoke individually of any characters from 'Yellowstone' or '1883,'" Sklenar told Den of Geek. "But there was a discussion about how the men in the Dutton family communicate, and how they handle and compose themselves. There is this generational way of dealing with things and showing up as a man in the world. There's a nobility that I really love about Spencer. A throughline in a lot of these [Dutton men], is doing whatever they can to show up for their family, and the people they love."

Sklenar definitely makes some solid points here, and this sort of dynamic is arguably one of the many reasons that creator Taylor Sheridan's "Yellowstone" universe shows have achieved such astounding levels of popularity. However, even beyond showcasing the generational throughline of the Dutton family, Sklenar also believes they share a similar sense of internalizing their own various personal struggles.

During the interview with Den of Geek, "1923" star Brandon Sklenar dug even deeper into what makes a Dutton tick. The actor believes that while the men in the family all share a similar sense of masculine generational similarities, the Dutton family as a whole shares an ability to reveal very little externally. That's because they can internalize their emotions while still saying a lot. For him, this is what makes them so fascinating.

"You have to keep everything so internalized and pick your moments in terms of when these colors are being revealed," Sklenar said. "So for me creating that inner monologue is the biggest thing. There is a life underneath [the surface]. Spencer is constantly pulling it back and restraining things. It's still captivating, and you're still telling a story without having to say anything. It's very much a "Dutton" archetype and I think that's what makes them appealing to watch."

There is definitely something to be said for the stoic and externally quiet protagonist, and given "Yellowstone" and its prequels' love of the western genre, it's certainly one that fits perfectly into the world that Taylor Sheridan has crafted. And it seems as if Sklenar finds it a perfectly juicy role to mine as much subtle conflict and character expression as possible.