The women of the Dutton clan have consistently been portrayed as extraordinary figures, from the resilient Margaret (Faith Hill) and the spirited Elsa (Isabel May) in 1883, to the fiery Beth (Kelly Reilly) in Yellowstone. It comes as no surprise that Helen Mirren's depiction of Cara Dutton in 1923 continues this legacy of strong female characters, and her performance remains as captivating as ever. In the fourth episode of 1923, Cara steals the spotlight.
Following the brutal attack orchestrated by Banner (Jerome Flynn) and the sheepherder on the Duttons in the previous episode, Cara grapples with her sorrow while scrubbing the blood-stained kitchen. With a glimmer of hope, she informs Zane (Brian Geraghty) that Jacob (Harrison Ford) has survived the ordeal, while Jack (Darren Mann) and Elizabeth (Michelle Randolph) are slowly recuperating from their injuries. She entrusts Zane with the task of dispatching a letter to Spencer (Brandon Sklenar).
Recalling the tragic demise of John (James Badge Dale) from the last episode, Emma (Marley Shelton) remains asleep in the wagon as the current episode begins. Determined to provide John with a final resting place, she decides to convey his body to the family cemetery, where he can join James, Margaret, and Elsa in eternal peace.
Meanwhile, across the vast ocean, Spencer finds solace as he and Alex (Julia Schlaepfer) embark on what we presume is their honeymoon in a serene African hideaway. Between moments of marital bliss, they peel away layers of each other's pasts. Alex confides in Spencer about losing her brother in war, while he reveals that he lost his soul but is gradually reclaiming it, with Alex serving as his healing balm.
Despite the attack's depletion of his forces, Banner remains relentless in his pursuit of the Duttons. Instead of rebuilding his army, he hatches a plan to purchase one. He visits Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton), falsely claiming that Jacob and John Dutton are deceased (partially true) and boasting that he will soon wield control over the Yellowstone. In exchange for Whitfield's assistance, Banner promises him mining rights to Yellowstone's lands. Though skeptical of Banner's position, branding him merely an assassin, Whitfield cannot resist the temptation and agrees to fund his purchase of soldiers. Armed with this newly assembled posse, Banner steals the cattle that the cowboys had previously herded up the mountains.
In the third episode, Banner's raid claimed another victim: Elizabeth's father. Consequently, her mother arrived at the Yellowstone with the intention of escorting her daughter back east. Jack confronted Mrs. Strafford, while Elizabeth resolutely informed her mother that she had no intention of leaving. With Cara's steadfast support, Mrs. Strafford ultimately relinquished her daughter, who had now officially become a part of the Dutton clan.
However, this fragile sense of unity was swiftly shattered when Zane revealed the theft of their cattle. Jack, fueled by vengeful intent, sought to confront Banner, but Cara urged caution, seeking divine guidance at Jacob's bedside. It was Jacob himself, newly awakened, who counseled her to let the cattle go and await Spencer's arrival to devise their next move. He further entrusted her to attend the upcoming Livestock Commission meeting in his stead, while publicly proclaiming that he was out hunting the cattle rustlers.
Elsewhere, Teonna Rainwater (played by Aminah Nieves) demonstrated her protectiveness by confronting an abusive nun on behalf of a friend. Sister Mary (Jennifer Ehle), incensed, administered the harshest beating Teonna had yet endured, compelling her to plea for salvation through their teachings. Undeterred, Teonna donned war paint, packed bibles into a pillowcase, and used them to brutally beat Sister Mary to death before fleeing back home.
At the Livestock Commission meeting, Cara adhered to Jacob's instructions but also introduced her own agenda—she persuaded the members to vote for the creation of a commission police force, forging Jacob's signature to secure official approval. Banner, mistakenly believing Jacob deceased, confronted her, branding her a liar. Cara, defiant, spat in his face and dared him that their conflict was now solely with her, vowing not to resolve it with a simple gunshot. She also hinted at Spencer's impending return, which visibly unsettled Banner.
In Africa, Alex discovered unopened letters from Cara to Spencer. He confessed that while letters had once been his lifeline amidst the war's madness, hoping for one could prove fatal, so he had never read them. Declaring that he wouldn't share Spencer, even with his burdens, Alex proposed they read them together. As they delved into the letters—some emotional, some lighthearted—Cara's descriptions of the Dutton family brought Spencer solace. The final letter, urging Spencer to return home, was written three months prior, according to Alex.
With three months having passed and a lengthy journey still ahead, what fate awaits Spencer upon his return to Montana remains uncertain. Whatever the circumstances, one thing is clear: the Duttons will steadfastly defend their land. As Elsa, the occasional narrator, attests, "My family does not harbor hope. We battle for what we believe in until we secure it, or perish in the attempt."
