Why 1883’s Most Hated History Error Couldn’t Be Avoided
Warning: the following contains SPOILERS for 1883.
1883's portrayal of the lives and struggles of pioneering American settlers from the late 19th century has been celebrated for its authenticity and historical accuracy – although one detail stands out to irk the most hardcore of period drama fans. While the Yellowstone prequel's tale of the old wild west is entirely fictional, true stories inspired the characters in 1883, who are based on actual people and the social realities of the era. However, as fans point out certain details that have prevented their full immersion into the period drama, the 1883 show's historical accuracy has been put into question.
Historical accuracy is doubtless one of the main strengths of 1883. Set in the late 19th century, within the lands claimed by the U.S. government through the Louisiana Purchase, 1883 reveals the roots of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch empire in Montana. This includes the struggles of – the ancestors of Yellowstone's John Dutton (Kevin Costner) – as they leave Tennessee in search of greener pastures in the frontier. There's also Thomas (LaMonica Garrett) and Shea Brennan (Sam Elliot), former Union soldiers leading a group of German and Romani settlers searching for the same. 1883's depiction of diseases like smallpox and cholera further adds to the authentically bleak and grim picture that Taylor Sheridan paints in the spinoff. 1883 also dives deep into how the pioneers both survived and died while attempting dangerous river crossings, fending off bandits, and leaving their precious material possessions behind for a lighter journey. While 1883 shares many key elements with Yellowstone, unlike the original series, 1883 is a period drama that's thematically closer to
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