1923 Episode 105 Recap: “Ghost of Zebrina”

Here are some random thoughts prompted by “Ghost of Zebrina,” Episode 105 of 1923, which premiered early Sunday on Paramount+. Please keep in mind: There will be scads of spoilers here, so consider yourself warned.

• • Another suicide? Yep. After Taylor Sheridan disposed of two characters — Claire Dutton (Dawn Olivieri), James’ widowed sister, and Shea Brennan (Sam Elliott), the grizzled leader of the wagon train — with self-inflicted gunshot wounds in 1883, it probably should not have come as a surprise to see someone checking out in similar fashion here. And let’s face it: With all due respect and sympathy for Emma Dutton (Marley Shelton), who lost her husband John Dutton Sr. (James Badge Dale) during the ambush led by Banner Creighton (Jerome Lynn), there really wasn’t much reason to keep her around, given her relative lack of consequence in the central narrative. Indeed, you could argue that her suicide served more purpose anything the character ever did while she was alive: It provided even more motivation for her son Jack (Darren Mann) to seek vengeance on the people responsible, directly or indirectly, for the deaths of his parents.

• • Speaking of death: After killing two of the nuns who tormented her at the Indian School, Teonna Rainwater (Aminah Nieves) fled the scene of the crime and set out on a long journey back to her own people. Not surprisingly, this enraged school headmaster Father Renard (Sebastian Roché), who fatally beat one of Teonna’s friends while questioning her about the fugitive girl’s whereabouts. Before her demise, however, the unfortunate friend warned the priest, in her native language, that her people would eventually seek revenge against him. We can’t wait.

• • Once again: I wonder when some pressure group will start complaining about the villainous depiction of Catholic clergy on this show? I mean, isn’t that what pressure groups usually do?

• • While on the run through the wilderness, Teonna had the good fortune of running into… Hey, look! It’s Michael Greyeyes! Here he is, folks, cast as Hank, a Native sheepherder who just happens to be familiar with Teonna’s father. Evidently, he’s also familiar with the abusive treatment of Native children at Indian Schools. When Teonna described why she murdered the nuns, he nodded knowingly and replied: “They did this to you? I’d say they had it coming.” Which, of course is true.

• • Meanwhile, back at the Yellowstone Ranch, Jacob Dutton (Harrison Ford) continues to make a remarkably speedy recovery for a man who had nine bullets pumped into him. Not only is he starting to climb stairs again — very slowly, to be sure, but it’s a start — he’s hankering for a steak dinner. Unfortunately, Cara (Helen Mirren) insists that it’s too soon for the latter. He’ll have to make do with broiled chicken and rice for now. Doctor’s orders.

• • In another part of the area, however, the conniving Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton) has no comparable restraint on his own rapacious appetite. After buying land adjoining Yellowstone, he’s determined to gain control of “the whole valley,” one way or another, to mine for gold. His chief ally in this endeavor, of course, remains Banner Creighton, who received a major bonus from Whitfield this week: A nicely appointed house complete with electricity, a gas stove and running water. All of which are luxuries in that part of the world at that point in time.

• • Someone mentioned that many cowboys have left the area and headed to Hollywood “to play cowboy in the silent pictures.” But, er, this is 1923, right? And “silent pictures” are the only pictures being made, correct? Hmmm. Can you say, anachronism?

• • Jack and Elizabeth (Michelle Randolph) finally got married — kinda-sorta. They pledged their vows to each other in a picturesque corner of Yellowstone — without benefit of clergy or witnesses, but very much with love and optimism. Not too long afterwards, however, Liz asked Cara to help facilitate a more formal wedding because, well, she’s pregnant. Cara happily agreed, noting: “That is the first good news these ears have heard in months.” No kidding.

• • Cara got more good news at the local post office: Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) sent a wire informing her that he is returning home from Africa. Shortly before that, however, Cara had her first face-to-face confrontation with Whitfield, who did his sweet-talking best to charm her. It didn’t work.

• • Trouble is, there’s a good chance Cara’s hopes for a family reunion may be dashed. Spencer and Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer) began their journey from Africa aboard a tugboat bound for Suez. Unfortunately, the boat’s tubercular captain, a salty old sea dog named Lucca (Peter Stomare), died during the trip. Even more unfortunately, the boat was struck by an abandoned “ghost ship.” Earlier in the episode, we were informed by narrator Isabel May (who played Elsa in 1883) that the trip would be Spencer’s “last” journey. Uh-oh.

  Photography: Christopher Saunders/Paramount+