1923 (Season 1), Episode 7 Recap & Ending Explained: Taylor Sheridan’s contemporary western saga excels in two regards. The first one is its breathtaking cinematography, where every frame does justice to the epic proportions of its setting. Another one is its dialogue which elevates the drama to the same epicness.
Like many other western dramas, the script of 1923 deals with themes of land ownership, personal vendettas, and a need for survival. Yet, the drama between its characters feels incredibly personal and infinitely grand in equal measure. Managing to do that episode after episode is the success of Ben Richardson’s commendable direction.
The latest episode of this show showcases how the changes around the world in 1923 impacted the lives of these Montana dwellers. Let’s take a look at what happens in this new episode, streaming on Paramount+. Beware, spoilers ahead!
1923 (Season 1), Episode 7 Recap:
Episode 7: The Rule of Five Hundred
After the attack by Banner Creighton (Jerome Flynn) and his gang of sheepherders, the Dutton family struggles to maintain the same level of command over their land as before. While bedridden Jacob (Harrison Ford) was its primary reason, he slowly gains back his momentum. The newlyweds, Jack (Darren Mann) and Elizabeth (Michelle Randolph), are still figuring out the equations of their desires in this new form. Yet, he decides to join Jacob on his journey to the city to take revenge against Banner.
Cara (Helen Mirren) is worried about Jacob’s health. But she knows that these men won’t find comfort until they take the necessary steps for the land. After saying goodbye to the women, the Duttons head toward the city along with fellow ranchers. The city is slowly getting covered with snow. But that does not take down the spirit of these resolute men.
Meanwhile, Banner enjoys the luxuries of his new life in the city. He uncorks a bottle of champagne and heads toward his bed, where two naked women are waiting for him. While the two relish the expensive drinks, Banner heads to the door to see who is knocking. He sees the sheriff, who tells him that he is under arrest on the counts of murder and attempted murder.
Banner’s first instinct is to deny the charges. But he does that, too, with fake bravado. He asks whom he couldn’t kill. That’s when Jacob appears in front of him and makes him aware that he failed in his murder attempt. While the men take Banner away, he continues to present himself as more powerful than the ranchers. In his pitiable attempts to do so, he ends up confessing to the crimes.
Meanwhile, Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton) starts mining on the land he now owns because of Banner. He seems passionate about this venture that will make him wealthier. In the middle of this work, he gets a message that the sheriff went to Banner’s house. He would rather have Banner killed than arrested since an arrest can potentially reveal his ill intent and tarnish his image. So, to save his reputation, he heads back to the city.
Meanwhile, Whitfield sends an attorney to the prison for Banner, who informs him about the further steps he must take. While he speaks about getting him out, Banner is more concerned about the two prostitutes back in his house. The lawyer tells the same to Whitfield and that Banner wants them out. He decides to head to the house to remove them himself. When he reaches there, he first makes it clear to these women that it is his house. Then, he shares an amount much more than what Banner owes them. In exchange, he wants to avail a service for himself. He starts hitting one of them on her bottom and derives a sadistic pleasure. He asks the other hooker to do the same to her and relishes this debauchery.
Meanwhile, Cara writes another letter addressed to Spencer. Elizabeth finds it strange knowing that he is returning soon to the ranch. Cara mentions these letters as her habit of writing down her thoughts without letting them seem like a narcissistic activity. She then ruminates over the memories of Spencer, who was deliberate in everything he did. However, like Jacob, she prefers to have a purpose for her life instead of living a life on whims. Elizabeth opens up about her desire to learn how to prepare a cake. Cara teaches her, and it becomes a moment for them to bond with.
Since Jacob returns around the same time, he gets pleased to see them being content in their lives. He shares the news that Banner is in jail where he belongs. While the old couple seeks solace in each other, Elizabeth runs outside to meet her beau. During their dinner, their casual dialogue leads to the signs of the great depression. The newspaper says that the unemployment rate has declined. However, that isn’t the situation in Montana.
Then in another news, Jack reads Whitfield being named as the vice-chair for the committee to regulate mining. He finds it absurd that the people who own mines are put in charge of regulating them. Jacob sees it as the way politics has always worked. That opens up a debate between these two men, where Jacob once again brings up the theory of survival of the fittest to the discussion.
Whether it is him or Whitfield, he sees that both are doing things to protect their families and their possessions. While Jack’s idealistic mind finds it inadmissible, Jacob sees it as the only way to survive. Cara gets furious over their discussion of politics during dinner and storms out of the room. Elizabeth also follows her. Jacob understands that Cara is not sore but rather scared about the consequences Jacob will face as a result of getting Banner arrested.
Meanwhile, Issaxche (Amelia Rico) is found by two native American men days after the men looking for Teonna (Aminah Nieves) killed her. The older one sees it not as a sign of robbery since she did not have much. Based on the horse foot signs, he believes the government ordered her death. The younger one bears the message from Hank about danger and heads toward him. Meanwhile, the old man buries Issaxche’s body and pays her respects.
On his way, the young man stops somewhere to take some rest. Two white men looking for Teonna approach him. They threaten his life if he does not answer their questions. He gets annoyed by their pestering and refuses to answer since he isn’t required to. He rather calls them being on this land that they stole from native Americans. Besides this retort, they take his denial to answer as a personal disrespect and approach to harass him. He holds one of the firewood to attack them. Then they all start beating him due to their feeling of entitlement. They even go to the lengths of tying him up and dragging him away like an animal.
The old man gets a hunch of this and starts following them. By night, the white men settle and eat their food while keeping the young man starving. The white man is a priest who asks him about his schooling and questions him about his faith. The young man rejects their enforced religion and sees through this man, who looks at killing innocent people as a way to salvation. The white man keeps talking about a journey toward the light as if he hasn’t derailed from it by terrorizing native Americans who are at no fault.
The white man still cannot digest this bright, young man intelligently responding to his naïve beliefs and goes on to choke him to death. Luckily, the old man shows up at the right time and cuts the priest’s scalp with a knife. Then he cuts his throat and leaves him bleeding on the ground. Then he rescues the young native man, and they speak about Teonna and Hank’s location. They decide to head to red creek together to find them. Before leaving, the old man cuts the other white priest to death and eats his soul.
Meanwhile, two other priests reach Teonna and Hank’s stay and question her. They initially see her as a boy because of her disguise. But due to suspicion, they approach her and eventually start undressing her and see her breasts. Overcome with anger by this harassment, Teonna puts her fingers in the man’s eye and blinds him in an instant. While that upsets them even more, Hank shoots them both with his gun and saves Teonna.
Hank holds her in his arms and starts walking away. One of those priests, who didn’t die, follows Hank and shoots him with the same gun. Teonna is so distraught by this loss that she thrashes this priest with a rock and kills him. While she manages to save herself for the moment, she ends up losing another person who she held dear to her heart.
1923 (Season 1), Episode 7 Ending Explained:
What happens with Spencer and Alexandra? Do they reach safely to the Yellowstone ranch?
While the lands of Montana are filled with the dread of loss and despair, the newlywed couple of Spencer & Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer) are relishing the joys of their adventurous life. The captain, who officiated their wedding, guides Spencer about the next step he needs to take. Spencer feels that he owes this man for his kind gestures. That’s when the captain speaks about his knowledge of ‘the great hunter Spencer Dutton,’ which is why he decided to help them. Spencer learns that his reputation precedes him.
The couple finally reaches the shore of Sicily, Italy, hoping to return soon to the US. The boatman warns him about the mafia, who would not like him bearing a gun. Despite sensing danger, the couple enjoys the thrill of their secret bond, where they take every step based on momentary impulses. They regale during their meal, where Elizabeth keeps making Spencer laugh and brings amusement to his ever-pondering state of life.
Soon after, their reverie gets spoiled by Alexandra’s past fiancé and their respective families showing up at this restaurant. Will the dreams of this couple to live happily on the Yellowstone ranch shatter because of this? Only the next episodes can shed light on that.
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