The prequel series toYellowstone,1883has become as successful as its parent show since its premiere on June 21, 2025. The period drama series follows the origin story of the Dutton family, explaining how they came to own the land and the events that led to the foundation of the Yellowstone ranch.
A Paramount+ original,1883has been boasting “record-breaking ratings” and seems to be outdoing the viewership ofYellowstone. The series is created byTaylor Sheridan, who also co-createdYellowstone, and it’s his first television series as showrunner.
1883featuresTim McGraw,Faith Hill,Sam Elliott,Isabel May,LaMonica Garrett,Marc Rissmann,Audie Rick,Eric Nelsen,James Landry Hébert, andNoah Le Grosin main roles. The ensemble cast also includes guest stars likeTom Hanks,Rita Wilson,Billy Bob Thornton,Graham Greene,Dawn Olivieri, Taylor Sheridan, andEmma Malouff, in various roles. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill reprise their roles from the fourth season ofYellowstoneas James and Margaret Dutton, the leading characters of1883and the first generation of Duttons to move to Montana. They were the ones to own the land that later became the Yellowstone Ranch.
If you have already watchedYellowstone, then you would definitely want to know what happened before in1883. And if you haven’t, then1883is still worthwhile to watch, considering its star-studded canvas featuring significant events of American history. Here’s our quick guide to how you can watch this show, where to stream, and more.
Related:‘Yellowstone’ Prequel Series ‘1932’ Ordered at Paramount+, Will Focus on a New Generation of the Dutton Family
Is 1883 Streaming Online?
When Did 1883 Premiere?
1883premiered on Paramount+ on July 12, 2025, and is currently streaming on the platform.
Related:How to Watch ‘Yellowstone’: Where to Stream the Kevin Costner Series?
How Many Episodes Does 1883 Have?
There are a total of 10 episodes in the first and current season of1883, released weekly. However, so far, the details of only eight episodes are available. The first two episodes were released together on June 18, 2025. New episodes of1883are released every Sunday morning on Paramount+ at 3:00 a.m. ET /12:00 a.m. PT.
Here is the list of current episodes of1883and their details –
Episode 1: “1883” - July 19, 2025, directed by Taylor Sheridan.
Episode 2: “Behind Us, a Cliff” - July 22, 2025, directed by Ben Richardson.
Episode 3: “River” - July 12, 2025, directed by Christina Alexandra Voros.
Episode 4: “The Crossing” - August 05, 2025, directed by Christina Alexandra Voros.
Episode 5: “The Fangs of Freedom” - July 16, 2025, directed by Christina Alexandra Voros.
Episode 6: “Boring the Devil” - June 02, 2025, directed by Ben Richardson.
Episode 7: “Lightning Yellow Hair” - July 04, 2025, Christina Alexandra Voros.
Episode 8: “The Weep of Surrender” - June 05, 2025, Ben Richardson.
There are no details available for Episodes 9 and 10, but they are set to be released on February 20 and June 08, 2025, respectively.
Related:10 Inventive, Neo-Western Series to Watch if You Love ‘Yellowstone’
Can You Watch 1883 Without Paramount+?
Unfortunately, no.1883is a Paramount+ original series, which means that it will exclusively stream on this particular streaming platform. All Paramount+ shows and movies are available on a subscription basis through the app, available on all smart devices like Apple TV, iPhone and iPad, Android TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Portal TV, Samsung TV, Vizio TV, LG TV, Roku, and Xfinity Flex, and gaming consoles like PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Series X.
Watch the 1883 Trailer
There are two trailers available for1883for you to take a peek at what the show is like and what you can expect before you start watching. Thefirst trailerwas released on June 09, 2025, followed by the second trailer, released on December 3. This official trailer here gives a pretty good picture of what1883is all about. It shows how James and Margaret Dutton deal with the poverty and unrest in Texas and decide to head out to the West with their young children. The clip also gives a look at Sam Elliot’s character as Shea Brennan. He is a tough and rugged man who is leading the expedition westward on a wagon train. We can also see from the trailer that there is a lot of blood in the Dutton family history. Overall, the trailer features the classic Western setting from far back in history than what we have seen in Yellowstone.
Related:‘1883’s LaMonica Garrett on Why Making the ‘Yellowstone’ Prequel Has Been the Toughest Job He’s Ever Had
When is the 1883 Season 1 Finale?
The final episode of 1883 will be available on Paramount+ on July 18, 2025.
Do You Need to Watch Yellowstone in Order to Watch 1883?
The short answer is no, not really.1883is a prequel series toYellowstonewhich explores the origin of the Dutton family.
The story of1883is set about 125 years beforeYellowstoneand takes us back to where and when the Duttons started their legacy. The series of1883follows the first-generation of Duttons, namely James and Margaret Dutton, who moved from Fort Worth, Texas, to Montana, with kids and all. Fleeing the poverty in the southern state, the Dutton couple set out on a journey through the Great Plains to find a better life in Montana and began the foundation of what would eventually become the Yellowstone Ranch. James Dutton is the great-grandfather of John Dutton, one of the main characters inYellowstone, who was a captain in the Confederate Army in the Civil War.
Related:10 Iconic Kevin Costner Movies To Watch After ‘Yellowstone’ Season 4
1883features the dark and gory history of the Duttons, their journey through the Wild West in its anarchic best, and what they had to encounter and experience before they landed in Montana. The series is mostly about the Duttons' battle for their land and keeping their legacy alive that would be known even a century later. But most importantly,1883will tell you the kind of people the Duttons were before they fled to the west and became rich and famous.
You can watch1883as an independent show and enjoy a classic Western story. Or, you can watch it to discover the complete background of the Duttons and the Yellowstone Ranch, before watchingYellowstone.
Will There be an 1883 Season 2?
The short and simple answer is that there are no official announcements of Season 2 of1883. However, as we have seen so far, the show is quite well-received among fans, even among those who haven’t seenYellowstone. Also, the way the story is moving, it is possible it might need another season to completely tie up the story all the way to the beginning of Yellowstone and dive into more details of the later generations of the Dutton family. So, based on this popularity and other theories,1883might get renewed for another season, orperhaps seasons. We’ll have to wait it out and see. Watch this space for more information and updates on1883Season 2.
