While the show features a large ensemble of characters, 1883 primarily focuses on 4 of them: patriarch James Dillard Dutton (Tim McGraw), matriarch Margaret Dutton (Faith Hill), their 17-year-old daughter and the show’s narrator, Elsa Dutton (Isabel May), and Pinkerton agent and leader of the wagon train Shea Brennan (Sam Elliott). Due to the series being only 10 episodes long, 1883 manages to be a very tightly-written and paced show that explores the history of the Dutton family while also delivering a bittersweet ending that results in one of the Dutton family’s deaths. However, despite this show’s success, why did it get only one season?
The reason why 1883 is not getting a second season is that Sheridan and his creative team have told the story that they wanted to tell, so there is neither a need nor a desire to produce a second season. According to Sheridan;
“We wanted to make a 10-hour movie that ended, and that’s what we did. For me, as a storyteller it feels close ended.”
(via Town and Country). 1833 reached its natural conclusion, and Sheridan made it clear that making a second season would be unnecessary. Instead, he is focusing on the other Yellowstone prequel shows like 1923 and the upcoming Lawmen: Bass Reeves.
