The Yellowstone spin-off may excel in many regards, including garnering strong viewership for season one, yet there is one significant issue that is preventing 1883 from being taken seriously.
The TV show, based on the year it’s presented, is an homage to the universe that Taylor Sheridan has spawned.
It tells the origin stories of the families that migrated west and settled the land which later becomes in possession of John Dutton (Kevin Costner) in Yellowstone.
The show is a prequel to the latest Yellowstone spin-off, 1923.
However, there is one subtle detail in 1883 that, according to Southerners, completely takes audiences out of the setting and is a gigantic distraction.
“As a Southern, the narration of 1883 is awful,” the Redditor griped when examining the one flaw in 1883 most are not willing to ignore.
And they are not necessarily wrong. Despite the strong acting performances from Tim McGraw (James Dutton) and Faith Hill (Margaret Dutton), as well as an appearance by none other than the legendary Sam Elliot (Shea Brennan) – 1883 suffers because of its “over the top” narration. Primarily, the poor accent and delivery of the narrator.
Okay, so we all have our caricatures of a typical Southerner. Perhaps the individual speaks with a noticeable southern draw?
It’s a common assumption, yet that doesn’t necessarily mean it belongs in a TV show designed to depict the era.
Sadly, the obnoxious interpretation of how Southerners speak has contributed to some fans being turned off by the show completely. As one Redditor quipped, it’s like a poor caricature of Scarlett O’Hara.
In the end, the way the characters speak does matter to many who care about historical accuracy. The show’s creator, Sheridan, is notorious for his crafty use of dialogue.
Therefore, blatantly ignoring what many consider a ridiculous portrayal of how Southerners spoke in the time period, raises concerns.
Yes, every movie that features a southern character may overemphasize the draw or jargon of the region, but that’s not excusable in an era concerned about being politically correct.
Some may define it as a minor detail, but it has certainly driven enough people on Reddit to comment on the issue.
The best advice may have come from one poster who mentioned how different states in the south often sound different from each other, and how that dialect can get incorporated into future pictures about the south for a more accurate portrayal.