1923 Theory: Could John Dutton And Thomas Rainwater Be Related Via Spencer? – Looper

The idea that Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) might be a thus far missing link in the Dutton-Rainwater sagas is, at first glance, rather implausible. Yes, unlike “1883,” “1923” does introduce a character with the same last name as Thomas in the figure of Teonna (Aminah Nieves). It is also true that, though her own story has yet to cross over with the struggle for control over Yellowstone, she is headed its way by the end of Season 1 of “1923.” Clearly, the stage is being set for the two stories to converge. 

The theory, put forward by u/Affectionate-Pound20 at the r/YellowstonePN subreddit, involves Teonna and Spencer falling for each other. That seems far-fetched given how utterly devoted Spencer is to Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer), but as the Redditor elaborated, she has also told Spencer that she never wants to feel how they did that night when both were stranded up a tree surrounded by lions in Kenya. With both now headed into a low-level warzone in Montana, it may be some time before the lovers can escape. “So basically,” they wrote, “Alex either dies or leaves Spencer and Spencer ends up with Teonna.”

The theory was elaborated further by u/Affectionate-Pound20, pointing out that Spencer’s distaste for racism has already been established, a distaste that endures through the present day in the Dutton family with Kayce’s (Luke Grimes) marriage to Monica Long (Kelsey Asbille), granddaughter of Broken Rock Reservation elder Felix Long (Rudy Ramos). While all the above is plausible on its own terms, it does not account for how it is that the Duttons — not exactly a family to lose track of their family tree — could have just somehow forgotten about their blood relation to the Rainwaters, or simply not mentioned it up until now.