1883, the prequel spinoff series to the neo-Western Yellowstone, has been lauded for its historical elements – save for one tiny, dental detail.
1883’s portrayal of the lives and struggles of pioneering American settlers from the late 19th century has been celebrated for its authenticity and historical accuracy, but one detail stands out to irk the most hardcore of period drama fans — the 1883 cast’s teeth. While the Yellowstone prequel’s tale of the old wild west is entirely fictional, true stories inspired the characters in 1883. Set in the late 19th century, within the lands claimed by the U.S. government through the Louisiana Purchase, 1883 reveals the roots of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch empire in Montana.
1883 revolves around the struggles of the ancestors of Yellowstone’s John Dutton (Kevin Costner) as they left Tennessee in search of greener pastures in the frontier. There’s also Thomas (LaMonica Garrett) and Shea Brennan (Sam Elliot), former Union soldiers leading a group of German and Romani settlers searching for the same. 1883’s depiction of diseases like smallpox and cholera further added to the authentically bleak and grim picture that Taylor Sheridan painted in the spinoff. 1883 also dove deep into how the pioneers both survived and died while attempting dangerous river crossings, fending off bandits, and leaving their precious material possessions behind for a lighter journey. While 1883 shares many key elements with Yellowstone, unlike the original series, 1883 is a period drama that’s thematically closer to traditional Westerns. 1883 viewers, however, have pointed out the fact that all of 1883’s characters have clean, healthy teeth, which was very uncommon in the late 19th century.
1883 Cast Teeth Historical Inaccuracy Explained