The much-anticipated Yellowstone prequel 1923 is set to enrapture audiences as it returns on The Paramount Network and Paramount Plus from February 23. Julia Schlaepfer, portraying Alex in the series, has recently shared exclusive details about the evolution of her character for the upcoming season.
As fans will recall, the first season finale left Alex heart-wrenchingly separated from Spencer Dutton (portrayed by Brandon Sklenar) as he ventured back to Montana to protect his relatives, following their impromptu marriage on a ship.
Unfortunately, destiny had other plans; while they wished to embark on life’s journey together, Alex found herself stranded back in England, in a precarious position. Shedding light on Alex’s plight, Julia revealed, “I think we find her in such a broken place, she was this caged bird who broke free of that and then was quickly caged once more.
“Not only did she lose the love of her life, but she watched the love of her life kill another man in front of her which is a lot to process. Then she’s returned home and literally locked in her house by her family with so much at stake now.”
She further conveyed the gravity of Alex’s predicament to The Mirror US: “I think it’s a really terrifying thing for her and she’s lost, she doesn’t know exactly how she’s going to do it. She wants to get to Spencer as quickly as possible but I think without anyone around her she feels she can trust it’s just a devastating place we find her in.”
Alex actress Julia Schlaepfer in season 2 (Image: PARAMOUNT)
With anticipation soaring amongst the fanbase, theories abound regarding Alex’s fate, particularly the speculation that she might be expecting Spencer’s child.
When prompted about the fan conjecture she encounters, Julia commented: “Sometimes it’s fun to see comments on social media and be like ‘Hmm OK, you are going to be excited’ or ‘You’re going to be disappointed’.
“While we were filming I just sort of tuned it all out and lived in a bubble but no, I love the fans so much.
“It’s such an honour that they are so invested and it’s such an incredible legacy to be a part of the Yellowstone universe.”
Highlighting the fan excitement and dedication, she confessed: “It just makes me happy that they get excited about it and they want to know what’s going to happen but I do have to avoid it sometimes.”
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Alex and Spencer were married in season 1 (Image: PARAMOUNT)
The actress even spoke about her own parents being superfans of Yellowstone, yet struggling to keep the secrets from them.
“They are like ‘You can’t tell us anything’ but then they want to talk about it sometimes and I’m like ‘Guys, I can’t do this, I don’t know what to tell you’.”
Speculation around Spencer and Alex potentially becoming parents emerged from an interview with Brandon Sklenar and Julia for TV Line. Discussing how Spencer would react if Alex became pregnant, Brandon remarked: “It would motivate him, you know?
“He’s really on a path of wanting to have a life with her and have her at the ranch, and he definitely has to have children one day – because he has purpose, and he has something to live for, and he’s just really hooked into that purpose.
“So, anything that would further fuel that, I think he’d be fully accepting and embracing of it.”
1923 season 2 airs on The Paramount Network and Paramount Plus from February 23