Mar
Darren Mann Reacts to Jack Dutton’s Shocking Death on 1923: ‘Heartbroken’
We’ve lost a Dutton, folks.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for 1923 Season 2, Episode 6, “The Mountain Teeth of Monsters.”
1923 star Darren Mann had always suspected that his character, the kind-hearted cowboy Jack Dutton, might not make it to the end of the series. But it wasn’t until he read the script for episode 6 of season 2 that the harsh reality of his character’s fate truly hit home.
“I would look around on set during season 1 at cowboy camp, thinking, ‘Knowing a Taylor [Sheridan] show, I wonder how many of us will make it out alive,’” Mann tells Entertainment Weekly. “The odds were pretty high someone would end up with a bullet, right? So I always had a feeling, but it wasn’t until I got to that page in episode six that it all became real. I thought, ‘Oh man, this is how he goes.’”
Mann admits that reading the script was a tough moment. “I was sad. I was angry. I was every emotion. I love playing Jack, and I wanted Jack to go on forever. It was such a fun character to play, so I was definitely heartbroken,” he says.
In the episode, Jack, anticipating a brutal conflict between the Duttons and Whitfield’s (Timothy Dalton) men, heads out alone toward Livingston station after hearing that Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) is on his way back to Montana. During his journey, he crosses paths with two livestock commission agents whom he believes to be allies. However, his trust is betrayed when one of the agents shoots him dead.
The shocking twist took Jack by complete surprise. “At first, he’s a bit cautious, but then he hears ‘livestock commission’ and thinks, ‘Oh, it’s my guys. Everything’s good. These are my bros, we’re gonna fight together.’ He never considers the possibility of being double-crossed. Jack is naive, but it’s the kind of naivety that comes from a place of pure intention, not ignorance,” Mann explains.
Mann points out that Jack’s unexpected death speaks to the harsh, unpredictable nature of life in 1923—and in reality. “We all hope for a heroic last stand, but I think this was a more realistic and artistic choice,” he reflects. “It shows that sometimes, a person can be alive one moment and gone the next.”
While some fans may question Jack’s decision to venture out alone, Mann suggests that even if Jack had chosen to stay behind or travel with Jacob (Harrison Ford), his fate may have been the same. “I could definitely see Jack sacrificing himself to save someone else,” he says. “Even though going off solo was dangerous, he was doing it for his family. Maybe, in some way, that decision helped. I like to think I slowed them down, at least a little bit.”
Mann also shares that filming Jack’s death was a daunting experience. “That was the most self-conscious I’ve felt while filming Jack’s scenes,” he admits. “I just love playing Jack so much, and I wanted to make sure I did justice to his final moments.” He leans on director Ben Richardson and the cast for support, trusting that his instincts would guide him through the emotionally charged scene.
Jack’s death is made all the more heartbreaking by the fact that his wife, Elizabeth (Michelle Randolph), had spent part of the season pleading with him to leave the ranch and move to Boston. The couple had recently decided to stay in Montana after discovering they were expecting their first child, adding another layer of tragedy to Jack’s demise.
Mann expresses hope that Elizabeth will continue to be a part of the Dutton family, despite her loss. “I hope she stays because Jack’s spirit will always be with her. She’ll feel him around her, and I hope she’ll come to love the life Jack loved,” he says. “My family will always be there for her.”
Mann adds that he and his castmates had their own “fairytale endings” for 1923, imagining a future where Spencer and Jack run the ranch together as a happy family. “In my mind, Spencer would come back, meet Alex (Julia Schlaepfer), and we’d be the greatest cattle farmers ever. But I guess that’s not how Taylor saw the story unfolding.”
With Jack now gone, Mann is open to appearing in any of Sheridan’s other shows, including Landman, the Texas oil drama starring Billy Bob Thornton and featuring Randolph. “I’m totally down,” Mann says. “I’m such a fan of Taylor’s work. He’s one of the best storytellers out there, so I’d love the chance to work with him again.”
1923 is currently streaming on Paramount+.
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