“We are in the land of no mercy now” is a startling, true quote from Elsa Dutton that explains the merciless western land she and her family must travel through in order to make it to Oregon. A western mini-series, 1883 focuses on how the Duttons obtained their family ranch called Yellowstone. However, the Duttons are not the only focus of the show. Traveling with them is a large group of European immigrants also looking for a better life in America. Together they travel to Oregon facing extreme challenges like raging tornadoes, battling rattlesnakes, and crossing rivers.

1883 is a tragic and fierce show that reveals the harsh reality of traveling the Oregon Trail. Not only is the show phenomenally written, but the actors portray the characters spectacularly. Cowboy legend Sam Elliot, who plays Captain, is the most notable member of the cast. Two more noteworthy cast members are Tim Mcgraw and Faith Hill who play Margaret and James Dutton. The narrator and main character, Elsa Dutton, is played by lesser-known actress Isabel May. However, she does a wonderful job of portraying the free-spirited Dutton daughter. Isabel May captivates the audience through Elsa’s journey from a naive young lady to a confident cowgirl. 

Death stares viewers right in the face during the opening scene of episode one as Elsa is speared through the stomach by an arrow. The show then quickly cuts to an event in the past, where Elsa and her mom are traveling to Texas by train in order to meet her father to start their journey out west. Viewers are left shocked and wondering if Elsa will survive, but they won’t find out till the very last episode of the show. 

It was devastating to watch Elsa truly learn what love and the resulting heartbreak is like. Elsa was one of the (if not the) best characters in the show. Another great thing about 1883 is the phenomenal horsemanship shown throughout the episodes. Each actor and actress can really ride, which helps make the show more believable. There isn’t a bad thing to say about the show. To some people, the episodes might be slow at times, but every piece of each episode is important to the series. 

The show is guaranteed to bring people to tears. Viewers will go through a roller coaster of emotions when watching this series. Taylor Sheridan, the writer and producer of the show, has done it yet again creating a series to remember. Sheridan has written the sequel series to 1883 called Yellowstone which takes place in present-day United States and follows another generation of Duttons; there are four seasons out now. There is another mini-series scheduled to air later called 1932, which follows the children of 1883, all grown up and struggling to live through the Great Depression. 

There are ten episodes in the series that have all been released on Paramount Plus. The episodes can be graphic so the show is more recommended for ages sixteen and up. 1883 is a captivating show to watch and proves that the Oregon Trail truly is the land of no mercy.