As ‘1883’ nears the finish line, Elsa Dutton’s journey of self-discovery also comes to an end. In the penultimate episode of the first season, Elsa (Isabel May) proves once again that she is made for the hardship-filled life of the American Wild West. The episode sees Elsa take the lead in settling a conflict between the caravan and the Lakota people, a Native American tribe.
The situation stems from a misunderstanding but results in many casualties for the caravan. As Elsa is in the thick of the action, we’re sure viewers must be wondering if she makes it out of the conflict alive. Here’s everything you need to know about Elsa’s fate and actress Isabel May’s future on the show! SPOILERS AHEAD!
Will Elsa die?
Elsa Dutton is the daughter of James and Margaret Dutton, who experiences a life-changing journey with her family as she travels across the Great Plains. However, the series’ opening scene, which introduces us to Elsa, portends a tragic fate for the young Dutton girl. In the flash-forward sequence, Elsa fights against a group of Native Americans for her life. Viewers discover the full extent of this scene in the penultimate episode of Season 1. In the episode titled “Racing Clouds”, the caravan arrives at a campsite of the Lakota people, a Native American tribe whose members were murdered by horse thieves. The traces of the group merge with those of the thieves making the tribe believe that the caravan murdered its members.
As a result, the Lakota tribe attacks the caravan and Elsa gets caught in the middle of the action. She is wounded by an arrow and falls from her horse. However, the tenacious Elsa fights back after regaining consciousness and speaks with the leader of the tribe. She convinces him that the group did not kill the tribespeople and ends the battle. However, the arrow Elsa was shot with infected her wound, and despite Margaret and Wade’s best efforts, it seems unlikely that she will survive. James and Margaret become convinced that the injury is serious and that Elsa will succumb to it. After seeing her parents’ reaction, Elsa accepts her fate and prepares to die.
Does Isabel May leave 1883?
Elsa’s death was a major moment that the series has built from the very beginning. It seems her fate is sealed and she will perish in the season finale. James and Margaret want Elsa to live her days with the same spirit and optimism she always has. Therefore, they choose not to subject her to medical treatment which will likely kill her. Additionally, in the flash-forward scenes set in 1893, appearing in “Yellowstone” Season 4, featuring James and his family, Elsa has vanished precariously, further solidifying the idea that she is long gone at that time. It is also hinted in the ninth episode of season 1 of “1883” that Elsa’s death motivates the Duttons to move to Montana, where they build the Yellowstone Ranch.
After considering all the developments, it seems almost certain that Elsa will die. However, Elsa is the main narrator of the series and the story unfolds through her point of view. Actress Isabel May who tries out for the role, is a series regular and an integral part of the series. Additionally, the series has been renewed for a second season. Therefore, if Elsa perishes in the Season 1 finale, the show will have to undergo a tonal shift for the second season to fill the void left by May’s absence. As it stands, the creators and May have remained silent on Elsa’s fate, presumably to avoid spoilers for the season finale. Therefore, viewers will have to tune in to the Season 1 finale of “1883” to find out more about Elsa’s fate and May’s future on the show.
Read more: Where did Charlie go? Does Taylor Sheridan leave 1883?
