1923 Gave Us The Romance Yellowstone Couldn't

Beth and Rip Wheeler. Monica and Kayce Dutton. Jamie and (uh) Sarah Atwood. Yellowstone has attempted to present viewers with romance, and, the reaction has mostly been upset stomachs and resisting the urge to choke on vomit.

For many, watching Rip swoon over an undeserving Beth Dutton or listening to Monica gripe doesn't get audiences interested or connected.

After all, most quality TV shows have at least one decent romance to root for, even the silly ones like The Office. Fortunately, 1923 has finally delivered the romance Yellowston could never muster.

Sure, Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan is not renowned for making mushy, heartfelt dramas. In general, his stories are dark and feature characters that are not always redeemable. Perhaps his shows are extremely popular because Sheridan doesn't fall victim to the usual pitfalls of bad writing and forced romance.

Nonetheless, it never hurts to have a little love in the air.

1923 is the first show Sheridan has produced that finally gets a romantic relationship right. Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) and Alex (Julia Schlaepfer) are a young couple seeking adventure in post-World War I Africa. Spencer makes a living hunting dangerous prey like elephants and lions. Throughout the first several episodes of 1923 we get to watch that romance unfold on screen.

However, (teasers ahead) Spencer is summoned back home to the United States after he receives a letter from his aunt Cara (Helen Mirren). He makes the determination to bring Alex with him, a decision that is nearly fatal once their tugboat almost capsizes in the ocean. Fortunately, the couple is rescued and presented with a new opportunity to return to the States.

Spencer, realizing that it will be hard for Alex to gain admittance being unmarried, decides to make it official. Hence, the pair shocks audiences in "One Ocean Closer to Destiny" (S1, E6) as they exchange vows in the open waters. The tender moment is simultaneous with Spencer's nephew, Jack Dutton (Joseph Mawle), getting married to Elizabeth (Michelle Randolph) back in Montana.

These moments in 1923 were not present in Yellowstone, even if romance was forced in other ways.

What makes 1923 different? Perhaps it's because the couples in the show are younger and still relatively innocent. They are not corrupt or tainted as is the case in Yellowstone. Nevertheless, audiences also appreciate the sweet moments Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara spend on screen. Perhaps 1923 features more likable characters, or is just better overall?

With all the gossip surrounding Kevin Costner's potential exit from Yellowstone, it's time for 1923 to take over the TV hemisphere. The first season is a remarkable improvement over the most recent, much despised, season five of Yellowstone. For this reason, we can all be thankful that 1923 is not diverting down the same course as its predecessor.