On the latest episode of Bingeworthy, host Mike DeAngelo heads back into Taylor Sheridan territory with the second and final season of “1923,” the Paramount+ “Yellowstone” prequel that brought new layers of trauma, tragedy, and grit to the Dutton family tree. This time, the fight for legacy grows more urgent as Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara (Helen Mirren) hold down the homestead while Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) races home from across the globe. But some of the most painful blows come from closer to home—especially for Michelle Randolph’s character, Elizabeth, who endures brutal loss and finds herself unexpectedly alone by the series’ final moments.
Spoiler alert: we’re diving into the Season 2 finale.
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Joining our show to reflect on Elizabeth’s powerful final “1923” scenes, Michelle Randolph opened up about the emotional and physical toll of the role, the empowering transformation of her character, and how she found strength in the pain in the final episodes.
“[When I ran] out to tell Jack that I’m pregnant, and it was freezing cold—about to start snowing—that was physically the most brutal,” Randolph recalled of shooting a pivotal moment in delicate 1920s silk pajamas. “It’s just impossible to do anything when you’re cold. My face couldn’t move.”
Emotionally, things hit just as hard. By the end of Season 2, Elizabeth loses her husband, is left pregnant, and chooses to leave the ranch behind. Her final scene with Helen Mirren’s Cara Dutton is one of the show’s most heartbreaking.
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“We talked about it with Helen and with Ben Richardson, our director,” Randolph said. “It feels a little bit dismissive of all that’s just happened—like, ‘Oh, you’re going to forget about him. You’ll move on.’ But I think it comes from a place of Cara trying to comfort Elizabeth. She doesn’t know what to say, and she’s just trying to say, ‘I know all this tragedy just happened, and you are forever changed, but you will find joy again.’”
Randolph believes Elizabeth’s quiet exit marks a turning point. “There’s also a real strength in that scene that you haven’t really seen from Elizabeth,” she said. “She’s leaving a changed person.”
While Taylor Sheridan hasn’t revealed what’s next for her character, Randolph shared her hopes for the future: “She’s leaving the ranch as a Dutton. She’s changed, and I don’t think she’s going to go back to her old ways. I think when she goes back, she’s living on the East Coast as a Dutton woman.” But will she be back in the next Yellowstone prequel, “1944?” “They can age me up,” Randolph said. “Look, they can do really cool prosthetics. I’m in.”
So, yes, this is definitely the end of the line for “1923.” But Randolph’s Sheridan universe journey continues with “Landman,” which just started filming its second season. She plays Ainsley, a very modern firecracker of a daughter opposite Billy Bob Thornton—and the shift in tone couldn’t be more different.
“They’re so different,” Randolph said of playing Elizabeth and Ainsley. “But I didn’t have a hard time switching between the two. If they were in the same time period or the same accent, it might be harder—but they’re extremely different people.”
And working with Thornton? “Every line Ainsley delivers, I’ve justified. I think she’s perfectly in her right, to be overly honest. Like, what’s wrong with being honest? I appreciate that about her.”
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The actress also touched on online criticism of Ainsley’s sexualization in season one, despite being a teen character. “I just read the scripts and find ways to justify the scenes and do my job,” she said. “People are always going to have a reaction… I try not to pay attention to that.”
If that weren’t enough, Randolph is also entering horror royalty with a role in “Scream 7.” Though she couldn’t reveal much, she emphasized the importance of working with Kevin Williamson, who created the franchise.
“I’ve seen every single ‘Scream,’ so there was a lot of pressure to make sure we keep the audience happy,” she said. “I had a really redacted script at first… but then I was able to read it, and there were still certain parts that were completely left blank.”
The vibe on set, she said, was one of deep respect and excitement. “Everyone’s seen all of them. The littlest details are what makes the movie so special. It’s a movie within a movie. And every character is referencing and connected to someone else. It was so fun because every single person knew the stories.”
Randolph also teased that she’s looking forward to even more challenging roles. “Honestly, I just want to do it all. Any script that excites me and kind of scares me a little bit is what I’m interested in doing.”
Listen to the entire Bingeworthy conversation with Randolph about “1923” and beyond below.

The Playlist Presents: Michelle Randolph’s Film & TV Recommendation Playlist:

“White Lotus” (2021– )
“The Office” (2005–2013)
“Tombstone” (1993)

“1923” Seasons 1 and 2 and “Landman” Season 1 are now streaming on Paramount+.
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