[Warning: The following post contains MAJOR spoilers about 1923 Season 2 Episode 3, “Wrap Thee in Terror.”]
Alex (Julia Schlaepfer) is the poster girl for somebody who will “transfer mountains” to be with the person she loves. She leaves her lifetime of privilege and extra to reunite with Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) in Montana. Within the March 9 episode of 1923, Alex boards a ship and crosses the Atlantic Ocean to America. When she arrives, the America she meets is a far cry from what she’d heard about.
She is taken to Ellis Island for the immigration course of and finds herself in the course of a nightmare. Through the medical examinations, Alex is compelled to strip bare in entrance of the medical doctors, and one sexually assaults her. Regardless of her horrifying circumstances, Alex’s power by no means wavers. She’ll do no matter it takes to achieve Montana. Nonetheless, hazard is lurking within the shadows, as we see within the last moments of the episode.
Schlaepfer spoke with TV Insider about Alex’s painful expertise, the way it adjustments Alex’s view of the world, what’s subsequent after that cliffhanger ending, and the influence of Alex claiming the Dutton identify.
What do you suppose Alex first envisioned when she considered what it will be like to come back to America?
Julia Schlaepfer: I feel she most likely actually didn’t suppose an excessive amount of about it as a result of she’s by no means needed to plan or suppose forward to those issues. After which, it’s like she says in her monologue to that immigration officer, all I see are posters and pictures of how lovely and welcoming and free America is, and also you’re treating us like animals. I feel she got here in pondering it will most likely be pretty straightforward, when she seems to be over the sting of that boat and sees everybody stepping into their vehicles, who’re dressed all fancy. That’s the life that she got here from, and she or he’s actually hit laborious with a really huge actuality on this episode.
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When she will get to immigration, she takes the Dutton identify for the primary time. How did it really feel to have Alex declare that final identify?
I get chills occupied with it. That was actually enjoyable to shoot that day. I feel it’s such a transparent instance of Alex has made her selection. That is her household now. She’s left this privileged, very caged upbringing the place her household locked her in her room and wouldn’t let her expertise actual love and all of those life worldly experiences she wished to have. She’s left that behind. She mentioned goodbye to it, and now with the household she’s creating, she’s dedicated to the Dutton household. Being part of the Yellowstone universe, that’s such an superior second as an actor to get to say that. For the character, I feel it’s a reminder in that second of like, for this reason I’m doing this. Irrespective of how laborious it will get, I’m doing it for my household. And my household is the Dutton household.
To get by way of immigration, Alex has to endure being violated and assaulted through the examinations. What was it like so that you can step into your character’s harrowing expertise?
That scene took us about eight hours. It was an extended, very lengthy day. I had an incredible intimacy coordinator, Sarah Scott, who was so supportive of me that day. Most of the crew members, particularly the feminine crew members on that day, had been very there for me. They’re like household to me. Despite the fact that it’s the ’20s, and it’s a really horrifying expertise, and it was heightened throughout that point, I feel as ladies, so many people can relate to the worry of violation or the worry of assault or assault. I feel simply tapping into what that has felt like in my physique as a lady touring on the planet alone, even in 2025, it’s so visceral. That was a tough factor to cling on to all day. After which I discovered myself additionally going again by way of my playlist that I’d take heed to when Alex and Spencer had been within the throes of their love story. That was a part of my day and my prep that helped me transfer ahead and be like, she’s doing this for him. She’s doing this for them to be reunited and the way lovely that’s. It was an extended day of navigating simply how I used to be feeling and ensuring that I took care of myself all through that course of.
Do you suppose that have modified how she views the world and the way the world treats ladies?
One thousand p.c. I feel it’s such a wake-up name for her within the worst means. I feel that it’s this whole season, actually. She has to discover a deeper degree of power and resolve to maintain going. I feel it’s so horrifying to her. When she sits again down after the examination and sees all these ladies who’re bleeding, after which to satisfy a lady who’s planning to go in there and sleep her means into America as a result of that’s how she will be able to get into America. I feel it’s all similar to, who’s permitting this? Why is that this our world? She continues to learn the way scary it’s to be a lady alone and continues to get stronger. Sadly, she shouldn’t should expertise all these items, however I feel each expertise she has this season makes her that a lot stronger.
The episode ends on a cliffhanger, with a person following Alex into the toilet. What are you able to tease about Alex’s subsequent battle with hazard?
Alex was violated and assaulted in that examination. She wasn’t capable of combat again in any means that she most likely would have wished to as a result of she needed to get by way of immigration, and she or he needed to be sensible about it. She’s alone and never able of energy. I feel with this subsequent man we see comply with her into the toilet, she will get to combat again another way, and I feel unleash a few of the anger that she’s been feeling about what she’s already been put by way of as a result of it’s simply blow after blow. I feel she sort of thinks she’s on the opposite facet of it, and each time she fights for herself this season, it’s in a brand new means. As an actor, it’s actually thrilling since you get to uncover all these layers. She continues to search out other ways to combat again.
Is the worst behind her, or is the worst truly behind her? Hazard appears to comply with Alex all over the place.
It actually does, particularly this season. I feel she’ll have moments of little wins. I don’t suppose she would be capable of get to the place she’s going with out some wins right here and there, like with the newspaper man serving to her get to Grand Central and issues like that. She’ll discover her wins. On the finish of Episode 3, she’s nonetheless solely in New York, so she’s bought to go throughout the nation now. She takes on various kinds of battles all through the season.
We see Elizabeth on the Dutton ranch actually fighting the approach to life and the fixed sense of hazard. She even says that she needs to maneuver again to Boston. Is Alex constructed for the Dutton life?
I feel she’s proving that she is. I feel she’s proving that not solely can she deal with it, she needs to. She needs to make it to the ranch and work alongside her husband, as she says to the immigration officer. She needs to lift her baby with Spencer and his household after studying all these letters about their way of life. She’s at all times had an adventurous spirit. She’s at all times been untameable. I feel she is de facto constructed for it. I feel it’s okay that Liz isn’t. I feel on a regular basis about that quote from Little Girls the place Meg says, “Simply because my goals are totally different than yours doesn’t imply they’re unimportant.” And I feel that’s so relevant right here. I feel we’re seeing two totally different very legitimate reactions to a really tough world.
We now know Alex is about 4 months alongside in her being pregnant. What does Alex’s being pregnant journey appear to be transferring ahead?
She’s in survival mode. All through her being pregnant journey, you will note her do something to make it possible for the newborn is okay and that they each arrive intact. She has to make some powerful selections, and she or he has to place herself by way of issues that perhaps she usually wouldn’t in an effort to make it possible for she doesn’t starve to dying and the newborn is alive and properly. It’s a mom’s love and a mom’s intuition. However you watch her actually put herself and do something for this child, and it doesn’t matter what, so long as the being pregnant is okay, and she or he makes some tough selections with regard to that.
In the event you’re a Yellowstone mega-fan, make sure that to take a look at TV Information Journal’s Beth Endlessly particular subject.
1923, Season 2, Sundays, Paramount+