Skip to main content

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

  • Yellowstone prequel 1883 star Isabel May’s Elsa Dutton found her first love in Eric Nelsen’s Ennis.
  • But their time together was cut short when Ennis was killed odd in episode 5.
  • Creator Taylor Sheridan old Nelsen, “It has to happen this way.”
1883 Eric Nelsen as Ennis of the Yellowstone prequel
Eric Nelsen as Ennis | Emerson Miller/Paramount+

Yellowstone prequel 1883 shocked fans during a recent episode when they showed just how dangerous life on the trail can be. The storyline of Ennis (Eric Nelsen) — the new love of Elsa Dutton’s (Isabel May) life — and his tragic end was heartbreaking. But fans have uncovered a clue that indicates we haven’t seen the end of Ennis just yet.

Elsa and Ennis declare their love for each other in ‘1883’

Episode 5 “The Fangs of Freedom” saw Elsa consumed by her “attraction” to Ennis, and the duo snuck off for a passionate sexual encounter that was the first time for both. After Margaret (Faith Hill) gives her daughter the full rundown of the possible consequences of her actions, James Dutton (Tim McGraw) punches Ennis in the face.

“You say you love her. But you won’t ever love her like I do,” an emotional James tells Ennis. “That’s my heart you’re running off with. And you better cradle it like an egg.”

“I will, sir. I will,” Ennis promises tearfully.

Elsa loses her first love before the end of the episode

Throughout the episode, the wagon train was aware of a group of trailing outlaws who had been following them and waiting to attack. Things came to a head when the wagon train rolled out and a gunfight ensued.

Ennis and Elsa were together with the cattle when he told her to get her pistol ready. Ennis then takes off for the bandits and starts firing directly at the lead horseman. The two shoot each other at the exact time, but it’s Ennis who drops to the ground.

“I loved her,” he says to James with his dying breath.

‘1883’ fans spot a clue that teases we could see Ennis again

As 1883 fans tried to process the shocking turn of events for Elsa and Ennis, one spotted a clue on Nelsen’s IMDb page that indicates Ennis could be back despite dying in episode 5. What caught the fan’s attention was that Nelsen was credited for 10 episodes of 1883 instead of five.

“Interesting to see that Ennis appears in all 10 episodes. Yet he’s dead in episode 5?” the fan tweeted.

“That’s interesting…. A twin brother? A dream? Flashback? Haunting? Good catch….” another fan replied. A third added, “Maybe he’s not completely dead, is there a doctor among the migrants?”

Taylor Sheridan said ‘it had to happen this way’

According to Nelsen, he had no idea when he landed the part of Ennis that his character would die in episode 5. He told Newsweek that after he read the script, he ran to 1883 creator Taylor Sheridan to ask him why.

“I was like, ‘Why? Why? This is who we were rooting for the whole time.’ We’re rooting for this couple and we finally get them there and then it all falls apart,” Nelsen said. “And he’s like, ‘you’ll see. Keep reading. It has to happen this way.'”

Ennis’ death in ‘1883’ was ‘pivotal’

Nelsen explained that for Elsa’s journey, Ennis’ death is “a complete turning point in the story, and it sends her on a trajectory where she otherwise wouldn’t be heading.” He said it was “pivotal for the character.” And even though it doesn’t make a lot of sense now, fans will see as the episodes unfold that it had to happen this way for Elsa.

Related

‘1883’ Star Faith Hill On the 1 Scene With Tim McGraw That Made Her ‘Really Uncomfortable’

“I think it’ll be pretty apparent right away in future episodes,” Nelsen told TV Guide. “The audience will see, so I don’t want to give anything away on that, but as you can imagine, the emotions and struggle that she went through was real for her. And so I don’t know if anyone in the world can just get over something like that quickly.”

1883 is now officially halfway through its first season. New episodes drop Sundays on Paramount+ (except for January 30).

Best in Entertainment