“It’s fun to think about. That it ties into the whole world,” Schlaepfer told USA Today. “The only person who could confirm that is Taylor Sheridan himself, out of his mouth.” Sklenar, meanwhile, gave a very droll response of: “John’s a popular name.”

The theory holds water. We know from Yellowstone that John Dutton III’s father is named John Dutton II, but 1923 created a complication when John Dutton Sr. (James Badge Dale) died early in the series, leaving behind only one son—Jack Dutton (Darren Mann).

Unless Jack later renames a child John in honor of his father, the odds of a direct line from him to Kevin Costner’s character don’t seem as strong.

But then we have Spencer and Alex, whose son was explicitly named John in the finale. Like this felt as if it was neon signs pointing at the baby saying JOHN DUTTON. The timing lines up too. 

The events of Yellowstone begin nearly a century later, meaning Spencer and Alex’s John could have easily fathered Costner’s John Dutton by the 1950s or ’60s.

Naming him after Spencer’s brother also fits perfectly with the Dutton family’s tradition of honoring fallen kin. Are we all keeping track of this with our pieces of string, maps, and scribbled notes?

We still don’t know if Spencer and Alex’s John Dutton is the John Dutton II. But of all the surviving Duttons in 1923, he’s the most narratively and emotionally satisfying choice.

Jack and Elizabeth’s future is uncertain. Spencer and Alex’s son, meanwhile, was born in tragedy but could represent the future—and continuity—of the Dutton name. As Schlaepfer said, only Taylor Sheridan can truly confirm it. But all signs are pointing to yes.