1923’s Spencer star Brandon Sklenar weighs in on how his character feels about Alexandra’s (Julia Schlaepfer) sacrifice in the season 2 finale. After a season of being separated, Alex and Spencer finally reunited briefly on the side of the railroad in 1923 season 2, episode 7. However, Alex’s near-death condition led to her baby being born prematurely. Knowing that saving her life would mean amputation of both legs and hand, Alex chose to spend her final moments with the baby, leaving Spencer a widower.
In an interview, Sklenar talked about the sacrifice and how Spencer chose to handle it. The actor explained that part of Spencer was in denial when Alex was dying, and having to live with “the profound feeling of love” he had for her while not being able to show that to her for the rest of his life is “profoundly heartbreaking.” Because of that, Spencer has been waiting for 50 years to be with her, which makes the heaven scene “the ultimate payoff.” Check out his comments below:
It was heartbreaking. I had a hard time not getting too emotional filming that scene, definitely, so we had to pull it back a lot. “Your legs are a long way from your heart…” That line just gets me every time. I mean, there’s so much in that short exchange, and so much not being said. He’s not wanting to accept it, but he knows that it’s the right thing to do. There’s the profound feeling of love that he has for her in that moment, knowing that he’s not going to get a minute to show her how much she means to him. Having to live with that for your entire rest of your life is profoundly heartbreaking.
That’s what I was feeling in the moment there because it’s the ultimate sacrifice. He’s been fighting everything to see her and be with her, and then within 40 f–king minutes, she’s f–king dying. So, that heaven scene is the ultimate payoff. He’s been literally waiting almost 50 years to see her again – and he somehow lived that long despite all the drinking and smoking. This guy’s not doing IVs, you know what I mean? Or using sunblock. But it’s just so damn beautiful. It’s so beautiful.
What This Means For Spencer And Alex In 1923
Alex’s Death Changed Spencer Forever
The 1923 season 2 finale’s ending reveals that, through narration, Spencer never got remarried. He fathered another son with a widow but refused to marry her, and when Spencer faced his death, he chose to lie down next to Alex’s grave. Sklenar’s comment offers an explanation for the decisions that the Dutton ranch owner made later in his life, which are derived from the character’s intense desire to see his wife again.
In a separate interview, Schlaepfer explained that throughout the entire 1923 season 2, all Alex’s decisions have been born out of the selfless love she had for her baby, and although Alex’s fate is heartbreaking in the season finale, it’s noble and very character-accurate. The star also revealed that she suspected Alex was not going to make it out of the series alive after reading the script for the first two episodes because it’s too good to be true.
Our Take On Spencer And Alex’s Reunion In 1923 Finale
At Least Alex Is At Peace
Since the 1923 finale aired, many fans have taken to social media sites to voice their disappointment and anger at how Spencer and Alex’s love story ended. Many also have trouble accepting the troublesome decisions Spencer later made in his life, by not marrying the widow with whom he shared another child. Sklenar’s comments shed some light on the permanent emotional impact Alex’s death had on Spencer, who isn’t whole without her.
Alex has been through so much to find Spencer in Montana. Despite their reunion being very brief, it was a miracle that her wish came true. From Alex’s perspective, she was at peace when she died, but for Spencer, it was the beginning of the rest of his life without her, which made the heaven scene his paradise in 1923 and the character one of the most tragic characters in the Yellowstone franchise.
