Rarely has a major character had a death as perfunctory as Jack Dutton in 1923, but actor Brian Konowal is confident fans will soon see the masterful vision behind the shocking scene. Konowal plays Clyde, the livestock agent who shot Jack (Darren Mann) point-blank after getting the go-ahead to wreak havoc on the Duttons from their enemy, Banner. While Jack was far from the only life lost in season 2, episode 6 – which could charitably be called a bloodbath – his will certainly have the most impact on the Dutton family.
Taylor Sheridan has been brutal to the Duttons in his Yellowstone prequel series, each of which has seen more than its fair share of family members die before the end credits. But with 2 episodes to go in 1923 season 2, Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara (Helen Mirren) are ready to fight back – especially as their nephew Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) reaches his final destination to avenge the earlier death of his brother. Clyde may have been trigger-happy when it came to Jack, but he’s surely about to get a taste of his own medicine when Spencer learns what he’s done.
ScreenRant interviewed Konowal about how he reacted to being the one to kill Jack, which he called a “gift” from Sheridan, and how the final episodes will play out as a consequence of his actions. The actor also praised his co-star Darren Mann’s sportsmanlike behavior and Sheridan’s command of emotional beats in the 1923 narrative.
Brian Konowal Teases Where 1923 Goes Next After Episode 6’s Major Death
“The Fans Will Not Be Disappointed”
It cannot be overstated that Spencer’s arrival is bound to change everything. Banner even underscored that point when he and Donald Whitfield sent their men to await Spencer at the train station. Clyde and Alec were told to kill Spencer first, after which they were free to rain fire on the Duttons at large – assuming they would be defenseless without their ace shooter. What happens now that Clyde took that as carte blanche to shoot Jack dead before his uncle’s imminent arrival?
[The last two episodes are] going to heat up the fans.
During our interview, Konowal explained that Clyde’s reasoning was sound. “‘May as well get a head start,’ is what Clyde said.” But naturally, Spencer is not going to let that stand. He was already fired up before reaching Bozeman, and now there is a fresh family member to avenge. “I can’t say much, but it’s about to get crazy. That’s what I’ll say,” Konowal teased. “It’s going to get good. It’s going to heat up the fans. The fans will not be disappointed, and I’m very excited.”
Darren Mann Didn’t Take His Death Scene Too Poorly
While The Jack Dutton Actor Was Disappointed, He Reacted With Grace
Despite knowing that he was going to catch some heat for killing Jack Dutton, Konowal was more than grateful when he received the “fantastic” script. “When I read it, I was sitting there with my wife Heather, who’s sworn to secrecy with an NDA. I go, ‘You’ve got to read this. Oh my God, the fans are going to despise me. This is awesome.’”
Though Konowal called the scene “a gift from Taylor as an actor,” he acknowledged that it was difficult to film from a technical perspective. “You’re riding a horse, firing a gun, doing an accent, and you want to be there in the scene and be able to do the acting,” he said, breaking down the various facets that went into making it such a memorable moment. The horses were especially tricky because “they have a personality of their own,” and the characters had to gallop into frame. Nevertheless, “it was an awesome day on set, and Darren was fantastic.”
That scene is really a culmination of all the prep and training coming together because you’re doing the action, you’re riding the horse, and you’re doing the acting. It was like, “Let’s put everything together in one moment.”
As for Mann himself, Konowal shared the first moment he and his co-star interacted after reading the fateful moment between them. “When I first saw Darren in Texas, he was like, ‘Oh, man, you killed me!’” The actor revealed. “I said, ‘I’m sorry, and he was like, ‘Nah, it’s going to be great.’” But having Mann’s blessing doesn’t mean he’ll receive the fans’ forgiveness so quickly.
“Darren’s character is so beloved,” Konowal acknowledged. “There’s no one who wants to get into that fight more than Jack. He’s like, ‘Let’s go, let’s go!’” But that enthusiasm for the fight without the proper training to back it up is a cautionary tale all on its own, and Sheridan doesn’t do things without reason. “For Clyde to just take him down in cold blood without even letting him get his pistol out? That’s the genius of Taylor Sheridan. He is not afraid to just rip it right from under you.”
How Brian Konowal Views Clyde In The Grand Scheme Of 1923
“He’s Fighting For His Livelihood And His Way Of Life”
How does it feel to be working for evil incarnate? What is he fighting for, and does he ever hesitate in what he has to do?
Brian Konowal: Evil incarnate is a point of view, right? [Laughs] Clyde’s doing what he has to do. But my God, how much fun it has been to play in Taylor’s universe and play a great character like Clyde! He’s just so despicable!
In the beginning, I think he’s fighting for his livelihood and his way of life. He came to America, he built this thing with Banner, who he’s loyal to, and now he wants to keep it and wants more. I think he’s watching Banner, and he’s seen Banner sort of move up the ranks.
In the beginning, he wanted to get out of town. He questioned, “Hey, is this safe anymore? We’re going to get killed.” But when we see Clyde again in season 2, I think he’s raring to go. He’s full tilt, ready to do whatever it takes for Banner and Whitfield.
And he certainly showed no hesitancy or mercy in episode 6 when he just shoots poor Jack Dutton point blank.
Brian Konowal: That’s right, he’s absolutely cold. Just psychopathic with no emotion. He’s got this badge and has been running around town, so I think he’s just been itching to get into the fight. Now that he’s got permission from Banner to go full tilt, he is evil incarnate! I think he does become evil incarnate.
Brian Konowal Reveals His Favorite 1923 Scenes & Taylor Sheridan TV Shows
“I Would Just Be Happy To Work With Taylor In Any Capacity”
Do you have a favorite scene that you have filmed for 1923? And what about it made it special to you?
Brian Konowal: Without question, it’s this scene. And my scene from season 1 with Helen Mirren. Just because here I am, going mano a mano with two masters in the room. And I had most of the dialogue, so that was just fun! Helen’s fantastic, and Robert Patrick [who plays Sheriff William McDowell] is fantastic.
It’s actually a hard choice because working with Jerome, whom I work with a lot, is fantastic too. Every scene I’ve gotten to appear in, I’m with a legend who is super good at what they do, so it is just an honor to be with them. But the Helen scene was really great, and I love getting to see the arc of Clyde come around and be just a full-tilt killer.
I love Westerns, so as an actor, I love getting to bring it all together and have a badge, be a lawman, be a dirty double-crossing villain, and get to take out one of the greatest leads on the show.
You have to deal with accents, gun work, and the actual mindset of the character in 1923. What would you say has been the most valuable lesson that you’ve taken from working in this universe?
Brian Konowal: First of all, preparation. You definitely have to be prepared. Everyone’s super prepared because it allows you to free yourself up and really be in the moment for this scene. Every time you ride in, the horse might be in a slightly different position. There are woods and cameras, so you have to use muscle memory to be able to control the horse, know what you’re doing, and really be tuned in.
The scene with Darren had him coming out of the woods. We have to find him and just be in it, knowing that Clyde is just going to take him out. You can see how excited I am by it!
Have you watched the other Yellowstone shows? What is it that you think makes that franchise so special?
Brian Konowal: Oh, I watch all of them. I’ve probably seen 1883 three times. It’s absolutely beautiful. I think I have a few episodes to catch up on the latest installment of Yellowstone. I’m a little behind on that, but I really think it’s Taylor’s writing. He knows every character so well. He builds up a character and then just pulls him from under you, and that’s the heartbreak.
It’s like Ennis [played Eric Nelsen] in 1883. We love him for five episodes, and then he’s gone. Taylor is a master at that. He just knows how to do it, and he’s not going to pull his punches. You will be ecstatic and then suffer for it.
If you were to make your pitch to him, what other Sheridan show would you like to see yourself on?
Brian Konowal: That’s a good one. I like the idea of Lioness. I love Mayor of Kingstown as well. I would just be happy to work with Taylor in any capacity, whether it be film or movie. The writing’s going to be great, and I’m available!
