That changed in a big way during the Episode 1 of Season 2, which dropped on Paramount+ on Sunday (Feb. 23). This is your spoiler alert, as our interview with Julia Schlaepfer uncovers the truth about what she was feeling during this overwhelming season of life.

Dutton Rules podcast co-host Adison Haager talked to Schlaepfer ahead of Season 2. She dishes on the steamy kissing sessions from last season before sharing how she’s approaching this season.

“I think we see a new level of grit because it’s not just about her anymore,” Schlaepfer says. “It’s not just about Spencer.”

That is because Alex is pregnant.

There were clues toward the end of Season 1, but she reveals it to her best friend during Season 2, Ep. 1. This means she needs to get to Montana fast to be with the father of her child.

Of course, she also knows that if her family and their friends learn what has happened, it will tarnish their name.

“It’s no longer at this desire between the two of them, and having adventures and their love,” she says. “It’s so much bigger than that this season, and we see a much more serious, determined side to Alexandra because of that.”

The full interview with Schlaepfer will be part of next Monday’s (Feb. 3) episode of the Dutton Rules podcast. She foretells some trouble during her passage from London to America and teases how she handles it.

“Her motherly instincts kick in real quick,” the actor says, “and I think also her reason for her journey shifts a little bit. It’s not just about going to find Spencer, it’s for her future family.”

“Every part of her journey now is about this journey and making sure this baby is okay, and making sure this baby gets to Montana so they can be a family together.”

As S2, E1 ends, Alexandra is just beginning her journey across the ocean, while Spencer is finishing his. It seems likely it will be several episodes before they reunite, if they reunite.

‘1923’: 13 Important Details We Totally Forgot About Season 1

Two years passed between seasons of 1923. If you’ve forgotten a few things, it’s forgivable.

Surely you remember the tragedy that alters Spencer and Alexandra’s plans. There’s no way you’ve forgotten the brutality of Teonna’s scenes.

But, can you remember why Jacob and Banner started fighting to begin with and which character lost both parents? This list should help prepare you for the Feb. 23 premiere of Season 2 on Paramount+/.

34 ‘Yellowstone’ Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

Yellowstone Fact No. 34: Who Has the Most Kills?

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 34: Who Has the Most Kills?

Heading into Season 5, Part 2 of Yellowstone, Rip Wheeler has the most kills with nine. Kayce Dutton has five, followed by the Beck Brothers (three by proxy) and Agent Steve Hendon (three).

Granted, it’s impossible to tell who killed who during certain scenes. For example, the Season 2 finale is chaos and many people get killed in a hail of gun fire at the start of Season 4. This info is confirmed kills after re-watching and with help from this Yellowstone Wiki page.

Walker and Laramie were a sexy on-screen couple during Season 4 and Season 5 of Yellowstone, and that chemistry spilled over. The got married in October 2023.

Sam Elliott was terrific on Taylor Sheridan’s 1883, but during that run he admitted to Marc Maron that he said “No” to Yellowstone.

The reason? He doesn’t like the show. Honestly, he blasted it as a soap opera that was too much like “f—ing” Dallas.

Lainey Wilson appeared as Abby during Season 5 of Yellowstone, and after filming, she admitted a theft to Taste of Country.

One day, she arrived having not showered or shaved, so she took prop deodorant and razors from the bunk house and made do. Kinda curious to know if she put ’em back.

Yellowstone really wanted to feature Zach Bryan’s song “Condemned,” but his original was recorded in an AirBNB. So the show paid for him to re-cut it with Chris Stapleton’s producer Dave Cobb in Nashville. It happened in November 2019 and produced a two-song EP called Studio A Recordings. The next year he’d appear on Yellowstone, and his career took off soon after.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 29: John Dutton May Not Be Getting Rich But Kevin Costner Is

In July 2022, Variety reported that Costner was set to earn $1.3 million per episode of Yellowstone, up from $500,000 an ep. in Season 1. That includes some production credits and other responsibilities.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 28: How Much Does Rip Make?

Season 5 salaries for the rest of the cast of Yellowstone are not known, but Cinema Blend estimated that Kelly Reilly (Beth), Cole Hauser (Rip), Luke Grimes (Kayce), Wes Bentley (Jamie) and Kelsey Asbille (Monica) made about $200,000 per episode in Season 1.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 27: Speaking of Rip …

Taylor Sheridan only had eyes for Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler. The Dazed and Confused actor and (bonus fact) heir to Warner Brothers didn’t even have to audition for Yellowstone.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 26: A Connection With ‘Lost’

During Season 4, Rip (Cole Hauser) kills Roarke by throwing a rattlesnake at him. It was cool at the time, if a bit unrealistic as time has passed.

That was the first time Taylor Sheridan tapped an actor from the hit ABC show Lost for Yellowstone. He’ll do it again for the sequel, The Madison. The new series is set to star Matthew Fox, who played Jack on the 2000s TV show.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 25: Kelly Reilly’s Audition

The woman who would come to play Beth Dutton did send an audition tape, but when Taylor Sheridan saw it, he knew she was Beth. He says that’s his favorite character to write.

Not you, Jimmy. Actor Jefferson White’s inability on a horse is well-documented — although we hear he’s getting better — but other actors that stay in the Yellowstone bunkhouse are veterans of the rodeo. Actor Forrie J. Smith (Lloyd), Jake Ream (Jake), Ethan Lee (Ethan) and Ryan Bingham (Walker) are four with serious horse cred. In fact, they help teach the rest of the cast how to ride and handle horses. Writer Taylor Sheridan is also very capable. In fact …

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 23: Those Aren’t Just Any Horses

Sheridan supplies many of the horses used on Yellowstone from his own ranch. Others that are noted as famous in Yellowstone are actual champion horses. Metallic Cat has a stud fee of $10,000.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 22: Lloyd’s Bunk

Many of the actors on the show lend their expertise to the set and script. Forrie J. Smith provided helpful insight when it came to designing the famous Yellowstone bunkhouse. He’d actually lived in similar settings, so he knew. Many of the personal items in Lloyd’s bunk came from Smith’s career and collection.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 21: Does Sarah Atwood Look Familiar?

Actor Dawn Olivieri plays Sarah Atwood on Yellowstone, and as Season 5 begins, she’s part of a plot to kill a Dutton.

The irony is, she was a Dutton in a past life. During the first two episodes of 1883, she played Claire Dutton, sister-in-law to James Dutton (Tim McGraw). Things don’t go well for her there.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 20: The Truth About Branding

Jefferson White told Taste of Country how the show’s branding scenes work. “Part of what was important to accomplishing that effect was smoke, sort or rising off the brand. The only way we figured out how to accomplish that was for Cole Hauser … to use an actually super-heated brand,” he says.

White held a piece of wood covered in leather against his chest as Hauser (Rip Wheeler) branded the leather. It was all two inches from his chest. “I will never forget the smell, which was very sort of potent and authentic,” the actor adds. “And I’ll never forget the heat that rose off of the brand at that moment.”

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 19: ‘Yellowstone’ Is Montana Proud

Seasons 1-3 of Yellowstone were filmed in Utah (mostly) but because of Montana’s more attractive tax incentive programs, the show moved. However …

In early 2022, several people and websites began to claim the road used as the “Train Station” was in Eden, Utah. The location is intentionally vague on the show, with Lloyd only describing it as a land without government. As it turns out, a place like that actually may exist.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 17: The Truth About Livestock Agent Steve Hendon

Here is a list of characters James Jordan has played in Taylor Sheridan productions:

Most of these roles are significant and his characters aren’t all the same (although most are a bit surely). It’s fun to try to spot Jordan in a Sheridan production. He’s sort of like his “Where’s Waldo?”

Yellowstone Fact No. 16: What’s Gator Cooking?

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 16: What’s Gator Cooking?

Gator is a real-life chef named Gabriel “Gator” Guilbeau. Fans only see him once or twice a season, but the rest of the time he’s keeping busy as the head of craft services.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 15: A Young Kevin Costner

We made a full list of ways Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan uses the same actors and their family again and again. One we didn’t add was Kevin Costner’s connection to Ian Bohen, who plays Ryan. In 1994, Bohen played the boyhood version of Costner’s titular character in Wyatt Earp, and he remembers the veteran actor as very kind.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 14: Kevin Coster’s Kids

Kevin Costner’s John Dutton has four kids (including the late Lee Dutton and adopted Jamie Dutton), but in real life he has seven children from three relationships. His daughter Lily is a talented singer who’s collaborated with his band, Kevin Costner & Modern West.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 13: Malcolm Beck Returns! (Kinda)

The Dutton Rules podcast team believes Malcolm Beck to be the best Yellowstone villain of all time, so it was exciting to see actor Neal McDonough back on another Taylor Sheridan show.

His character on Tulsa King Season 2 is Cal Thresher, and it’s a very similar role. However, the part and his acting aren’t as strong. One could probably blame the writing, but he’s still a sinister SOB.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 12: Gil Birmingham Plays Guitar

Actor Gil Birmingham (Thomas Rainwater) doesn’t just play a little. He’s a very talented musician, as seen HERE. On the show, he’s not alone. We mentioned Costner’s band, but Ryan Bingham (Walker) also sings and writes songs. Denim Richards (Colby) is a classically trained opera singer.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 11: Meet Summer Higgins Real-Life Husband

Piper Perabo was a very successful actor before taking the role of Summer Higgins on Yellowstone. Landing the role was surely made easier by being married to Stephen Kay, who has directed many of the most well-known episodes of the show.

That’s him on the far left, next to Perabo, Kelsey Asbille and Luke Grimes.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 10: Rip’s Boston Accent?

Cole Hauser plays Dutton fixer Rip Wheeler. Prior to starring in Yellowstone he appeared in many movies, including Good Will Hunting. In the film, he’s one of Matt Damon’s good friends. It’s a small, but important role.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 9: Teeter’s Old Man

Teeter first appeared in Season 3, and soon after actor Jennifer Landon revealed she was a little afraid of the animals, at first. She’s not the first person from her family to star on an open range, however. Her father, Michael Landon, was Charles Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 8: Why Jamie Looks Familiar

You really can’t forget those eyes, and most people who’ve seen the Kevin Spacey film American Beauty don’t. Wes Bentley played the next door neighbor Ricky Fitts, a character who (spoiler alert) indirectly gets the main character killed. It’s a stunning role that shows Bentley’s artistic range.

During the 2021-22 season, Yellowstone was the most-watched non-football TV show with an average of 11.3 million viewers. The 2022-23 season wasn’t too shabby either, with 15.7 million people watching the Season 5 premiere.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 6: The Real Yellowstone Ranch?

The ranch used for exterior scenes and more is called the Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, Mont. Guests can actually stay in one of the Dutton cabins (it’s expensive, and there’s a long wait, but you can do it) seen during most episodes of Yellowstone. The show is filmed in Montana and Utah.

In 2024, Cody Johnson told Audacy radio that he had to say “No” to Taylor Sheridan because he just didn’t have time in his schedule. He was all booked up. But …

“We’re looking ahead to the future,” he shared. “There’s a few movie things where I’m like, ‘Look, if you guys give me the notice, I can make this happen.’”

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 4: 50 Shades of Kayce

Luke Grimes plays Kayce Dutton, John’s youngest son. In real life Grimes auditioned for the main role in the Twilight series of films and landed the role as Elliott Grey, Christian Grey’s brother, in the 50 Shades of Grey series.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 3: Tate’s Kidnapping

Actor Brecken Merrill is the go-to for behind-the-scenes Instagram content. On Instagram he shares and maybe even overshares. Not long ago he revealed that the show filmed him being kidnapped (end of Season 2) but ultimately chose not to air it, figuring there’d be more more suspense.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 2: Beth’s British Accent

This should be a surprise to most who’ve admired how Beth Dutton thrives across a patriarchal society in western Montana. Actor Kelly Reilly is actually from London and speaks with a British accent. Need proof? Go watch the first Sherlock Holmes movie staring Robert Downey Jr. She plays Watson’s wife, Mary.

‘Yellowstone’ Fact No. 1: The Jeff Bridges Connection

This is Ryan Bingham, who plays tender-hearted Walker on Yellowstone. He’s a known singer/songwriter who provided so much of the great music for the Jeff Bridges movie Crazy Heart (2009).

He’s not the only one from the franchise to work alongside Bridges, however. Gil Birmingham starred with Bridges in Hell or High Water (2016) and Sam Elliott — star of the Yellowstone prequel 1883 — sat next to him in The Big Lebowski. This is all to say that rumors of a Bridges appearance on this franchise come through a lot of smoke. It feels close!