Does Zane die in 1923 Season 2?

The Duttons look after their friends in every Yellowstone universe, and in 1923 Season 2, things get pretty hairy for Zane after a brutal attack earlier on. (Warning: spoilers ahead!)

Zane is a longtime friend of the Dutton family in 1923, acting as the ranch foreman and confidant of Jacob Dutton. (Think of him as this generation’s Rip Wheeler.)

In the 1923 Season 1 finale, Zane is suddenly and horrifically attacked, with his fate left unknown. However, in 1923 Season 2, we find out that he’s still suffering the consequences of his beating, left completely fragile and unable to care for himself.

The Duttons have his back, but they can’t stop his condition from worsening without extreme measures. So, does Zane die, or is there still hope left for this cowboy?

Zane’s fate in 1923 Season 2 explained

So far, Zane is still alive in 1923 thanks to some quick-thinking from Doctor Miller and a painful operation to drain the blood from his brain.

Let’s backtrack slightly. At the end of 1923 Season 1, Zane was brutally attacked outside of his house in front of his wife and kids.

When Season 2 starts, we find out the attack caused some serious damage. He’s practically paralysed, unable to walk properly and restrained to bedrest while his wife Alice awaits trial for violating the laws with their marriage, which was illegal at the time.

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Thankfully, Jacob manages to sway (read: blackmail) the local judge into letting them go under his custody. He and Jack then have to get Zane and his family out of town ASAP, transporting them through a terrible snowstorm back to the ranch.

They almost don’t make it, but manage to get the family back to safety after sheltering through the night in their overturned wagon.

But then there’s a new problem. When they get back to the ranch and Doctor Miller takes a look at Zane, he finds out that there’s a subdural hematoma in his brain. Essentially, because of the attack, he has blood pooling between his brain and skull.

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He can fix it by drilling a hole into his head and manually draining the blood, but without anesthesia and his proper equipment, it’ll be difficult and potentially very painful.

In Season 2 Episode 4, they get around to the procedure. Jacob and Jack build a platform that’ll hold Zane in place. He’s lulled to sleep using chloroform, and the doctor starts his work. Unfortunately, Zane quickly wakes up midway through and screams in pain and panic.

But Jacob manages to calm him down, and Doctor Miller successfully finishes. Not long after, Zane is able to stand and support himself, even walking outside to find Alice and let her know he’s okay now. For now, it looks as though he’s alright and well on the way to healing fully.

Why was Zane attacked?

Zane was attacked and nearly killed in 1923 Season 1 because he and his wife Alice Chow are married illegally under anti-miscegenation laws.

The anti-miscegenation laws prohibited people from marrying outside of their race.

Not only are Zane and Alice married, but they also have children together, which at that time would have been a big violation.

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When the couple are spotted making love by one of Whitfield’s lackeys, they’re quickly reported to the local authorities, who turn up the next day with a warrant for Alice’s arrest.

Zane protests, which leads to him being severely beaten while Alice is forcibly arrested and taken away. Thankfully, the family is now under the protection of the Duttons.

Anti-miscegenation laws weren’t enacted in all the states, but Montana was one of them. By 1967, most states had repealed the laws altogether, and after the Loving v. Virginia case that same year, the Supreme Court ruled those laws as unconstitutional.

1923 Season 2 Episode 4 is available to stream on Paramount+ now.

For more, keep an eye on the full 1923 Season 2 release schedule. You can also see what other TV shows are out this month, and see what else is coming in the Yellowstone timeline.