Aminah Nieves is thrilled that Teonna Rainwater gets to experience love—even if only for a brief moment—in Season 2 of 1923. The Yellowstone prequel has been an emotional rollercoaster for her character, and after enduring immense suffering, this moment of tenderness feels like a long-awaited gift.
For those who followed Season 1, Teonna's journey was nothing short of harrowing. She suffered relentless abuse at the hands of Catholic nuns in an Indigenous re-education school before ultimately taking matters into her own hands. Her act of self-defense led to her becoming a fugitive, as she killed the priests hunting her down. In her escape, she found refuge with her father, Runs His Horse (played by Michael Spears), and Pete Plenty Clouds (Jeremy Gauna), a sheepherder who would later become her fiancé.
"It's like a breath of fresh air," Nieves said in a recent Zoom interview with UPI. "It's everything I kind of wanted for Teonna in the beginning."
She elaborated on how the first season primarily showcased one particular side of Teonna. "In Hollywood, I don't think Native Americans' love and our vast ability to love is really shown or our experiences are deeply depicted. So for her to give that part of herself in Episode 1, to be seen as an awkward kid—she's 16—and to see a love that is already so strong, and to see her kind of surrender into that, is everything. I'm really happy that I was able to do that."
Despite this newfound love, Teonna's past is not so easily left behind. The traumas she endured in Season 1 have left deep scars, both physically and emotionally. "It's always gonna affect her," Nieves admitted. "Even before, it always affected her. These are trials and tribulations that were kind of passed down from womb to womb."
Season 2 will delve into how these past horrors continue to shape her. One of the most emotional aspects is her reunion with her father after five or six years. "This is the first time she's seeing her dad in years, so she's remembering so much of her culture. She's remembering so much of herself because she's been stripped so far from that [by the school]," Nieves explained.
Another intriguing element of 1923 is Teonna Rainwater's connection to Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham), the modern-day leader in Yellowstone who acquires the Dutton family ranch under the agreement that he will never develop it. While Teonna's legacy is pivotal, Nieves chooses to focus on her character in the moment rather than the broader implications.
"I kind of have to filter that [knowledge] out. She's the matriarch," she said. "She's the one that started everything. I know what I have to do, but I also don't want to fixate on it because she lives in her own breath, so I really just want to focus in on her more than anything of the legacy."
The ability to depict a love story, even amidst so much pain, is what makes Teonna's journey so compelling. Her story is not just one of survival but also of reclaiming her identity, reconnecting with her roots, and allowing herself to love and be loved. Fans can expect to see her continue to navigate these complexities in 1923 Season 2, bringing even more depth to a character who has already resonated so deeply with audiences.
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