[This episode includes details from 1923 Season 2, Episode 4, "Sail the Rivers of Steel."
1923
has officially brought back Zane Davis, the ranch foreman portrayed by Brian Geraghty in the
Yellowstone
In the prequel series, Zane received grim news in the previous episode after returning to the Dutton family ranch with a serious brain injury. The local physician informed them that they would need to perform emergency surgery on him without anesthesia, drilling a hole in his skull to remove accumulated blood resulting from injuries incurred during his arrest due to Montana’s anti-miscenagation laws. This discriminatory legislation, which remained unchallenged until 1953, prohibited marriages between people of different races, including Zane’s union with his spouse, Alice Chow (portrayed by Joy Osmanski), leading to their legal troubles.
Surprisingly, this Western drama takes a positive turn as Zane pulls through the risky operation. With renewed strength, he manages to stand up and reunite with his wife before declaring to Jacob Dutton (acted by Harrison Ford) that he intends to pursue justice. Hereafter, Geraghty discusses these events further with the interviewer.
THR
Regarding capturing the brain surgery sequence, while recounting anecdotes involving lead actor Ford and delving into how Zane's battle is both relevant and intimate for him.
***
You're not dead!
Not yet.
I understand you all had pre-season discussions with them. 1923 When creator/writer Taylor Sheridan shared the details of the second-season arcs with you, how was your response upon learning about Zane's storyline?
When I began this process, I initially tried out for the role of John Dutton, which was portrayed by JamesBadgeDale.
John died during season one.
I felt excited when I shared my admiration for Taylor Sheridan; I expressed how much I would love to collaborate with him. After sending in a demo reel and some auditions, about a month later, they offered me several scenes to perform as both Zane’s character and another role. They mentioned that these parts were significant and spanned across multiple episodes of the series.
A few weeks into filming, Taylor reached out again saying he wanted to discuss an intriguing concept involving a new plotline. He informed me that within this narrative arc, my character would enter into an interracial union which was legally prohibited due to past anti-miscengenation statutes. This revelation thrilled me since it presented such deeply personal material. Initially unsure of exactly what direction things might take, after receiving nearly all the episode scripts simultaneously, I dove right into reading through them—about fifteen pages each day—as our production schedule allowed us extra downtime owing to the SAG-AFTRA labor dispute. It posed questions regarding implementation but also sparked creativity. Eventually, Taylor confirmed his vision for greatness came true indeed.
Are you aware of whether Zane drew inspiration from anybody else?
I once saw a well-known rodeo star called Zane Davis. I'm not sure if he was christened with that name as an homage; I didn't inquire at the time.
What kind of research did you conduct regarding Zane's family story?
I found it incredibly intriguing due to their inconsistent regulations. According to what I discovered through my research, you had the freedom to wed an American Indian spouse, yet marrying someone who was either Asian or Hispanic was strictly prohibited. This varied from one municipality to another. It felt as though being with your loved ones was considered illegal; many individuals even believed they deserved such punishment. Envision having to conceal your relationship and affection for each other under these circumstances.
I've heard you refer to this as a personal narrative for yourself.
My wife Genesis Rodriguez She identifies as Hispanic. She stars in Lioness Another show from Paramount created by Taylor Sheridan provided insight into life as someone with Hispanic heritage and roots. The series highlighted how immigrating to this country could impact one’s experience, particularly noting societal prejudices against certain groups during earlier periods. Taylor effectively depicted that marrying an indigenous American or a Hispanic person was acceptable within the setting he portrayed, whereas marrying an Asian individual wasn’t permitted in that same environment. For me personally, this resonated deeply; over the past three years, I’ve been studying Spanish out of admiration for the culture. Reflecting on the storyline made me feel connected—this scenario mirrored experiences from a century ago—and instilled greater empathy regarding what truly matters. From an acting perspective, having such personal connections enriches performances immensely. Thus, receiving these insights through Taylor's work felt like a valuable gift.
I'm attempting to recall, are there any additional married couple from the Sheridan-verse?
( Laughs It simply turned out well. She has an excellent role on that show, and she’s doing incredibly. After they saw her audition and decided to offer her the position, I messaged Taylor saying she was my spouse, and he responded with, “Really?” Laughs We might be pioneers here, but it’s been fantastic. Having him as a boss has been wonderful. Firstly, the content we receive is top-notch, and the scripts remain consistent. Out of the 16 episodes I worked on, only one minor detail was adjusted logistically.
Actors often move between shows set in the Sheridan-verse, so perhaps the two of you might find yourselves on the same series someday.
We have better chances! Lioness season two, Taylor really shines in those episodes. And then observing Genesis with Zoe Saldana, Nicole Kidman, and Michael Kelly... they all deliver remarkable performances. It’s an entirely distinct series. I’m eager to see more of it. The Madison And a handful of the other programs that are set to be released.
This particular episode has quite graphic scenes—your co-star nearly throws up right in front of you when he sees Dr. Jack Dutton, portrayed by Darren Mann, performing an old-fashioned 1920s era trepanation on you for survival. How did you find shooting the sequence involving Zane’s period-specific brain operation?
The process began during the summertime. I visited Hamer Special Effects, where Jason Hamer and his team created an extraordinary head that could be drilled into. It was astounding. They crafted a head that bore an exact resemblance to mine. In fact, I have a photograph of it. displays an image of Harrison Ford touching his lips to the forehead of the Zane head ].
That covered the head part, and they brought in a body double. The main components were the body double, the head, and myself. We filmed this scene throughout the entire day. It turned out to be quite an interesting one to capture. Physical aspects weren’t my primary concern; rather, it was understanding the core emotion of the scene. Was I unable to walk and constantly dizzy, losing my ability to work and fulfill roles as a husband and father? Or could I carry on with my career—which means everything to him—and still manage being both a father and spouse? This is what occupied my thoughts regarding the stakes involved.
While researching information about head injuries online, things kept changing. Thanks to guidance from our director, Ben Richardson, we managed to adjust accordingly. Having Darren and Harrison assisting me during the filming made everything much smoother. I put in considerable preparation time for this particular scene as I aimed to achieve a specific outcome; after all, it’s an important part of advancing the Dutton narrative. Naturally, some nerves crept up, but thorough preparation combined with the support of talented co-stars such as Harrison and Darren helped ease my concerns.
How likely was it for someone to survive something like this back then?
I’m not a medical professional, but I’d guess around minus one percent? Honestly, I’ve got nothing concrete! However, when seeing how it’s executed, you can’t help but think, wow, that’s actually quite impressive.
So I suppose you were watching from the sidelines as they worked on your head?
I was enjoying some complimentary sandwiches when they made the change. This happened somewhat later as we progressed through various scenes during the initial eight to ten hours of filming. It hit me that everything would be fine, so I started walking slowly before pausing to think, “Are we really going after those guys?” That’s when I experienced what felt like one of those classic moments from a Taylor Sheridan Western—a scene I’ve anticipated since episode one. In fact, it ended up being something akin to a Harrison Ford dialogue that I performed alongside him himself.
I believe we shared a hug and Ford gently kissed my cheek while saying, “Well done for your performance today.” This gesture held significant value since our purpose is to convey personal stories through our work. It’s likely among the finest moments I’ve experienced professionally. Apart from engaging in firearm practice and equestrian activities. Many of us have backgrounds in theater and aspire towards acting roles; however, an equally thrilling experience can be found in spending hours each day either galloping on horses or handling firearms, essentially fulfilling youthful dreams.
When talking about Harrison Ford, I recall you mentioned a story about how an earlier scene from the season made you think of something related. Star Wars However, you did not bring it up with Harrison at that time.
I will never mention this again Star Wars I believe that for every legendary performance, people cherish the roles that played a significant part in their journey—though I am certainly not equating my work to anyone else’s here. Star Wars - But then you want to distance yourself from that. My instinct tells me not to mention that at all. It seems like you relinquish your authority when you say, “I just wanted you to know that Indiana Jones is my favorite.” Laughs )
However, nowadays, I'd likely express this sentiment. Harrison comes across as an excellent individual possessing fantastic comedic timing. Over a span of three years, I had the privilege of becoming acquainted with him. He stands out not only for his intelligence but also due to his strong work ethic. When he arrives at set, he’s always prepared and uses his wit to guide those around him. Yet, should he notice someone deeply engrossed in portraying an emotionally charged moment, he will support them accordingly. He's a great leader.
Advancing, Zane seeks vengeance yet remains devoted to his family. Where does this ambition leave him now?
I believe it's about justice rather than revenge. The term 'revenge' seems too severe for his actions; it carries a more negative implication. So, seeking justice appears to be his aim, and he may achieve part of it.
What can you say about the direction of season two and how it concludes?
I'd describe it as quite a voyage. I appreciate how it rolls out weekly. It’s nice that we don’t have to watch it all in one go. In my view, it feels like a grand adventure where everyone is partaking step-by-step until our paths converge eventually. The ending might satisfy some with the overall narrative but leave others wanting more specifics.
What message would you like audiences to carry with them after seeing Zane and Alice achieve victory and share a joyful moment in this episode?
This plotline holds significant importance for Joy [as she portrays Alice]. Even after a century, events of this nature continue to unfold. Much like when I spoke about understanding different cultures and injustices through my spouse’s experiences, that serves as the underlying message here. This is precisely why I appreciate period dramas; they offer insights into history alongside the narrative progression.
What insights has this role provided into your understanding of yourself and your future goals?
I haven’t portrayed a decent protagonist in quite some time. Recently, I’ve been taking on purely deranged antagonists, which has been incredibly enjoyable, but it felt refreshing to inject some sincerity into my role. After this, though, I’m eager to dive back into playing more lunatics! Next up, I’ll be involved in a theatrical production with an entirely distinct character. However, what truly excites me about this part is the cowboy element. Throughout my career, I have had numerous opportunities—such as learning how to pilot an aircraft. Additionally, I received training from various branches including the Coast Guard, Army, and Marines; participated in sports like football and basketball, engaged in boxing, shed pounds, and put them back on again. Currently, mastering horseback riding stands out since you genuinely develop new skills here. Although I’ve done equestrian scenes in previous film work, nothing compares to this experience because much of the stuntwork falls directly onto us performers, making it particularly rewarding for me personally.
Are you planning to return to Chicago anytime shortly?
I disagree. I revisited and executed that task. However, I remain receptive. Whenever Uncle Dick [Wolf] reaches out, I make an appearance. He has consistently been supportive towards me. I have fondness for the show and feel nostalgic about it. Marina [Squerciati, star of Chicago P.D. I would certainly be receptive to it.
***
1923 uploads fresh episodes of season two every Friday on Paramount+. Stay tuned for more. THR's seasonal coverage along with their interviews.
- 'Landman' Gets Renewal for Second Season on Paramount+ Following Successful Premiere Season
- '1923' Actress Julia Schlaepfer Talks About Her Chilling Journey to America
Post a Comment