The second season of 1923 is here, bringing even more gripping drama, powerful performances, and high-stakes storytelling. Jennifer Carpenter (playing Mamie Fossett) and Aminah Nieves (returning as Teonna Rainwater) joined Pop Culture Unplugged to discuss their characters’ arcs, the emotional depth of the season, and what fans can expect as the Yellowstone prequel continues to unfold.
Aminah Nieves on Teonna’s Evolving Journey
Teonna Rainwater endured immense trauma in 1923 Season 1, fighting for survival as she escaped the horrors of the government boarding school. But what does Season 2 hold for her? Aminah Nieves teases a journey that’s just as intense—yet layered with new elements of hope.
“She’s still on the run. She’s still trying to do what she feels is right. But I also want to highlight the fact that she’s also remembering how to be a daughter. She’s remembering her culture, she’s remembering everything it means to be a posalige—to be a person of this land.”
Unlike Season 1, where Teonna was surrounded by brutality and suffering, Season 2 gives her a moment to reconnect with love and family.
“You’re going to see a different shift in her at the beginning. She is met with people that don’t want to harm her—her family, people who want nothing but love and to protect her.”
While Nieves remains tight-lipped about specific details, she hints that Teonna’s arc is filled with intense moments that will keep fans on the edge of their seats.
“Her journey is like an ocean wave. You have to just ride the water when you watch it, because you are going to be on a ride—not only with Teonna, but with the rest of the characters.”
Jennifer Carpenter on Mamie Fossett: A Mysterious and Complex New Character
Season 2 introduces Mamie Fossett, played by Jennifer Carpenter. While not much is known about Mamie, Carpenter reveals what initially drew her to the role.
“What drew me to this character was the script—the quality of the writing. I mean, I would have played a tree if I were invited to!”
One of the most exciting aspects for Carpenter was crafting a character who exists in a time of secrecy and calculation.
“There’s not much information about Mamie, and in a strange way, that was freeing. If these two things are true about her, what else might be true? How did she develop her code of action or response?”
The world of 1923 is full of characters who live by their own rules, and Mamie is no different. Carpenter describes the challenge of portraying a character in a time where people were more measured and deliberate in their interactions.
“People weren’t advertising who they were or showing their cards. There was more patience, more of an expanse between an event or something someone said and the response that followed. So, interacting became so much more exciting.”
A Season of High-Stakes, Emotional Depth, and Unexpected Twists
Both actresses agree that 1923 Season 2 raises the stakes in a major way. Nieves describes the intensity as being at a whole new level:
“This season, the ante is up—it’s wicked for real. It’s intense.”
As for Carpenter, she remains secretive about Mamie’s full arc but assures fans that it’s worth the wait.
“Each of the characters are sort of their own planets. We all exist in the same galaxy. And yes, I intersect with multiple characters and storylines. But it all happens in such a natural way, without any bumps.”
She also teases a finale that will leave audiences blown away.
“The finale is the gift that just keeps on giving. It’s probably one of the richest experiences I’ve had as a television viewer.”
Final Thoughts
With 1923 Season 2 now unfolding, fans can expect powerful performances, deep emotional storytelling, and surprises at every turn. Teonna’s continued survival and rediscovery of her identity, paired with the introduction of the mysterious Mamie Fossett, promise to make this season unforgettable.
Are you ready for the next chapter in the Yellowstone saga? Watch 1923 streaming now on Paramount+ and let us know your thoughts on the season so far!