1883: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Shea Brennan
Watching Shea Brennan's life unfold is one of the most interesting aspects of 1883, and there's plenty to learn about him.
1883 is a prequel to the long-running series Yellowstone, created by Taylor Sheridan. Like its predecessor, 1883 follows the stories of frontiersmen trying to find their place in the American Old West. It aired on Paramount+ and has been a hit among fans and critics alike. It features a small star-studded cast of well-developed, interesting characters.
One of the most compelling characters in the series is cowboy Shea Brennan, played by Sam Elliott. He is a civil war veteran and the only surviving member of his immediate family. Multiple tragedies have marked his life, and he has a nuanced personality with many subtle traits hidden beneath his tough exterior. Watching his story unfold is one of the most intriguing aspects of the series.
10, Shea Brennan Planned His Suicide Early
Shea Brennan’s suicide in the finale was a very jarring moment for viewers, but there were hints all along the way that this demise was pre-planned. From as early as episode 3, Brennan was already setting the stage for ending his life.
For example, in speaking to the woman who lost her husband, he told her that he wouldn’t be around to help her in Oregon. This conversation was just one of many instances of Brennan subtly letting the audience know what to expect from him at the end of the series.
9, His War Memories Haunt Him
The audience sees one instance of Shea Brennan suffering through a nightmare of his time in the Civil War, but this isn’t the only clue to the heavy and tragic memories that the character carries.
He remarks to Thomas that the frontier is creating “too many widows and orphans,” which reflects his feelings about all the men he killed in combat. Shea may seem tough and uncaring on the surface, but he harbors a lot of guilt about the part he played as a captain in the war.
8, He Blames Himself For His Family’s Death
Audiences first get to know Shea Brennan in a rather harrowing scene: his wife and daughter are both dead from smallpox. After a tearful goodbye to their corpses, Brennan burns down the family home with their bodies inside. Throughout 1883, there are several points where Brennan’s true feelings about their deaths leak out.
Whenever he fails to protect someone from the harshness of the journey, he is very hard on himself and breaks his stoic persona. It’s clear that he blames himself for not being able to protect his family from smallpox, and his guilt is channeled into a sense of protectiveness over the immigrants he is leading.
7, He Has A Deep Sense Of Righteousness
Shea Brennan continuously finds himself in leadership roles: a captain in the Civil War, a Pinkerton officer, and the leader of the frontier party. He is an effective leader because of his strict moral code, evident in every decision he makes.
At times, he may be hard on the immigrants, but he does so out of a genuine belief that he is doing his best to prepare them for life as pioneers. His brand of justice is harsh, but it is also geared toward upholding a strong sense of right and wrong within the party.
6, His Friendship With Cowboy Thomas Is Unusual For The Time
Throughout 1883, viewers watch a close bond unfold between Shea Brennan and cowboy Thomas, a buffalo soldier veteran from the Civil War. The two treat each other with kindness and respect and look out for each other like brothers. Though their veteran status bonds them, their friendship is unique for the period.
The Civil War was fought over issues of race (among other things), but even those on the winning side weren’t quick to build interracial friendships after the war ended. The friendship between Brennan and Thomas feels so natural that viewers barely pause to consider this fact.
5, He Wants The Immigrants To Succeed
There’s no question that Shea Brennan is tough on the immigrants he’s leading west. He doesn’t mince his words when admonishing them for their missteps and shows no mercy when they are forced to abandon many of their belongings to cross a Texas river. However, subtle clues in his behavior show audiences that he is hard on them because he wants them to succeed in their journey.
Shea knows how difficult it is to survive on the frontier, and has many doubts about their ability to survive the journey. The fact that he cries whenever someone dies is a sign of his hidden hopes for their prosperity.
4, Fans Believe He Has A Yellowstone Relative
Since 1883 is a prequel, fans naturally searched for connections between the characters and their potential Yellowstone counterparts. One popular theory is that Shea Brennan is a relative of Lloyd Pierce, a lovable ranch hand from Yellowstone. Fans point to similarities in their appearance and mannerisms as clues to a possible link.
There’s also the fact that they are both the oldest (but arguably most capable) men in their respective positions. Perhaps a link will be revealed in one of the two series, but the connection is just wishful thinking so far.
3, He Knows A Great Deal About Smallpox
Viewers see Shea Brennan banish an immigrant from Fort Worth for showing signs of smallpox infection, but his knowledge of smallpox is actually much broader than simply recognizing the telltale rash. Shea Brennan’s family died of smallpox, so he burned down their family home.
He knew that anything touched by a person with smallpox could spread the disease to others, so he destroyed the house to prevent this from occurring. This type of practical knowledge is one of many reasons why he is so essential to the survival of his traveling party.
2, He Sees His Daughter In Elsa Dutton
As 1883 progresses, Shea Brennan makes an unlikely friend: Elsa Dutton. The two bond over their shared pain of losing loved ones, and Shea is able to impart some much-needed wisdom to the young Elsa. However, there’s more to their bond than initially meets the eye.
Audiences see very little of Shea Brennan’s daughter at the beginning of the series – she is already dead by the time his storyline begins – but she bears a slight resemblance to Elsa. Unlike Elsa, Shea’s daughter never got the chance to grow up and experience the joy and tragedy of love that Elsa lives through in the series. Viewers can’t help but think that Shea gives Elsa fatherly advice because he never got the chance to do that with his own daughter.
1, The Hummingbird He Sees Before His Suicide Is An Important Symbol
The fact that Shea sees a hummingbird right before his death is no accident. Hummingbirds represent healing and messages from the spirit world. Since Shea traveled to the ocean to allow his wife to see it through his eyes, viewers can assume that the hummingbird is his wife’s way of communicating with him at this critical moment.
Hummingbirds also symbolize the fact that someone is on a journey to personal fulfillment of some kind. Tragic as it is, Shea Brennan’s suicide is indeed the fulfillment of his personal journey, as he accomplished all of his goals before that point.
