Spencer does not have any children. He was born in 1893 to James and Margaret Dutton and is the younger brother of John and Elsa.
Spencer met Alexandra on a safari hunting trip in Africa after the war. Alexandra left her fiancé, Arthur, to accompany Spencer on a hunt for a hyena.
During their time together, they spent a night in a tree surrounded by wild animals. While on vacation in Zanzibar, Spencer received a letter from his aunt Cara informing him about his brother’s passing 3 months after it happened.
Spencer Dutton & Alexandra Are Returning From Africa
Spencer Dutton and Alexandra are returning from Africa to Montana on a tugboat when their captain succumbs to what is believed to be tuberculosis, as noted by Vulture.
The two “landlubbers,” with little knowledge of navigation, collide with a deserted ghost ship causing their vessel to capsize.
Although the scene appears lifeless as the camera zooms out, Vulture points out that it is unlikely that Spencer Dutton and his fiancée Alexandra have perished.
Many viewers of Season 1, Ep 5, may have been concerned about Spencer’s future because of the cliffhanger. However, a shot of Spencer is included in an earlier preview that has yet to play out in the series.
According to Pajiba, this shot shows Spencer, shirtless, aiming for a shark with a shotgun. The fact that this shot has not been seen suggests that Spencer does not die at the end of Season 1, Episode 5, or between episodes 5 and 6.
In the first episode, Elsa Dutton’s narration mentions that one of James Dutton’s children will live to see his kids grow and carry the family’s fate through the 20th century, including the Great Depression.
At this point in the narrative of Yellowstone, Spencer Dutton is James’ only living child, leading Pajiba to conclude that he will survive and manage the family’s journey through the depression.
Decaying Family Tree
According to Vulture, Alexandra is the “only vital branch on this decaying family tree.” This means that she brings life to the series, which is crucial for it to work.
Vultures cannot imagine that someone as lively as Alexandra could suddenly die; therefore, they cannot believe that Spencer and Alexandra are dead.
Furthermore, after the events of episode 3, the default expectation that Jack would continue his father’s legacy is not as strong anymore as Outsider wrote.
Additionally, Spencer and Alexandra both stated that they see their son’s face in each other’s visages, which is quite suggestive.
Outsider continues that this sets up the audience for a “bait and switch” inside which Spencer and Alexandra will have a son, who will become imperative to the Dutton Family Tree.
