1923 season 2 can solve an unresolved mystery about Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham). Thomas, John Dutton III’s (Kevin Costner) rival, has been a vital part of Taylor Sheridan’s neo-Western series since Yellowstone’s series premiere when Rainwater became the new chairman of Broken Rock. Just before he is introduced as the new chairman, Thomas Rainwater tells a visiting Montana senator that he thought he was Mexican until adulthood. Thomas gives the legislator the cliff notes on his life as he is adorned in traditional regalia, and an assistant cleanses him with smoke.

In Yellowstone’s series premiere, Thomas Rainwater reveals that he was adopted, learning about his American Indian heritage when his adoption records were unsealed. Despite Thomas remaining pivotal to the series throughout, the scene in Yellowstone season 1 provides the most insight into Rainwater’s origins in the Yellowstone universe. We know Thomas earned an Ivy League college education to help his people. However, Yellowstone never revealed Thomas’ connection to the tribe, which motivated his work, despite the chairman’s significant role in Yellowstone season 5’s finale. That said, 1923 season 2 could clarify the details.

Thomas Rainwater’s Connection To Teonna In 1923 Explained
Thomas And Teonna Rainwater Share A Last Name

Considering they share a last name, Teonna Rainwater (Aminah Nieves) from the cast of 1923 could be the missing link to Thomas Rainwater, explaining his connection to the Broken Rock Tribe. The most convincing connection between Teonna and Thomas is their last name, Rainwater, which could connect the relatives despite Thomas being adopted. Nothing concrete connects the characters except their potential surnames, but details from Thomas and Teonna’s stories are aligned to cross in the future. In the Yellowstone series premiere, Thomas Rainwater tells the visiting senator that he wasn’t raised on the reservation in Montana and thought he was Mexican.

Thomas’ adoptive parents convincing him that he was Mexican, despite Rainwater noting that he always felt otherwise, could just be a display of trust between parent and child. On the other hand, it could have been easy for Thomas’ parents to lie to him about his heritage because Thomas was raised in the American Southwest. Meanwhile, in 1923 season 2, episode 1, Teonna heads to Comanche territory with her father, Runs His Horse (Michael Spears), and Pete Plenty Clouds (Jeremy Gauna), which comprises parts of New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma around the turn of the century.

What We Know About Teonna Rainwater’s Family In 1923 So Far
1923 Reveals Plenty About Teonna’s Family

Despite her story picking up at the U.S. School for Native Americans in North Dakota, Teonna Rainwater is from the Crow tribe in Montana. We know that Teonna is connected to the Crow people because her grandmother comes to the superintendent of her school to request that her granddaughter be moved to a day school close to the reservation in 1923 season 1, episode 2, “Nature’s Empty Throne.” The superintendent refers Teonna’s Grandmother, Issaxche Rainwater (Amelia Rico), to the Magistrate at the Crow Agency. Referring Issaxche back to the Crow Agency suggests that’s where she and Teonna are from.

Issaxche explains that Teonna lived with her before they took her. The grandmother explains that Teonna’s father manages the reservation’s herd and that her mother died of Spanish Flu. The superintendent recommends that Issaxche adopt Teonna to complete her request adequately, not understanding the nature of Teonna’s multi-generational household. Issaxche is murdered in her home in 1923 season 1, episode 6, “One Ocean Closer to Destiny.” Eventually, Teonna reunites with her father, who is on a mission to disappear with his daughter after she murders the Catholic nuns from her boarding school who raped and assaulted her.

What 1923 Can Reveal About Thomas Rainwater In 1923 Season 2
1923 Can Connect Yellowstone To Taylor Sheridan’s Prequel

With Teonna’s story, 1923 season 2 can contextualize Thomas Rainwater’s origins within the Yellowstone universe, possibly connecting it to Teonna’s future. Considering Thomas and Teonna share a last name, it’s likely that Teonna is somehow related to Thomas. Teonna’s journey to Comanche territory is further evidence that Anna Nieves’ 1923 character could somehow be associated with Thomas, especially since her journey causes her to go into hiding. It could be that Teonna, Pete, and Runs His Horse all make it to the Southwest, and after settling down among the Comanche people, Teonna Rainwater starts a family.

It is plausible that Thomas emerged from the American Southwest as a lost descendant of Teonna Rainwater.

While too old to be his mother, Teonna could be Thomas Rainwater’s grandmother. It could be that Teonna had to hide the identity of her child after disappearing in 1923 and that her descendants, therefore, had to do the same. That could be why Thomas’ mother gave him up for adoption. On the other hand, Thomas’ mother could have simply endured harrowing circumstances that barred her from properly raising her child. Regardless, it is plausible that Thomas emerged from the American Southwest as a lost descendant of Teonna Rainwater, and 1923 season 2 can settle the details.