In the wake of "1883" Season 1 Episode 9 airing, self-described professional rodeo announcer Jared Slagle posted a screenshot of Elsa taken from Episode 9 to his personal Twitter account with the caption "I don't know who needs to hear this but. You wouldn't have never seen anything like this on the plains in #1883." In a follow-up Tweet, Slagle explained that her "braids and skins" — referring to her hairstyle and a colorful vest she sports in the photo — are not realistic for the time period in which the series takes place.
In response, user @aggiefuzzyfan agreed, commenting "True, but makes for good tv." Meanwhile, user @AreWhyEhInRyan replied with a different moment from the episode they found to be an indicator of its lack of realism, recounting how "in that same episode the Native cuts open a Buffalo and rips its clean heart out within 6 seconds of it dying." In another reply, user @adriannareads riffed on the modern look of her Episode 9 outfit, joking that "she's going to Coachella!"
While Elsa's appearance in Episode 9 is seemingly anachronistic, her storyline is not just central to the series, but fuels a cliffhanger leading into the season finale. Fans will find out where Elsa ends up at the season's conclusion when the final episode of "1883" Season 1 premieres to Paramount+ on February 27.
