Schlaepfer's character is sexually assaulted when she reaches Ellis Island, in hopes of reuniting with her American husband (played by Brandon Sklenar): "No one should have to go through what she goes through.

Yellowstone prequel 1923 is back for season two and fans are already obsessed with Alex (played by Julia Schlaepfer) and Spencer Dutton (played by Brandon Sklenar)

Schlaepfer told PEOPLE what her costar and onscreen husband is like off set and reveals how "jarring" it was filming season 2 without him

SPOILER ALERT! This story contains plot points from the latest episode of 1923 on Paramount+. The road trip from hell has only just begun for Alex. In the latest episode of the Yellowstone origin series,

[Warning: The following post contains MAJOR spoilers about 1923 Season 2 Episode 3, “Wrap Thee in Terror.”]

The actress, 30, tells PEOPLE how filming the "really brutal" sequence went — and reveals how challenging she found it to separate Alex's story from hers

Yellowstone prequel 1923 returns to Paramount Plus with season two and Alex (played by Julia Schlaepfer) is making her solo mission to Montana to be reunited with Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar). One of her first notable roles was in Madam Secretary in 2017.

As Paramount Plus' Yellowstone prequel 1923 returns, we take a look at the two main stars Alex (Julia Schlaepfer) and Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) and their off screen bond