As with all Taylor Sheridan shows, there are many words that could be used to describe 1923. When we sat down with Brandon Sklenar, the actor who plays the brawny lion hunter Spencer Dutton, however, he had but a single word in mind. “Epic,” he assured us ahead of the Season 2 premiere. And just one episode in, we have to agree.

In the first episode of 1923 Season 2, viewers are introduced to the characters’ new norm. Where Spencer is working in the boiler room of a slow ship en route to America, Alex (Julia Schlaepfer) is withering away while plotting to find a way back into his arms. Meanwhile, back in Montana, Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara Dutton (Helen Mirren) are preparing for winter and hoping for Spencer’s return, and subsequent saving grace, come spring, while their nemesis, Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton), is being more dastardly than ever.

In short, there’s so much to latch onto already, which is why we sat down with Brandon to help unpack the premiere and prepare for what’s to come in the next seven episodes.

“You’re going to see everything and I can say nothing,” he exclaims, hinting at just how epic and surprising Season 2 is bound to be.

What he can reveal? The motivation behind his character.

“He’s such a noble character and he lives by a very clear code of ethics that he stands by, and I think that’s such a cool thing,” Brandon shares. “You don’t see a lot of characters like that, that are so driven by just a pure love of family and a protector quality… I mean he’s a scary man when he needs to be and he definitely lets the cat out of the bag a little bit when he needs [to]. He’s capable of doing pretty much anything he needs to do; he’ll plow through anything or anyone and not think twice about it.”

It’s Spencer’s commitment to his people and core values that have impacted Brandon the most. “His love for his family and his lady—he’s so committed to both of those things and I think that’s such an admirable character trait. He has so much integrity, and his intense integrity is what gives him his resilience. And they go hand in hand, you know? If your why is strong enough, you can pretty much endure anything, and his why is as strong as it gets.”

Spencer’s dedication to defending those in need is also at an all-time high in Season 2, and it’s something Brandon believes we can all learn a lesson from. While the entire premise of the second season is that he’s headed home to safeguard his family and the ranch, in Episode 1, he intervenes in the assault of a fellow shipmate, and then again when he talks the same shipmate down from jumping to his demise.

The way Brandon sees it, stepping in to defend and protect others is a core human responsibility, which is why he’s felt drawn to roles that enable him to depict it on screen.

“Hopefully, most people have that in them somewhere, and hopefully, by having more of these characters out there, people are inspired to help somebody—across the street or open a door, or you know, simple things; it doesn’t have to be anything crazy, like saving someone from being raped, but if you get that opportunity, that would be cool, too,” he says. “Some people need help, and if you can help them, you should do that.”