Director Taylor Sheridan released the new television series Landman on Nov. 17, 2024. The story is set in the boomtowns of West Texas within the world of oilfields. This is where, as Tommy Norris put it, “roughnecks and wildcat billionaires are fueling a boom so big it’s reshaping our climate, our economy, and our geopolitical.” The series is available on Paramount Plus and is rated TV-MA for mature audiences.
The lead character is Tommy Norris, played by Billy Bob Thornton. He works for M-Tex Oil, which is owned by Monty Miller (Jon Hamm). Monty has a long personal and professional relationship with Tommy. And since Monty has heart issues, he cannot run M-Tex Oil due to his poor health. The responsibility ends up in Tommy’s hands, with the support of Cami Miller (Demi Moore), his boss’s wife.
Tommy makes impactful decisions concerning the oil company’s future and the Miller family by moving forward with a farm-out. This is a contractual arrangement with an owner who carries a working welfare in an oil and gas lease to transfer all or part of that welfare to another party in exchange for fulfilling contractually restricted circumstances.
The series’ first episode follows Tommy as he makes sketchy deals with the cartel. At the beginning of the episode, the cartel has him tied to a chair with a bag over his head. Tommy is trying to get a land lease for M-Tex Oil, as the cartel owns its drilling rights. He explained that he secured the oil company’s land lease and managed the day-to-day operations. He finishes the monologue by saying that the first part is simple: “It is the second part that can get you killed.”
Six months later, a drug drop at a desolate road goes wrong when a tanker arrives unexpectedly. The plane and van don’t have time to react, which causes the tanker to crash through the plane and the van. Viewers are briefly introduced to Tommy’s son, Cooper Norris (Jacob Lofland), as he joins the crew working for M-Tex Oil.
Since the plane is used to smuggle drugs, the sheriff, Walt Joeberg (Mark Collie), informs Tommy that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) will get involved. Tommy wonders why a TTP tanker (the one that crashed into the plane) is driving on a private road that belongs to M-Tex.
The following day, Cooper and his crew arrive at an oil rig and work on a pipe when they realize they have the wrong tool. Cooper is sent to the truck to get the right one, but it takes some time to fetch it since he is unfamiliar with the tools. The episode ends when the rig explodes, sending Cooper back to the pickup truck.
The first episode of Landman introduces many plots that seem overcomplicated. There is the plane crash fiasco with drug smuggling, and the underhanded deals with the police and landowners. The plot also presents Tommy’s family drama with his estranged ex-wife, daughter, and son. The ending throws everything off balance, leaving no clue what to expect in the following episodes after the explosion. What happens to Cooper’s crew? Do they survive? What does Tommy do to deal with the oil explosion? Well, you’ll have to find out.
This series earns a 5/5 because the plot is so good that it leaves viewers wanting more, and they can’t wait for more episodes. The series is exciting and hilarious. All the actors play incredible roles and fit their parts perfectly. Everyone should watch this series if they enjoy the oilfields and hard work.
