Score another TV hit for writer/actor Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone, 1883, 1823, Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King, Lioness). Landman is another macho neo-Western, this time about the boom-or-bust oil business. The story centers on Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton), a fixer for M-Tex petroleum company owned by Monty Miller (Jon Hamm). Norris is operations VP, but that really means he’s in charge of containing the series of disasters that daily befall the business.
Tommy lives in a McMansion with petroleum engineer Dale Bradley (James Jordan), and uptight company attorney Nathan (Colm Feore). But soon his estranged and wild wife, Angela (Ali Larter), comes back into his life with his free-spirited daughter, Ainsley (Michelle Randolph). Meanwhile, his son, Cooper (Jacob Lofland), has dropped out of college and wants to learn the oil business. Tommy’s putting out fires in both his business and personal life.
Thornton is fantastic—funny, profane, impatient, but unflappable and loving toward his family and loyal to Monty and Monty’s wife, Cami (Demi Moore at the top of her game). It’s the story of gamblers trying to win big every time they place a bet on a new piece of land and a new well. (10 approximately 55-min. episodes)
—Glen Starkey
This article appears in Jan 23 – Feb 2, 2025.