Taylor Sheridan’s latest series, Landman, has a lot of potential, but it doesn’t quite hit the same high notes as his other projects like Yellowstone. The show takes us into the gritty world of the Texas oil industry, focusing on landmen—those who negotiate the rights to drill on land, juggling interests from oil companies, landowners, and the government.
Billy Bob Thornton stars as a tough, morally gray landman Tommy Norris. Right away, his character feels at home in Sheridan’s world of complex, often troubled people. I can see a lot of John Dutton Tommy, right down to the cowboy hat. Thornton brings his usual gravitas to the role, capturing a man torn between making the right choice and chasing the almighty dollar. He’s a solid anchor for the show, but the series around him doesn’t always do justice to his performance.
Where Landman really shines is in its setting. Sheridan knows how to build a world, and here, the vast, barren Texas landscape feels like a character in itself—empty, harsh, and unforgiving. The cinematography is striking, with sweeping desert vistas and gritty close-ups that give the show a cinematic feel. The environment is a constant reminder of the high stakes, both in business and in life.
That said, the pacing is where things start to drag a bit. The first two episodes spend a lot of time explaining how the oil game works—land deals, drilling rights, legalese—which can be interesting but also a bit dry. Sheridan often goes big with his themes—corporate greed, environmental destruction, the blurred line between business and morality, and the battle between man and nature.
Sheridan is known for creating tension and high-stakes drama, but this show often feels like it’s torn between being a slow-burn character study and an intense thriller. That makes it harder to figure out what kind of show it really wants to be. It’s a solid watch, especially if you’re a fan of Sheridan’s other work. I look forward to seeing how season one evolves.
