Landman

Watching Billy Bob stride across the open landscape in the opening scene, I'm thinking "look at the low riding jeans, little pot belly, and overall aging appearance", and wondering just how he was cast for this tough oil man character. Fear not, Billy Bob not only carries it off with style, the writers gave him some of the best lines ever. The writing is truly top notch. The women though, yeegads, Angela and Aynsley are weird caricatures of strong but shallow women. "T&A series" was overhead while eavesdropping on a group of men discussing the series. But as an older woman, I still thoroughly enjoyed the biting commentary on the oil industry, wind farms, solar energy, and political machinations behind the scenes. And Billy Bob is great, as always.

Landman is another hit in a long line of them for Taylor Sheridan. This has everything you want in a good series, it has plenty of drama, action, twists, even a little comedy, etc. It's obviously beautifully written because everything Sheridan does is but it also has an amazing cast. It stars the incredible Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Hamm, Ali Larter, Demi Moore, among others. Billy Bob Thornton was born to plays this role, he is absolutely terrific here. I'll be shocked if he doesn't get nominated for an Emmy for his performance here. Same goes for Hamm. Besides being beautifully written and acted, it's also beautifully shot too. Sheridan has so many great shows to his name and Landman is among the best of them. This look like it's going to have a long run and I'm here for it.

It's formula TV but by a writer who'll be remembered in a few decades much like Norman Lear is now. The difference here seems to be geography. It's another western-niche show and it's genius marketing coupled with fine performances by high quality actors. Accuracy issues regarding the oil industry? Apparently. Inappropriateness regarding the mother-daughter-father-family dynamics? Yes. Does it mean none of it plays out in real life the same way? It doesn't matter, it's a dynamic production and a fun one to watch. Thornton is meant for the role, although I read it was written for him only to begin with. Larter is at peak performance and looks phenomenal. Lots of interesting things, except the only oddity is Demi Moore listed in all 10 episodes. I've seen all 5 that aired to this point, and unless it's just me, I recall seeing and hearing her only once or so, in her pool, for a brief moment. Hamm's character isn't seen as much either, but it's played well and he nails his character, but Moore's just isn't being allowed to add anything so far. Maybe it's written that way and she'll play a part in later episodes. If not then I'll wonder what the deal is there.

I need to start off by saying that I'm a huge fan of just about everything Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone, Mayor of Kingstown, 1923, 1883, Tulsa King, Lioness, Sicario, He'll or Highwater, Wind River, etc, etc.). He hits home run after home run and Landman is no different. It's another hit for Sheridan. Landman takes place in modern day Texas where everyone from billionaires to roughnecks are trying to get rich in the oil industry. This series follows Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) as he tried to take his company to the top during the oil fuel boom. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good new series to watch, especially if you're a fan of Taylor Sheridan.

This could easily have been rated an 8.5 - 9. If it weren't for the cringey and so sexualized daughter & ex wife/mother. They serve no purpose to the plot, and are just downright annoying and insulting to west Texas women. A far west Texas man myself I understand where Sheridan is coming from in a sense, but this is awful. West Texas women are the strongest, most ambitious women I know. Now aside from that, the writing and acting are terrific. Sheridan easily has another Yellowstone on his hands if he gets rid of the very uncomfortable interfamily horniness. But again, love me some Sheridan writing (and acting) and an absolutely very enjoyable show, for the most part.