Dreamers and Losers

Any show with Billy Bob Thornton is gonna be entertaining. And Landman is entertaining.

I think it's marketed as a drama. It's a bit over-done in that regard. Lots of manufacturered situations like this week's rig blowout.

It's better as a comedy. Lots of smart-zzzery coming out of BB's mouth.

I am skeptical about any show that resorts to this amount of T&A in only Episode 2 (I missed the pilot). Speaking of which, BB's ex-wife is super-irritating. She's a foul-mouthed sk3nk who adds nothing to the show, either drama or comedy. It's usually a sign of a show that's short on content.

The daughter is barely any better, though at least she brings a level of "GenZ dypshyt" mockery.

Chick lawyer is obnoxious. I hope we don't get much of her.

My wife recommended I watch this show. But I'm not convinced.

Landman is a riveting, masterfully executed drama that delves into the intricate and often morally ambiguous world of the American oil industry, offering a powerful mix of corporate intrigue, character-driven storytelling, and razor-sharp social commentary. From the very first episode, the show captivates viewers with its raw depiction of the pressures and challenges faced by those who navigate the high-stakes, ethically complex world of land acquisition and resource extraction.

At its heart is the unforgettable performance of billy bob thornton, who brings depth and complexity to their character, a seasoned landman-someone tasked with negotiating and securing drilling rights across a vast and often hostile landscape. The show's central themes of corporate greed, environmental impact, and personal ambition unfold with unflinching honesty, drawing parallels to our world today where the lines between profit and responsibility are often blurred.

The writing is impeccable. The narrative is tightly woven, with each episode carefully building on the last, offering a balance of character moments, political intrigue, and dramatic tension. The dialogue is sharp and often laced with wit, while never shying away from the more uncomfortable truths about the human cost of the oil industry. It's a show that doesn't just entertain but challenges the audience to think critically about the world we live in.

Visually, Landman is stunning. The cinematography beautifully captures both the barren, expansive beauty of the oil fields and the claustrophobic boardrooms where the real decisions are made. The score is haunting, complementing the mood and elevating the tension of the story.

What truly sets Landman apart, however, is its nuanced exploration of power, ethics, and the price of progress. It's not just a show about oil; it's a mirror held up to society's ever-evolving relationship with industry, wealth, and the environment. Whether you're already familiar with the energy sector or not, this series offers a deep, thought-provoking experience that will resonate long after the credits roll.

In short, Landman is a triumph. It's a show that effortlessly combines compelling drama, outstanding performances, and a timely, thought-provoking narrative. It's a must-watch, and undoubtedly one of the best new shows of 2024.

In the aftermath of the oil explosion, we see Thornton clearing up the mess. He gets the job done, but loses his finger. He does what a man has to do and informs the families of the victims.

If that was not enough a woman arrives to look into the business. We see Thornton's character fleshing out more and more and I really like him. He is the tough american guy with his heart on the right spot.

Jon Hamm's character is getting more screentime aswell. He plays the business man, possessed by his profession, without the time for his wife and daughter.

And in the meantime Michelle Randolph has her fun tolling around the house, driving the old seniors mad. I love it!

I admire the way Taylor Sheridan mixes in doses of outrageous black humor to leaven the extreme problems that Billy Bob Thornton encounters in "Landman". The first two episodes provide content equal to a two-hour feature film, but things have just begun for the beleagured landman.

Some prime characters make the scene in Part 2: Kayla Wallace as high-powered lawyer Rebecca, tangling with Billy Bob at first sight; Jon Hamm, extremely well-cast as Billy Bob's slick, hardly sympathetic boss (with his wife Demi Moore only teased into the show so far), plus Colm Feore and James Jordan as Billy Bob's quirky roommates.

The auteur apparently got a special dispensation for Billy Bob to play a chain-smoker, something not seen on TV or even movies in recent years, and I bet Michelob Ultra and Dr. Pepper are providing plenty of product placement funds to support the lavish production values.

I gave this one a shot because Billy Bob Thornton is usually great in stuff and he's definitely the only reason to suffer through this although I can tell right now I won't be able to suffer for long.

Sheridan's writing is cheap, lazy and panders to his (presumably) white male audience. He has a pattern where Billy Bob gets into an argument with some other character, gives them a zinger and then they sit there as though dumbstruck by his epic brilliance.

In reality, the other character would zing right back. That would create more interesting and dynamic scenes, instead of ones that die on the vine. But that would require Sheridan to treat his characters as something other than mindless puppets who exist merely to demonstrate how cool his lead character is.

And speaking of mindless puppets, Sheridan needs to stop trying to write women, because all his has in his creative toolkit is stupid stereotypes like the b*tchy hot ex-wife, the b*tchy hot lawyer, and the dopey sex kitten daughter who no doubt will grow up to be a b*tch just like Mom. Trite and uninteresting.

Meanwhile the male characters are allowed to be cool, even when they are completely implausible. Take Billy Bob's son for instance. His ambition is to run an oil company, a job that would require him to be a soulless, ambition-driven fiend who knifes others in the back for fun if he has any hope of success but he comes off as a wimp who couldn't run a day care center full of puppies and kittens.

He wants to learn the ropes but apparently doesn't realize this will require climbing scary high ladders which induce a panic attack even when he's got a safety harness. He should slink back to college and become a geology professor. It's painful watching his scenes.

I gave this two stars for Billy Bob and no stars for Sheridan.