In Landman, Taylor Sheridan continues his exploration of American conflicts, this time trading cattle and country feuds for derricks and oil rigs. Set against the backdrop of the West Texas oil fields, this new Paramount+ series, led by Billy Bob Thornton, aims to unearth the moral complexities and power struggles that accompany the extraction of the nation's most coveted resource. With an all-star cast and the signature grit of a Sheridan production, Landman shines in moments of authenticity but ultimately falters as it digs into familiar territories, missing the opportunity for deeper storytelling.

Thornton leads as Tommy Norris, a seasoned oilman who embodies the contradictory mix of a charming rogue and a ruthless opportunist. His portrayal is one of the key strengths of the series, giving viewers a character who is morally ambiguous but undeniably magnetic. Thornton's performance grounds the drama with a palpable energy, often lending weight to scenes that could otherwise feel superficial. The dialogue, peppered with Sheridan's knack for quotable lines, hits home when it highlights the raw, callous nature of the industry—a landscape where ethics are more pliable than steel.

The supporting cast—including Michelle Monaghan and Scoot McNairy—brings commendable depth to their roles, adding layers to a plot otherwise content with predictable beats. We see Monaghan's character, a small-town lawyer turned advocate, struggle to reconcile her principles with the community's increasing reliance on oil wealth. McNairy delivers as a local worker navigating the volatile terrain of a boom-and-bust economy, portraying the psychological toll of living under the thumb of powerful oil corporations. These moments are compelling, but they often lose their impact as the show shifts focus back to broader, stereotypical power plays that fail to add nuance to the subject matter.

Sheridan's handling of the boomtown effect—how towns rise and crumble under the economic pressure of oil—is where Landman both succeeds and stumbles. Visually, the series paints the oil fields with a mixture of allure and despair, and the cinematography captures the vastness of the Texan landscape juxtaposed with the claustrophobic tension of corporate boardrooms. However, the narrative becomes bogged down by repetitive confrontations and predictable arcs, relying too heavily on Sheridan's established tropes from Yellowstone and Hell or High Water. The broader themes of greed, ambition, and environmental cost are touched upon but rarely interrogated with the incisiveness that the subject deserves.

The pacing can also feel inconsistent, often dragging as the show focuses on boardroom politics or character backstories that add little substance. Where Landman truly falters is in its hesitancy to dig deeper into the complexities of the modern energy industry—the ethics of fracking, the looming specter of climate change, and the toll on the workers and the land. These are explored, but with a reluctance that keeps the show from achieving greatness.

Ultimately, Landman is a visually impressive, well-acted drama that is hindered by its adherence to a familiar formula. It carries the weight of a Sheridan production but struggles to move beyond the established conventions of the modern Western. For fans of Thornton or Sheridan's previous work, it's an engaging watch, but those seeking an incisive take on the oil industry may find themselves craving more.

TCG Score: ★★★ 3/5

Watch the Trailer for landman below: