Landman: Un negocio crudo

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.

I apparently am a sucker for Taylor Sheridan shows. They're well written and entertaining. I'd gladly watch anything with his make attached to it at this point. But what's with the girl in her underwear and the creepy sexualization of her? It's grossly gratuitous. It's extremely weird how obnoxious she is with it. It's almost that much of a turn off to not want to watch. I AM invested in the story tho so far. I'm also not getting why the woman are so utterly unlikeable. The ex wife is just ugggh. It's truly a head scratcher. Is the show just geared towards drawing men? Love Billy Bob tho. He's always plus.

For someone so focused on his goals, the inclusion of an emotionally unstable, one-woman circus undermines the purpose of the show entirely. It feels like her character disrupts the central narrative, adding unnecessary chaos rather than supporting his journey. The portrayal doesn't enhance the storyline but instead makes it harder to take his determination and focus seriously.

Similarly, the roles of both his wife and daughter feel out of place within the series. The wife comes across as emotionally erratic, while the daughter seems to lack intellectual depth, making her contributions to the plot negligible. The daughter's portrayal feels particularly shallow, with her character offering little beyond surface-level engagement, which doesn't add value to the story.

Moreover, having these characters constantly jump around in provocative clothing, seemingly for no purpose other than to attract views, feels out of sync with the tone of the series. Instead of enhancing the plot or character dynamics, this approach comes off as a superficial tactic to draw attention. It's a strange and unneeded addition that detracts from the overall quality of the narrative.

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.