Taylor Sheridan’sLandmanis replicating a great part of another one of his shows,Tulsa King, and both of them beatYellowstonein this area.All of Taylor Sheridan’s TV showshave some things in common, from recurring actors to their (usually) Western settings.Landmanis no different, as its West Texas setting perfectly fits his love for neo-Westerns and even sounds similar to anupcomingYellowstonespinoff,6666.Landmanhas also set itself apart in quite a few ways, however, and one of its differences actually makes it closer toTulsa King.
Sheridan’s shows cover a wide range of topics, fromLandman’s focus on oil drill workers toMayor of Kingstown’s focus on the prison industry. That also lets his shows touch on quite a few tones and moods, and at any moment, any one of his shows could become either a fast-paced action thriller or a slow-burn romance or anything in between. One area thatYellowstonehas recently been beaten in, however, is exactly whereLandmanhas thrived most, and it’s largely thanks to Billy Bob Thornton and thecast ofLandman.
Billy Bob Thornton’s Tommy Adds Much-Needed Comedy To Landman
Landman’s Focus On The Horrors Of Roughnecking Would Have Been Too Dark Without Tommy’s Wit
Landmanis an incredibly dark show that highlights some of the most depressing realities of the oil industry. In the first two episodes, an entire family was devastated when the oil rig blew out and left three generations without fathers and husbands. That was just the beginning, though, as the entire series is predicated upon Tommy handling crises that usually result in death or mutilation.Luckily, Billy Bob Thornton is hilarious inLandman, and he gives the show some much-needed comedic relief. Without Tommy’s jokes,Landmanand its constant tragedies would be almost too depressing to enjoy.
Without Tommy’s jokes, Landman and its constant tragedies would be almost too depressing to enjoy.
For instance, after he found the plane wreckage in the premiere ofLandman, Tommy sarcastically declared “I don’t see no dead drug dealers over here!”. Likewise, just after he crushed his finger trying to stop the blowout and turned it into a gory mess, Tommy stopped for a cigarette and a Dr. Pepper.Both of those scenes were extremely brutal and could easily have been presented as an intense thriller likeLioness, but Tommy’s wit kept them somewhat light. That had the added benefit of makingLandman’s lighter subplots, like Angela and Ainsley’s characters, not clash with the roughneck story too severely.
Tulsa King’s Dwight Manfredi Was Also A Jokester Before Tommy
Tommy Norris isn’t the first lead character Taylor Sheridan created specifically to be funny, however, as that honor actually goes to Dwight Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) inTulsa King. Dwight, though he was a gangster who personally killed several people, was always ready to crack jokes or put himself in humorously awkward scenarios.For example, on two separate occasions, Dwight got too high and started a hilarious rant about everything from lollipops to the band Phish. He also regularly joked around with the rest of thecast ofTulsa King, and sometimes the show felt more like a sitcom than a crime drama.
Landman & Tulsa King Have This One Advantage Over Yellowstone
John Dutton Was A Very Serious Protagonist Compared To Dwight & Tommy
Tommy and Dwight’s humor inLandmanandTulsa Kingactually give their shows one big advantage overYellowstone. The main protagonist of the show - at least untilYellowstoneseason 5, part 2- John Dutton (Kevin Costner), was never very funny. He mostly preferred thinly veiled threats and talking very seriously about the fate of his ranch and family dynasty.John’s dour demeanor worked forYellowstone, as there were enough characters to provide comedic relief, and the show is mostly known as an intense Western drama, but he can’t compare to Sheridan’s other, funnier, protagonists.
Where Was Landman Filmed? Shooting Locations & How Much Was Really Texas Explained
Paramount+’s series Landman follows competing groups in the oilfields of West Texas, and the scenery leaves viewers wondering if it is really Texas.
All of Taylor Sheridan’s protagonists have some attributes in common. They’re always strong leaders with a diligent work ethic and a penchant for bending the rules of morality. Tommy and Dwight, however, set themselves apart by bringing some light into their respective shows.That has the added benefit of making them some of Sheridan’s most likable protagonists, as people like John or Joe inLionnesswere a bit too serious to be considered friendly. Tommy’s humor could continue to setLandmanapart, and it could be just what Taylor Sheridan needs to build a new franchise.
Landman
Cast
Set in West Texas, this series explores the world of oil rigs and the fortunes they create. It portrays a modern upstairs/downstairs narrative of roughnecks and billionaires, highlighting the profound impact on the climate, economy, and geopolitics in these boomtowns.
