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Every great story starts with a spark, but not all sparks lead to fire. Well, if Taylor Sheridan’s latest project,Landman, is anything to go by, that spark seems to have fizzled out quicker than expected. What was supposed to be a tense, character-driven drama has ended up as a bit of a dud, leaving viewers wondering what went wrong.
The man who gave us the nail-biting intensity ofSicarioand the heart-pounding screenplay ofYellowstone,appears to have lost his touch. What was meant to be a drama exploring the world of oil in West Texas has instead become an awkward misstep.
Set in West Texas, Paramount+’s latest offering follows Tommy Norris (played by Billy Bob Thornton), an executive caught between a rock and a hard place, trying to manage the chaos around Monty Miller (Jon Hamm), a fellow oil-industry titan.
Landman:A Far Cry From the Complexity of Taylor Sheridan’s Past Works?
Taylor Sheridan’s previous works, such asYellowstoneandTulsa King, have been dominated by strong male characters, with women often playing supporting roles. However, there was always room for nuanced female characters to break through the stereotypical mold.
“I think Monty will have…”: Bombshell ‘Landman’ Theory About Demi Moore Claims Taylor Sheridan Is Hiding a Nuke in Plain Sight
InLandman, however, the scales seem to tip completely in the wrong direction. The portrayal of women isn’t just lackluster—it’s downright“painful to watch” for fans. Ali Larter plays Angela Norris, Tommy Norris’ (Billy Bob Thornton) ex-wife, a rowdy figure who continues to have an entangled relationship with her ex-husband due to their troublesome daughter, Ainsley (Michelle Randolph).
While Angela’s backstory has potential, it’s undermined by the writing, which paints her more as a stereotype than a fully fleshed-out character. She’s caught between trying to hold her family together and facing the complexities of her own emotional baggage.
Then there’s Ainsley, their daughter, whose character takes an even darker turn. The show spirals into uncomfortable territory with moments that leave a sour taste in the audience’s mouth. Fans have been vocal about their disgust at a scene where Ainsley talks about her boyfriend, which feels out of place and leaves many viewers feeling deeply uncomfortable.
Let’s have a look at a few comments:
Sheridan’sSicariowas a masterwork of layered storytelling, where every line had a purpose and every character had a depth that drew viewers in. The same can be said forYellowstone, where the battles between family members were as intense as those between rival ranchers. But withLandman, Sheridan appears to have missed the mark.
In fact,LandmanmakesYellowstonelook like a masterclass in prestige television by comparison.
Landman: What Did Ali Larter Say About Taylor Sheridan’s Ability to Create ‘Powerful’ Women?
However, Ali Larter, who portrays Angela Norris inLandman,revealed that what drew her to the role wasTaylor Sheridan’s skill for creating powerful, multifaceted women who aren’t afraid to show their cracks. She toldScreen Rant:
Definitely, I think that one of the things that Taylor does best is create these powerful, dynamic, fascinating women, but also show their vulnerabilities and their insecurities, show what makes them crack.
Larter emphasized that when audiences first meet Angela, they don’t get the whole picture right away. Her backstory, emotional baggage, and the heavy decisions she has made slowly reveal themselves, peeling back the layers like an onion, and giving the character much-needed depth as the show progresses.
So, when you find her, you don’t see all that in the beginning, but you get to kind of sprinkle that stuff in.
Meanwhile, Jacob Lofland, who portrays Cooper Norris onLandman, opened up about his mixed feelings regarding the show’s future (viaThe Pinnacle Gazette).
Landman Episode 5: Taylor Sheridan Better Not Mess Up Show’s Best Character With a Jamie Dutton-Like Move From Yellowstone
The show’s chances for a second season remain uncertain, but Lofland keeps his spirits high. When asked about thepossibility of renewal, he offered a refreshingly neutral answer, laced with optimism:
I can’t say yay or nay, and I have no idea. All I can say is I hope, more than anything, we go back to working on it as quickly as we can because it’s such a blast.
Despite the mixed reviews, Lofland expresses how much he’s enjoyed working on the series, underscoring that, for him, the experience has been worthwhile, regardless of what the future holds. Episode 5,Where is Home,was recently released on July 08, 2025. With five more episodes on the horizon, viewers are eager to see whether the show can regain its footing and build on the momentum of the new release.
Landmanis currently streaming on Paramount+.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
