Landman’s First Episode Has a Brutal Truth Fans Can’t Forget

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Taylor Sheridan’s show, a big success for Paramount+, resonates with viewers in different ways. Some consider it a modern television classic, filled with memorable lines and a gritty look at the American oil industry. Others simply enjoy it as an entertaining portrayal of the challenges and rewards of working in oil.

From the very beginning, Taylor Sheridan has been clear about the central idea behind the show. He actually made this theme quite apparent in the first episode, immediately revealing the harsh reality at the core of his storytelling: the oil industry is incredibly challenging.

Landman Episode 1 Gave Audiences a Crash Course in the Oil Business

The film starts in typical Sheridan style: with the main character in trouble. Tommy Norris, played by Billy Bob Thornton, is tied up and blindfolded, overhearing cartel members discussing a deal with the M-Tex oil company. Tommy works as a problem-solver for M-Tex, meaning he’s the one sent to handle difficult situations on the ground.

Right from the start, Sheridan establishes a harsh reality. Tommy points out that the oil company’s immense power could easily destroy the cartel, then draws a striking comparison between the two. He explains that both businesses rely on customers who need what they’re selling—oil and gas, or drugs. It’s an unsettling idea, suggesting a similar dependency fuels both industries, but Sheridan presents it with compelling force.

After this moment, Sheridan has one of his characters, Tommy, explain just how massive the oil industry is. Tommy points out it’s the seventh-largest in the world, earning an incredible $3 billion in profit each day. Knowing that oil and gas are limited resources raises the tension in the show, which is already building. It’s not just about heating homes either; oil and gas are essential for making everything from construction materials to fertilizers and plastics – they’re truly the foundation of modern life.

Landman Doesn’t Shy Away From the Significant Dangers of the Industry

After quickly showing just how massive and essential the oil and gas industry is, Sheridan explores the two very different sides of it. On one end are the incredibly wealthy oil executives who enjoy lavish lifestyles filled with private jets, fancy meals, luxurious offices, and exclusive golf clubs.

People like Monty are so disconnected from the physical process of oil extraction that they view everything – and everyone – simply as costs and profits. He doesn’t need to understand the technical side of oil drilling, like how the equipment works. Instead, he focuses on the financial aspects, traveling to negotiate deals and build connections with politicians.

While Monty’s office job has its downsides and takes a heavy toll on his family, it’s a world away from the grueling physical labor done by the oil field workers – the ‘roughnecks.’ These men earn over $100,000 a year working in extreme heat with dangerous machinery, facing life-threatening risks daily. Sheridan points out that although these wages are high compared to many jobs, that’s precisely what makes the danger seem acceptable to those who take it.

Tommy represents the middle ground between the company managers and the roughnecks in the oil industry. Because he’s worked both jobs, he often acts as a go-between, helping them understand each other. This position actually makes him quite influential on the show – his constant efforts to bridge the gap are what keep things at M-Tex running, if not perfectly, then at least reasonably well.

Despite understanding the situation, he’s ultimately helpless to change it. When a worker dies on the job, the company doesn’t see them as a person, but as a financial and public relations problem – something to be managed with payouts, legal protections, and damage control.

Finally, Sheridan Makes Landman’s Brutal Truth All Too Real and Human

Throughout the story, Sheridan’s characters consistently avoid addressing the ethical concerns surrounding their work. Both Tommy and Monty understand they make difficult choices to succeed, and they recognize their industry is unsustainable and causing irreversible harm to the environment.

Tommy understands the serious and likely permanent damage oil drilling has caused to the environment. However, he also knows that suddenly stopping oil and gas production would have a disastrous effect on people’s lives. For Tommy and others like him who work in the industry, it’s not about politics – it’s just their livelihood, and they’re doing the best they can with the situation.

Before the episode ends, Sheridan beautifully illustrates these complex ideas about right and wrong through relatable characters, revealing a harsh but honest truth. We see this particularly with Tommy, who starts a new job in the oil fields. He always worried about his son following in his footsteps, knowing how dangerous the work could be.

Cooper didn’t listen to his father and dropped out of college. Now, his son is a new worker learning to operate heavy machinery. He’s being trained by a small, friendly team led by Armando (Michael Peña), and the older workers playfully tease him as part of the learning process.

Sheridan deserves praise for making the audience genuinely like Armando and his crew by the end of the episode. They come across as good, honest people, even if they playfully tease each other. We also learn a little about their families, and how much those families rely on the money these men earn through their dangerous work.

The accident on Cooper’s second day – a sudden, fiery explosion of an old pumpjack – quickly shows the audience how dangerous these oil sites can be. After the tragedy, Tommy attempts to comfort his son, but his professional instincts take over, and he’s compelled to act as only he can. The reality of the oil business is that while building relationships is easy, the company views losing workers as far more costly, and there’s little time for grief.

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2026-01-13 22:11