The 10 Best TV Shows Like ‘Landman’

Despite some controversies, the show Landman has largely been a hit. Created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, and based on the Boomtown podcast, this modern Western takes viewers on a compelling ride through the world of oil, showing both the gritty reality of the oil fields and the high-stakes decisions made in corporate offices. It also offers a glimpse into the lives of the people who work tirelessly to keep the world powered.

With the end of Season 2 of Landman, viewers are facing a wait of at least several months for more episodes. If you’re looking for something to watch in the meantime, there are plenty of other shows that also focus on the oil industry and feature compelling family stories. While some are more detailed or not quite as good as Landman, they’re all worth checking out.

10
‘The Son’ (2017 – 2019)

AMC

Philip Meyer’s 2013 novel is considered a modern Western classic and was a finalist for the 2014 Pulitzer Prize. Several years later, it was adapted into the TV show The Son, starring Pierce Brosnan as a wealthy and determined rancher who expands into the oil business. Driven to secure his legacy, he fiercely protects his empire and strives to pass it on to his family.

Despite not receiving any Emmy nominations, The Son stands out as a genuinely intelligent and moving drama – something you don’t see often on TV. Pierce Brosnan is perfectly cast and delivers a fantastic performance as the sophisticated patriarch, and the supporting cast is equally strong. Visually, the show is stunning, with exceptional cinematography. It’s a shame The Son didn’t last for more than one season, but unfortunately, that’s just how things go.

9
‘The Troubleshooters’ (1965 – 1972)

BBC

“The Troubleshooters” has a similar feel to “Landman.” Brian Stead, the show’s first main character, is a tough, results-driven executive who keeps the oil company running efficiently – much like Tommy Norris. As the series progresses, it shifts focus to “troubleshooters” such as Peter Thornton and Alec Stewart, who travel the world resolving issues like sabotage, accidents, and political conflicts.

The show The Troubleshooters cleverly combines exciting on-location adventures with the behind-the-scenes dealings of big business, particularly revealing the often-shady practices within the oil industry. Remarkably, it wasn’t just informative – the show also accurately foreshadowed real-world events. For instance, an episode featured a company called Mogul acquiring a chemical firm, and shortly after, BP did the very same thing. The show even predicted the future use of underwater habitats for oil exploration – a prediction that later came true with engineers and workers living underwater to study the seabed.

8
‘Dynasty’ (1981 – 1989)

ABC

Don’t bother with the recent remake. The original Dynasty is better, and it’s set in Denver. The head of the Carrington family, Blake (played by John Forsythe), is a wealthy oil tycoon who’s constantly involved in drama – usually caused by his family. If you enjoyed Landman primarily for the personal relationships between Ainsley, Angela, and Cooper, rather than the business side of things, then this is the show for you.

I’ve seen a lot of soaps in my time, but few have gripped me like this one – it’s seriously intense! Created by the fantastic Richard and Esther Shapiro, it’s got all the classic soap elements – plenty of romance, and the Carringtons are wonderfully awful to everyone. But what really sets it apart is the cutthroat business dealings and the surprising moments of genuine goodness from characters who refuse to play by Blake’s rules. Trust me, you’ll be hooked – it’s never boring!

7
‘Blood & Oil’ (2015)

ABC

The oil boom in North Dakota, known as the “Bakken,” created a lot of wealth, and the TV series Blood & Oil uses this setting for its story. The show centers around Billy and Cody LeFever, a young couple who move to the area hoping to strike it rich. However, they quickly encounter challenges from Hap Briggs, a powerful and unforgiving oil executive.

Despite being fictional, Blood & Oil feels surprisingly relevant to today’s world. While the storylines about the oil industry are strong, it’s the show’s scandalous romances and power struggles that are truly captivating. Creator Jon Harmon Feldman expertly explores the flaws and shocking behavior of the wealthy, but manages to do so without feeling repetitive or overly dramatic. It’s unfortunate the show was cancelled after just one season.

6
‘Roughnecks’ (1994 – 1995)

BBC

The gripping series Roughnecks features a fantastic performance by Liam Cunningham – best known as Davos Seaworth from Game of Thrones – as a worker facing dangerous conditions on the job. The show follows the lives of the crew aboard the fictional North Sea oil rig, “The Osprey Explorer,” both at work and in their personal lives.

Despite its impressive technical skill and visuals, the show Roughnecks was filmed under very difficult circumstances. According to reports, the offshore scenes were shot on the out-of-service oil rig Dan Countess, which wasn’t a comfortable place to work. The show also features a fantastic theme song by composer Mike Post, known for his work on popular series like Law & Order and Magnum P.I.

5
‘Rig 45’ (2018 – 2020)

Viaplay

As a film buff, I’d describe Rig 45 as what would happen if Landman suddenly turned into a gripping murder mystery. It really digs into the shady side of the oil industry and how easily things can be covered up. The story follows Andrea, played by Catherine Walker, who works for an oil company and has to investigate a death on a rig right around the holidays. But the crew isn’t exactly helpful, and things get even worse when a hurricane isolates them completely – then, another worker turns up dead. It quickly becomes clear someone is intentionally killing people, and Andrea has to figure out who and why.

“Rig 45” is a gripping, quick-moving, and suspenseful show that you won’t want to miss. Despite a few brief lulls, the story consistently draws you in with its focus on Walker’s character and the difficult, isolated situation she faces. You’ll find yourself feeling sorry for Andrea as things get more complicated, though you might occasionally wonder what she’s really up to. The central mysteries – who committed the murders, and can Benthos recover – keep you guessing until the very end.

4
‘State of Happiness’ (2018 – 2024)

NRK

Often compared to Mad Men but set in Norway, State of Happiness explores the far-reaching consequences – both financially, personally, and environmentally – of the 1969 discovery of the Ekofisk oil field. The story centers around characters like Anna Hellevik, a farm girl who finds work as a secretary at an oil company, her fiancé Christian Nyman, a deep-sea diver, Toril Torstensen, a rig worker with a religious background, and Jonathan Kay, a lawyer representing Phillip’s Petroleum.

This Scandi-TV series is a true classic, though it’s not for viewers who dislike slow-paced stories. It won five Gullruten awards (Norway’s equivalent of the Emmys) in 2019, including Best Drama Series, out of eight nominations. The second season was also a big success, earning five wins from nine nominations. What you’ll enjoy most is how the show makes its characters feel real, highlighting their struggle to balance a tough job with their personal lives, and the quirky, innocent nature of the side characters.

3
‘The Oil Fund’ (2018 – 2019)

WIldbunch TV

Landman frequently leaves out the fact that the government earns a lot of tax revenue from oil companies. But what happens to that money? In Norway, it goes into the Norwegian Pension Fund, also known as Oljefondet, which is designed to invest for the benefit of future generations. The documentary The Oil Fund shows that those who manage the fund don’t always get along, leading to some funny situations, but ultimately, they need to work together.

This funny and thought-provoking series, created by Harald Zwart, cleverly uses a story about everyday life to comment on how frustrating government systems can be, while also showing the positive side of the oil industry. Each episode is short – between 20 and 30 minutes – making it feel focused and powerful, and might even inspire you to rethink your job! Be prepared to read subtitles, but it’s definitely worth the effort.

2
‘Oil Strike North’ (1975)

BBC

Oil Strike North explores the daily lives of oil rig workers and how their jobs affect their loved ones. Think of it as a series focusing on characters similar to Cooper from Landman, following their experiences. The show centers around the workers at Nelson One, an oil rig in the North Sea operated by the made-up company, Triumph Oil.

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This exciting adventure series, which aired around the time of the 1970s oil crisis, offers valuable historical insights and makes a compelling argument against monopolies. It’s unique in its storytelling and consistently delivers high-quality episodes. It’s a shame the show only lasted one season, especially because the characters were so well-developed and enjoyable.

1
‘Dallas’ (1978 – 1991)

CBS, 1978

Known for its dramatic cliffhangers, Dallas is still a memorable show today. The soap opera is set in the world of Texas oil money and follows the scandalous lives of the wealthy Ewing family, primarily at their large Southfork Ranch. The main conflicts center around J.R. Ewing (played by Larry Hagman), a ruthless and ambitious man, and his more ethical brother, Bobby (Patrick Duffy), as they battle each other and their competitors in business.

The show Dallas demonstrates that even the wealthiest families face constant challenges and drama. Like other popular soap operas, it balances emotional struggles with plenty of romance. But Dallas offers more than just a family saga; the early seasons prominently featured the risky world of oil exploration, a theme also explored in Landman. Furthermore, the series delves into political maneuvering, with the Land Management Office often used for personal vendettas.

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2026-01-21 05:51

10 ‘The Son’ (2017 – 2019)

9 ‘The Troubleshooters’ (1965 – 1972)

8 ‘Dynasty’ (1981 – 1989)

7 ‘Blood & Oil’ (2015)

6 ‘Roughnecks’ (1994 – 1995)

5 ‘Rig 45’ (2018 – 2020)

4 ‘State of Happiness’ (2018 – 2024)

3 ‘The Oil Fund’ (2018 – 2019)

2 ‘Oil Strike North’ (1975)