Landman Episode 3 recap: Lessons in oil

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As a seasoned oilman with over three decades of experience under my belt, I must say that watching Taylor Sheridan’s latest masterpiece, Landman Episode 3, was like diving headfirst into a vat of crude oil – messy, unpredictable, yet strangely captivating.

In Episode 3 of Landman, titled ‘Hell Has a Front Yard’, Cooper finds it challenging to start things positively with his fresh oil team, while Tommy’s ex unexpectedly arrives in town.

In simple terms, the dual debut of Taylor Sheridan’s series “Landman” was quite intense. It featured some unsettling dialogues with teenage daughters, a dramatic oil well blast, and a persistent inquiry into aircraft theft.

Fortunately, in this episode, Billy Bob Thornton’s character Tommy Norris takes charge. By the end of Episode 2, his son Cooper had been discharged from the hospital following an explosion and pleaded with Tommy to assign him to a new team. Thus, in Episode 3, we witness Cooper’s struggle with readjusting as Tommy grapples with a visit from his former spouse.

Here’s our full Landman Episode 3 recap, with major spoilers ahead!

There’s a boozy family reunion in Landman Episode 3

In Episode 3, we see Angela, Tommy’s former spouse, appearing in person for the first time since they only communicated via video calls until now. She’s flying into Midland from elsewhere. Upon her arrival, Tommy appears uninterested and his doubts prove valid when she requests to spend the day at the country club using Monty’s funds.

Regarding Monty, the wealthy oil magnate, he’s currently out on the golf course, attempting to clarify a matter with his legal advisor. He’s curious as to why they assigned Rebecca, a tenacious young lawyer, to handle their vanishing aircraft case instead.

It’s unfortunate for Monty that his attorney seems to be correct: they neglected to disclose an asset being stolen, which later got involved in illicit drug activities. Rather than passing the fault on to Tommy, he suggests Monty should also accuse their landman of falling short of professional standards.

To put it simply, as Monty rightfully highlights, if each oil company were compelled to disclose their shady transactions, they’d all face closure. Yet, with an $80 million lawsuit at stake, it’s crucial that Monty organizes everything meticulously.

Cooper meets his new crew

After the tragic explosion that claimed the lives of Luis, Armando, and Elvio, Cooper returns to the workers’ camp, but things are far from peaceful. He is ambushed by two men, relatives of the deceased trio. However, Cooper’s wrestling skills from high school come in handy, enabling him to swiftly overpower them.

They’re dismayed that Cooper lived while the other team members perished, finding it hard to comprehend how he managed to escape. Fortunately, the leader of the group (appropriately titled “Boss”), shows up and develops a fondness for Cooper, offering him a place on his team.

Incredibly, it turns out that the individuals who attacked Cooper are part of Boss’ group. This certainly wasn’t the outcome he was anticipating.

Day at the country club

As I sit here gaming, the rest of the Norris clan’s at the country club, sipping on margaritas, while my sister, Angela, offers some advice to help me move on from my ex, Dakota Loving. Meanwhile, Tommy’s trying to keep Angela in check, ensuring she doesn’t get too wild and risk losing Monty’s membership.

Later on, Tommy receives a call from Rebecca, asking to visit the plane crash location. In response, he abandons Angela and Ainsley, who are sunbathing by the pool, pressuring an underpaid server to refrain from offering them additional beverages.

As Tommy heads out to meet Rebecca, he receives a call from Nate who’s in a state of distress over potential legal issues. He implores Tommy to win Rebecca over (regardless of the cost, such as sharing intimate moments with her).

Across town, Cooper finds himself at Luis’ household, which is currently hosting a funeral. He’s welcomed indoors, though his fellow oil crew members give him disapproving looks. A plate of food is set before him and he’s seated next to Elvio’s wife, cradling a newborn in her arms. They soon establish a connection, and eventually, she breaks down, leaning on Cooper for comfort.

The great oil debate

At the aircraft location, Tommy and Rebecca are already having disagreements. When she asks him why he didn’t inform authorities that the plane was stolen, he educates her about oil law instead. In his explanation, he mentions that equipment frequently disappears only to reappear later, and in his opinion, it’s less hassle to deal with the situation without involving the authorities.

They notice a couple of wind turbines, and Rebecca criticizes the oil industry immediately. However, Tommy remains unphased. He doubts that renewable energy will replace oil. On the contrary, he explains to her that even wind turbines require oil, in fact, everything does.

He explains, “Every aspect of our existence relies on oil. Unfortunately, we’re depleting it faster than we can discover an adequate substitute. We’re not doing this out of pleasure, but rather due to the lack of alternatives available.

Just before they set out again, there’s an old-fashioned run-in with a snake that causes Rebecca to freeze in terror until Tommy beheads it with a shovel.

Kill the well

Upon returning to the country club, Tommy finds Angela and Ainsley dozing off on sunbeds following too many margaritas. To revive Angela, he playfully pushes her into the pool. With both women in tow, he drives them back to his home. En route, a tipsy Ainsley expresses her desire to reside with him until she finishes college.

In Tommy’s private space, Angela attempts to charm him. She confides that she yearns for another chance with him, but their moment is spoiled when he reveals Ainsley’s comments. Overwhelmed by the prospect of returning to a large home alone, she becomes enraged and regrets her past decisions.

In the morning, Cooper’s routine with his fresh team resembles his initial one quite closely. There’s an early coffee run in the dark, but this time, a knife is pressed against his leg by Luis’ relative, who cautions him to keep away from Elvio’s spouse.

Later on, Tommy contacts Monty regarding a fresh issue. It seems there’s an ancient well (over 35 years old) that has stopped yielding water, so they decide to “shut it down”. Meanwhile, Monty’s wife Cami frets about Monty’s frequent anxieties and urges him to stick to his medication regimen.

On the job, Tommy rolls up and watches as Cooper and the crew begin to disassemble the well.

Landman Episode 3 is available to stream on Paramount+ now.

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2024-11-25 13:32