Landman Episode 1 recap: Strange business and strange daughters

As a seasoned critic with a penchant for all things gritty and gripping, I must say that I found myself utterly captivated by the debut of Paramount+’s Landman. The show, set in the rugged heartland of oil country, has an undeniable charm that harkens back to the golden age of Western drama.

At long last, Taylor Sheridan’s series ‘Landman’ has arrived, and its premiere episode, titled ‘Landman’, presents us with the character of Tommy Norris and the volatile world of the oil industry. [Caution: Spoilers follow!]

If you’re tired of dealing with cattle, Taylor Sheridan has shifted focus to the Texas oil industry, and as depicted in ‘Landman’ Episode 1, this realm is marked by danger and uncertainty.

In the latest TV series, Billy Bob Thornton plays the lead role of Tommy Norris, a representative for M-TEX Oil who secures property leases for oil magnates. He describes the land as relatively straightforward, but it’s dealing with people that can be perilous.

First, let’s review the details from the initial episode and the thrilling ending it left us with, before moving on to consider what might happen next.

Tommy strikes a new deal in Landman Episode 1

In the heart of an enigmatic desert landscape, I find myself bound and blindfolded within a puzzling hangar. A band of drug traffickers seems to have me in their grasp. As the tension mounts, their ruthless leader makes his grand entrance. Despite the unexpected gunshot that echoes through the hangar, piercing the air as one of their own falls, I remain calm, my heart pounding only slightly beneath my composure.

Instead, Tommy clarifies his presence. He’s a representative from M-TEX Oil, often referred to as a landman, dispatched to discuss a surface lease agreement on the property that the gang owns. The intriguing part is that while they hold the land, M-TEX Oil possesses the mineral rights, enabling them to drill for oil beneath the ground.

In the end, Tommy and their leader come to a mutual understanding: they’ll mind their own affairs when it comes to conducting business. M-TEX Oil will abstain from engaging with the DEA, while also funding the construction of a road for easy access for both parties. Tommy effectively communicates that they’re both operating similar businesses, just on different scales.

In the scenario, it’s Tommy who gets released after the head honcho puts pen to paper on the rental agreement. As he hops into his vehicle and departs, a voiceover takes over, filling us in on the details. The oil sector amasses a staggering $4.3 trillion annually, but there’s someone essential who serves as the intermediary between the landowners and the influential oil magnates. That role is filled by Tommy.

This is Landman.

Trouble on a Monday

Six months down the line, a plane touched down on the stretch of ground I’d recently sealed deals for. As it landed, a group of drug peddlers swiftly transferred their goods into a compact vehicle. But they didn’t notice the massive truck barreling towards them, oblivious to the impending collision.

The truck fails to stop on time, colliding forcefully with both a plane and a van. This results in a catastrophic explosion that claims every life involved.

Meanwhile, Cooper, Tommy’s son, is starting his initial day at the oil field. Well before dawn, he departs from the worker’s quarters and climbs into Luis, Armando, and Elvio’s truck – these are three experienced workers who have been assigned by Tommy to help mold Cooper into an oil rig worker, or as they call it, a “roughneck”. Unfortunately, their first day doesn’t go smoothly when Cooper requests a latte at the coffee stand.

At home, Tommy shares breakfast with friends Dale and Nate, who reminds him of an upcoming court deposition at exactly 11am. However, there’s no time for that, as Tommy receives a phone call about a plane. In fact, Tommy had reported this plane missing six weeks ago, so he hastily heads towards the crash site.

Upon arrival, Sheriff Walt is infuriated to learn that Tommy hadn’t first contacted him regarding the vanished aircraft. However, Tommy pays little heed – he urgently needs 4,200 barrels of oil moved along that route immediately! He summons his crew and orders them to construct a new path around the crash site, but only after inquiring if Sheriff Walt could please adjust his police report (or at least indicate that the Federal Aviation Administration had been informed).

Tommy’s family drama

In a turn of events, Tommy is attempting to reach Monty Miller when he receives an agitated video call from his former spouse, Angela. This initiates what might be Taylor Sheridan’s most peculiar family dynamic yet. Angela requests that Tommy looks after their daughter, Ainsley, for the weekend since she’s going on a trip with her new spouse. The reason? She wants to prevent Ainsley from engaging in any romantic activities with her boyfriend, a popular football player, to safeguard her well-being.

The idea of preventing his daughter from jumping into bed is enough to get Tommy to agree instantly. He finishes out his incredibly flirty call with Angela by discussing Cooper’s first day on the oil patch.

Shortly thereafter, Tommy manages to reach Monty Miller, the distinguished Texan oil magnate. Despite being engrossed in a lavish lunch with other influential figures, Monty takes a moment to aid Tommy in arranging necessary legal assistance for their recent aircraft issues.

In the oil industry, Cooper is facing some tough circumstances. His colleagues are pulling a trick on him by asking him to ascend to the top of the well and retrieve a non-existent valve. During his descent, he accidentally slips and falls. Fortunately, he’s wearing a safety harness, but it requires Elvio’s persuasion to help him come back down safely.

During lunchtime, Tommy has a meeting with a lawyer and a landowner who are considering filing a lawsuit against him due to damage on their property caused by a fire. However, Tommy claims it was a natural disaster, while the landowner disagrees, pointing towards faulty drilling equipment as the cause. To avoid going through the formal process of addressing surface damages, Tommy proposes giving them $300,000. He justifies this payment by claiming it’s part of a “solar lease” agreement.

Dakota Loving

At the airport, Tommy encounters Ainsley, who greets him with joy. However, it appears that Ainsley secretly brought her boyfriend along for the journey. His name is Dakota Loving, and from what I gather, he’s as unkind as his name implies.

En route home, the trio pause at a football match, and it becomes evident that Dakota enjoys a modicum of fame. He engages flirtatiously with other cheerleaders, a fact that doesn’t ruffle Ainsley in the slightest. When Tommy queries her about their safety practices, she reassures him gently that…well, Dakota has specific restrictions as to where he can complete certain activities. Only certain locations are allowed.

As I watched Dakota blatantly grope Ainsley right under everyone’s noses, my initial shock turned into seething frustration. Later on, from my vantage point in the stands, I couldn’t help but feel my displeasure intensify.

After a tiresome day at work, Cooper receives an invitation to dine at Luis, Armando, and Elvio’s residence. They try to impart some Spanish language on him, and he discovers that Armando had spent time in prison and has a daughter. Cooper nearly suffocates from eating overly spicy tacos during the meal.

Please, make it stop

At home, Tommy and Ainsley’s peculiar conversation persists as he decides to keep them apart from Dakota for the night. Facing her father while only wearing her underwear, she requests permission to sleep with Dakota on the couch, explaining that she has never really slept or awakened in his arms before.

Under the assurance that they won’t take things any further, Tommy finally agrees. However, when Ainsley explains the conditions to Dakota in the living room, he appears puzzled. The notion of stopping there is unacceptable to him, and he insists on providing more for her than just letting her sleep on the couch.

In a tearful moment, Ainsley reenters Tommy’s chamber. Seeing her distressed, Tommy consoles her, expressing that Dakota is unaware of what he’s losing by being away from them. (Cross my heart, I hope this is the final goodbye to Dakota Loving.)

The following day, the boys continue their labor at the oil well. They request Cooper to dash off and retrieve a 24-inch pipe, but he faces difficulty in locating it. Meanwhile, Luis, Armando, and Elvio are pounding on a pipe, causing it to emit a faint hiss as gas escapes.

Whenever Luis delivers another strike, the hammer ignites a spark that quickly flares up. In just a few moments, the well bursts into a fiery blast, sending Cooper flying up into the air before he lands on the ground.

Landman Episodes 1 and 2 are available to stream on Paramount+ now.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but share the spot where you can catch up on the latest episodes of Landman. Plus, if you’re curious about what’s brewing with Taylor Sheridan’s other productions, like 6666, The Madison, and Yellowstone Season 6, make sure to keep an eye out for those too!

2024-11-17 23:21