Landman Episode 10 recap and ending explained: The cartel hits Tommy where it hurts

In this installment titled ‘The Crumbs of Hope’ (Episode 10) of Landman, we reach the conclusion of Taylor Sheridan’s Texan drama’s first season, and it appears that more challenges lie ahead for Tommy. (Be wary: significant spoilers follow!)

In simpler terms, Sheridan’s character in “Landman” has gained popularity beyond the scope of Yellowstone. Despite an initial rough patch with justified criticism, the series has since garnered a significant audience and taken top positions on streaming platforms.

As a devoted viewer, Episode 9 was brimming with tension: Monty’s health took a turn for the worse, leaving me fearing he might not make it through. The cartel’s relentless pursuit had them closing in on Tommy, threatening him and even his loved ones. To top it off, Cooper began laying the groundwork for his own business venture.

Now, the final act has arrived, and Tommy receives an unforgettable thrashing, as the cartel executes their ultimate strategy to take him down.

Or, in a more casual tone:
Now it’s crunch time! Tommy gets the toughest beating he’ll ever experience as the cartel pulls out all the stops against him.

Monty teeters on the verge of death in Landman Episode 10

The crucial point in the Landman finale’s climax boils down to this: did Monty perish? However, it seems he hasn’t. Instead, he’s undergoing surgery. Upon entering the hospital, Tommy encounters Cami and her daughters, all of them on edge for news regarding Monty. Additionally, a man named Alan, presumably a lawyer, is present to manage Monty’s affairs during this difficult period.

The attorney informs Tommy that he’d become president of M-Tex Oil following Monty’s demise, with the earnings divided between a foundation and a trust. However, Tommy isn’t interested in discussing this matter at the moment. What the lawyer wants to focus on instead is finalizing the $167 million farm-out agreement that remains pending.

Additionally, it’s disclosed that Monty requires a heart transplant. Consequently, Tommy assumes the role of president and administrator of the family trust during Monty’s recovery period.

However, there’s a condition: Tommy desires for Cami to join the board so she can monitor and cast votes on his decisions. Simultaneously, he proposes that Cami sell the company, explaining that her family would be financially secure enough to never have to work again if she were to relinquish it all.

However, Cami is reluctant, aware of Monty’s strong desire to establish a lasting legacy. “It’s that ambition that’s consuming him, his quest for immortality,” Tommy explains to her. If she decides to proceed with the farm-out, she would need to risk a significant portion of their resources as collateral.

At that moment, a physician enters, confirming that a transplant seems to be their most viable course of action, but they’re running out of time.

Tommy gets tasked with one more job for Cami

Meanwhile, Tommy is yet at the hospital, his National Guard contact calls him, informing that the wreckage caused by the accident a few days ago has already been cleared away. Unsurprisingly, they’re quite concerned about it.

They aim to report the accident, however, as Tommy notes, there’s no proof available that could validate any admission or confession regarding it.

“I would suggest everybody gets amnesia real f**king fast,” he tells them.

In the open air, he encounters Cami, still rattled by her encounter with Monty. After some reflection, she advises him to proceed with the final agreement, suggesting they take this as their “last roll of the dice.

While I’m hanging out with my pals from the senior center, we decide to hit up a local dance club. True to our word, Ryder takes the stage for a dance dedicated to the group’s matriarch. With a nudge from Ainsley, he struts out and leaves everyone in awe with his smooth moves.

Cooper and Ariana start moving on

Tommy reaches out to Rebecca over the phone, proposing a private meeting. Initially hesitant due to their history, she eventually consents to connect with him at the oil field site to talk about revising the farm-out agreement. (She’s shocked to learn that he has risen to the position of president.)

Additionally, he reaches out to Nate and shares the disappointing news about Monty’s health condition. However, Nate is skeptical about the farm-out agreement, believing it’s too risky for a guaranteed return on investment. Despite his reluctance to collaborate with Rebecca, Tommy manages to persuade him otherwise.

He finds the task quite demanding, yet fortunately, Angela and Ainsley offer him comfort by promising their unwavering support regardless of the circumstances.

At Ariana’s home, she begins sorting through Elvio’s possessions, emptying his closet and boxes filled with items while tears stream down her face. Upon discovering their wedding album, the emotional weight overwhelms her.

In another location, Cooper is examining an oil field owned by a farmer. The wells in this area aren’t deep enough for drilling, which means the farmer can’t sell them. However, that’s exactly what Cooper is there for. He also proposes a higher royalty rate, and all the farmer needs to do is sign a lease agreement with Cooper. With such an appealing offer, it seems like the farmer can’t resist, and things are progressing well.

Tommy assembles the team

At the clearing, Tommy, Rebecca, Nate, and Dale gather together. Tommy elaborates on how the area they’re in has been pumped for oil since the 1920s, eventually drying out in the 1980s. The current method to extract oil is through a process called fracking, which involves drilling horizontally – this is what’s referred to as the farm-out agreement.

400 wells are planned at a cost of up to $18 million per well. M-Tex Oil has agreed to the initial nine wells. If they successfully drill the first four of these, they are obligated to drill an additional nine. This pattern continues.

They get double their initial investment back, plus more, when striking oil up to 120%. However, should the wells prove unproductive, they could face bankruptcy in as little as a month.”

This version aims to maintain the original meaning while making it simpler and easier to understand for most readers.

As a gamer, I’m counting on Rebecca to help me strike a deal with the bank that covers our entire project “the moment I hit my first home run.” Meanwhile, I’ve asked Dale and Nate to share their expertise in technical and legal matters related to oil with her, so she can be fully prepared for this challenge.

Before Tommy departs, Rebecca makes an effort to help him grasp how challenging it is for her to endorse a deal for something she doesn’t agree with, which she perceives as being wrong. However, he counters by stating that the world has been constructed on oil and until there’s an alternative available, they don’t have any other options.

The cartel finally makes a move

As Tommy was driving, he was suddenly surrounded by two vehicles belonging to the cartel. Jimenez was present, and when Tommy refused to exit, they forcibly removed him from his car and assaulted him. They then abducted Tommy, hastily driving off with him. They eventually brought Tommy to one of his oil fields, timing it so he could witness the entire area being blown up by a premeditated explosion.

Enraged, Tommy alerts them about a device built into each patch, specifically for situations like this, which will trigger OSHA and the authorities. “You need to halt immediately,” he advises Jimenez, who strikes him once more and orders his men to capture Tommy, covering his head with a bag.

At home, Ariana is once more weeping over her wedding photos. When Cooper returns, she conceals the albums and darts into the bathroom so he won’t witness her in this state. However, he discovers the albums despite her efforts, and upon her emergence, they both acknowledge that it’s premature for them to be together, yet she is determined to make an effort to let Elvio go.

On that particular evening, Ryder makes it to Ainsley’s residence. In appreciation for his act at the senior center, she decides to entertain both of them with an alluring dance. As a result, they engage in an intimate moment together.

It’s torture time

In a secluded area at the back of a bar, Tommy is being kept captive by Jimenez. As Tommy remains blindfolded, Jimenez prepares to end his life, tormenting him by banging hammers and shaking chains. Even though the bag covers Tommy’s head, he grabs the hammer and begins striking it against him violently.

He didn’t plan on sparing Tommy’s life; instead, he wanted his death to serve as a warning for future landmen. Consequently, they doused Tommy with gasoline and drove a nail into his leg. As Jimenez lit up a cigarette, he taunted that he could burn him alive at any moment.

At home, Angela grows anxious as she hasn’t heard from Tommy. Meanwhile, Ainsley becomes emotional as she and Ryder share a bed – an experience she couldn’t have with her former abusive boyfriend (like in Dakota Loving). Eventually, Ryder consents to spend the night.

The big boss makes an entrance

Tommy’s ordeal persists, as a burst of gunfire echoes outside the confines of the room. It’s Jimenez who takes the bullet, and upon Tommy’s release, it’s none other than Gallino, Jimenez’s superior, who stands before him. Despite his drenched state in gasoline, Gallino extends a cigarette to Tommy.

Jimenez wasn’t grasping the proper work methods, as Gallino explained to Tommy. However, he emphasized that they should peacefully coexist, and suggested finding a way to regain mutual respect again. Tommy advised him to avoid interfering with M-Tex Oil’s operations.

He asserts they have endless finances and contacts, but Gallino points out that the cartel possesses the same resources. In response, he suggests, “It’s more advantageous for the world if we are allies.” This sentiment is subtle, yet it holds true.

To demonstrate his integrity, Gallino receives a message from the police chief, alerting them about an approaching convoy. They both decide to leave the building, slipping out through a covert exit concealed behind a vending machine. Before departing, Gallino mentions he’d like to discuss the shared land with Tommy at some point.

Monty dies at the end of Landman Season 1

As Dale arrives, he takes Tommy with him for their journey back home. During this ride, Dale inquires about Tommy’s emotional wellbeing, and Tommy admits that he might resume consuming alcohol.

In the hospital, I found myself by Monty’s side, surrounded by my daughters who were shedding tears. Heartbreakingly, Monty didn’t survive.

The following day, Angela encounters Tommy on the couch, visibly injured and battered. She’s unconvinced by his fabricated tale about a car accident, but he alerts her that there are certain things he can’t disclose. However, one thing he does share with her is “in those moments, my entire life flashed before me, and all I could see was you.

At dawn, as the household (with Ryder among them) descends the stairs for breakfast of blueberry pancakes, Tommy steps outdoors, cautions a wandering coyote, “It’s safer if you scram, pal. Around here, they often hunt and trap coyotes.

Landman Episode 10 – the Season 1 finale – is available to stream on Paramount+ now.

2025-01-13 16:18