LANDMAN NOW STREAMING ON PARAMOUNT PLUS

Taylor Sheridan trades horses for hydrocarbons in his new Paramount+ drama Landman, a gritty dive into Texas oil country. Starring Billy Bob Thornton as fixer Tommy Norris, the series swaps Yellowstone’s sweeping pastures for the sun-scorched Permian Basin, grounding its story in real-world detail from the boom-and-bust oil fields. Co-created with Boomtown podcaster Christian Wallace, Landman benefits from firsthand knowledge of the rigs, lease deals, and dangerous day-to-day labor. Thornton’s performance anchors the show as he navigates cartel negotiations, corporate power plays, and the messy truth that America still runs on crude, despite dreams of clean energy.

Where Landman shines in industry authenticity and masculine swagger, its family arcs feel thinner, especially with female characters who lack depth. Still, the setting—roughnecks, private oil roads, and pre-dawn coffee lines—feels lived-in and compelling. Even if the story takes its time, the world Sheridan builds is rich enough to keep viewers drilling for more.