The Crime Thriller Streaming Series Is a Huge Hit and One of the Coolest Kidnapping Scenes Ever

By Jonathan Klotz | Published 1 hour ago

Since Taylor Sheridan introduced the world to the Dutton family of yellow stoneHe’s been on a roll with Jeremy Renner mayor of kingstownZoe Saldana Lionessand Sylvester Stallone tulsa kingbut his latest show might be his best yet. landmanHe delights in the dirt and grime of the Texas oil business, from thugs to cartels, and is a unique dealmaker. The first few minutes of the first episode show how Tommy Norris has a different build as he is conducting a negotiation with the cartel after he was kidnapped, with his hands tied, covered in a burlap sack, and yet he is the man most dangerous in the room.

The bravado of Tommy Norris

During the first four minutes of landmanTommy, played by Billy Bob Thornton’s instantly recognizable accent even under the burlap sack, explains to the cartel that the oil company he works for isn’t the kind of people to piss off. Restrained and surrounded, he lets them know that if anything happens to the company’s property, not only will a fleet of drones wipe their houses off the map, but they will also set up a DEA office across the street. The intricacies of a service lease are explained, the agreement is signed, which boils down to “you don’t mess with us, we don’t mess with you,” and then, finally, Tommy is released and let go.

It’s a brave sequence to start a series, becoming one of the best abduction/kidnapping (or, as it turns out, negotiation) scenes thanks to Billy Bob Thronton’s confident way of speaking, making it clear that Tommy has this situation under control. , all without ever letting us see his face. The threats are bombastic and grandiose, but it turns out that sets the stage for the rest of landman. In true Taylor Sheridan style, although Tommy is supremely confident in his abilities and is not the kind of man anyone wants as an enemy, it is when he is finally released that he pulls out a cigarette and we see his beaten, drawn and tormented face. Eyes, that makes you wonder to what extent his bravado is a carefully constructed farce.

A cast that’s hard around the edges

The rest of the cast of landman is filled with equally strong personalities, including the rest of the Norris family, including Tommy’s ex Angela (Ali Larter), his son starting a career in the oilfield, Cooper (Jacob Loflund), and his headstrong and abrasive daughter. , Ainsley (played by Michelle Randolph, teaming with Sheridan again after appearing in 1923). In addition to Thornton, other big names appear, including Michael Peña as an oil crewman, Jon Hamm and Demi Moore as a Texas Oil power couple, and Andy Garcia makes an appearance in the type of role he was born to play.

Only five episodes of landman have aired to date on Paramount+, so we’re still learning the dark secrets of the oil industry and the poor souls it crushes in the name of profit, but if you wish the Duttons were a little rougher, the new characters in the West Texas Sheridan are perfect for you.

Golden Globe nominated Landman

Beyond the darkly humorous opening sequence, the show has some other fun scenes early on, including one involving a drug smuggling plane, which includes twists you won’t see coming. Since we’re in West Texas, Billy Bob Thronton gets involved with the Dillon Panthers again, a fun nod to his starring role in the film. Friday night lights. Although it is not a true comedy, landman embraces the soap opera roots of shows like dallas and Dynastybut at least here, all the wild events hinge on the exasperated Tommy at the center of the whirlwind.

Billy Bob Thronton was also nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance as Tommy Norris, even though Landman’s The first season is barely halfway over. If you want to fill the Breaking Bad and Better call Saul empty on your screen, there’s nothing better on air right now. Once you’re caught up, you can also listen to the podcast. Fast growing cityon which the series is based.

You can stream the first season of landman on Paramount+.