The crime thriller streaming series is a smash hit, one of the coolest kidnapping scenes ever

by Yonatan Klotz
| published an hour ago

Ever since Taylor Sheridan introduced the world to the Dutton family of YellowstoneHe was on a hot streak with Jeremy Renner Mayor of KingstownZoe Saldana lionessand Sylvester Stallone’s Tulsa KingBut his latest show may be his best yet. LandmanReveling in the dirt and grime of the Texas oil business, from roughnecks to cartels, and one very unique negotiator. The opening minutes of the first episode show how Tommy Norris is built differently since he’s negotiating with the cartel after being kidnapped, with his hands tied, covered in a burlap sack, and yet, he’s the most dangerous man in the room.

The audacity of Tommy Norris

For the first four minutes of LandmanTommy, played by Billy Bob Thornton who is instantly recognizable even under the burlap sack, explains to the cartel how the oil company he works for is not the kind of person to piss off. Restrained and surrounded, he informs them that if something happens to the company’s property, not only that a fleet of drones Blow their houses off the map, but they’ll set up a DEA office across the street. The intricacies of a service lease are explained, the deal, which boils down to “don’t mess with us, we don’t mess with you,” is signed, and then, finally, Tommy is released and set free.

It’s a brave sequence to start a series with, becoming one of the best abduction/kidnapping (or, as it turns out, negotiation) scenes thanks to Billy Bob Thornton’s confident line delivery, which reveals that Tommy is in control of this situation, all without letting us see his face . The threats are bombastic and grandiose, but as it turns out, it lays the groundwork for the rest Landman. right Taylor Sheridan Fashion, while Tommy is confident in his abilities and not the kind of man anyone wants as an enemy, it’s when he’s finally free that he takes out a cigarette, and we see his battered, ragged face and haunted eyes. You question how much of his bravado is a carefully constructed parade.

Cast is rough around the edges

The rest of the cast of Landman Full of equally strong personalities, including the rest of the Norris family, including Tommy’s ex Angela (Ali Latter), his son who is starting a career in the oil field, Cooper (Jacob Luplund), and his strong and abrasive daughter, Ainsley (played by Michelle Randolph, a collaborator With Sheridan again after he appeared 1923). Besides Thornton, other big names appear, including Michael Pena as an oil crewman, Jon Hamm and Demi Moore As a Texas Oil power couple, Andy Garcia appears in the type of role he was born to play.

Only five episodes of Landman have been broadcast until today b 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 around the edges, Sheridan’s new characters in West Texas are perfect for you.

Landman is nominated for the Golden Globe

Beyond the darkly humorous opening sequence, the show has some other fun scenes early on, including one involving a drug-running plane, that have twists you won’t see coming. Since this is West Texas, Billy Bob Thornton gets involved again with the Dillon Panthers, a fun nod to his starring role in the film Friday night lights. Although this is not a true comedy, Landman Embraces the soap opera roots of shows like Dallas and dynastyBut at least here, all the wild events are based on the angry Tommy at the center of the maelstrom.

Billy Bob Thornton was also nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance as Tommy Norris, despite the fact of Landman The first season was only half over. If you want to fill in the breaking lines and Better to call and ask Blank in your viewing, there’s nothing better on the air right now. Once you stick, you can also listen to the podcast Boomtownon which the series is based.

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