Yellowstone concluded in 2024, making way for new installments in what has now become a larger franchise. Several big spinoffs are ongoing or upcoming, and Sheridan continues to do his magic from the driver’s seat. This expansion comes down to Yellowstone‘s reputation for excellence. The show holds an impressive 83% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes—success that isn’t easy for a five-part series to maintain. Still, Landman is proving that it has even greater potential.
What Is Landman About?
Sheridan’s Landman is another Neo-Western, this time revolving around the modern oil boom in Texas’ Permian Basin. The story follows Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton), an experienced landman at the center of the dangerous dealings between roughneck workers and the billionaires profiting from the industry. Landman has the feel of a crime drama, but rather than traditional mobsters or crime lords, the series examines the gritty underbelly of technically legal corporations, all in contrast to the blue-collar American Dream.
How Landman Compares To Yellowstone
Taylor Sheridan’s contract with Paramount will end in 2028, and the creator has chosen to move on to something new. This will leave Landman in the hands of co-showrunner Christian Wallace.
Where these two Sheridan Westerns differ is in Landman‘s deep dive into the dynamic between corporate America and the workers who underpin it. Corruption and ambition don’t just lie between families in this series. The addition of the massively wealthy and powerful raises the stakes significantly, contributing an even grittier feel to Landman. Still, what’s interesting about this show in comparison to Yellowstone is the heartwarming and comedic quality of Tommy Norris’ family. It’s a unique balance.
Landman Is Exceeding Yellowstone
Yellowstone‘s cult status has undoubtedly contributed to Landman‘s success. The idea of another New-Western from Sheridan was an easy sell. Still, this fact was bound to make viewers more critical, since all eyes would be on this renowned creator to see if he could duplicate his previous masterpiece. Sheridan answered this request with a show that continues those qualities that made Yellowstone great, while still contributing something fresh and new. Landman‘s exquisite balance of intensity, grit, crime, and heartwarming quality has given it great legs. It’s off to a better start than Yellowstone, and this is sure to continue.
