Landman is a must-watch show.
Los Angeles, CA (Elevation Magazine) 3/7/2026
I recently discovered “Landman,” a drama series on Paramount+, and I can’t believe I waited so long to watch it. The show features a star-studded cast, including Billy Bob Thornton, Ali Larter, Demi Moore, and Jon Hamm, and it’s incredibly addictive.
The series opens with a man in a hostage situation, seemingly kidnapped by a cartel. When the ringleader arrives, he instantly shoots one of the kidnappers for talking too much and then addresses the cloaked man. Surprisingly, the hostage doesn’t show any fear. The kidnapee offers him a deal: to use their land, explaining that they own the oil beneath it. He promises payments and road access, and the man ultimately agrees to the offer, revealing himself to be Billy Bob Thornton’s character.
The show explores the drama surrounding the oil business, and I wish I had found it sooner. It reminds me of my favorite book, “Oil!” by Upton Sinclair, which is a fictional account based on the Teapot Dome scandal from the Harding Administration. The book, published in 1927, has also been adapted into a film titled “There Will Be Blood,” which is one of my all-time favorites.
Although I could go on about Sinclair’s novel, I’ll focus on “Landman.” The series revolves around Billy Bob Thornton’s character, Tommy Norris, and his family. We meet his son, who has dropped out of college and is now working a low-level job in the oil industry. His ex-wife, Ali Larter (who plays Angela), sends their daughter to stay with him for spring break while she goes to Mexico for the week.
On his sons second day of work, there’s a catastrophic explosion on the oil rig, killing everyone except for him. The other workers are baffled by his survival. The series gives a glimpse into the dangerous and murky world of the oil business. Tommy is just a middleman between the workers and the higher-ups, with Jon Hamm portraying Monty Miller, the billionaire owner of the oil company.
The show is thrilling and engaging, and I’ve found it hard to stop watching. Even though I just discovered it, Season 2 has already premiered and been renewed for a third season. Definitely check it out on Paramount+.
