When people hear “Landman,” they think gritty oilfields, dusty pickup trucks, cartel tension, and the kind of drama that makes your knuckles white. But here’s the twist: Taylor Sheridan’s latest series isn’t just drilling into the darkness of Texas oil culture—it’s also surprisingly hilarious. Between explosions and emotional gut-punches, the characters sneak in jabs, awkward stares, and punchlines that land as hard as a steel-toed boot.
So, whether you’re a hardcore fan glued to every episode or just here for Billy Bob Thornton’s dad-energy chaos, let’s dive into the ten moments that made us laugh way harder than we expected. These aren’t just “chuckle quietly” scenes. These are “pause the episode and text your friend” moments.
1. “It’s a Michelob Ultra. There’s more alcohol in orange juice.”
Let’s kick this list off with the crown jewel of Landman one-liners.
Tommy Norris (played with perfect grit and dry wit by Billy Bob Thornton) isn’t your typical beer drinker. Or maybe he is? In Episode 4, someone gives him side-eye over his drink. Without missing a beat, he shrugs and says, “It’s a Michelob Ultra. There’s more alcohol in orange juice.”
It’s the kind of line that perfectly captures Tommy’s essence: unfazed, self-deprecating, and just a bit tragic. He’s not bragging. He’s just telling the truth—with flair.
This little moment exploded online and even made its way into memes. Because of course it did. And now, Michelob Ultra has unofficially become the official drink of reluctant badasses.
2. Dad Talk Gone Way Too Far
Tommy’s awkward father-daughter chat with Ainsley in Episode 1 starts out tense. It ends in full-body cringe.
He tries to talk to her about relationships—you know, being a dad and all. But Ainsley doesn’t just push back. She overshares. Like, really overshares.
Actress Michelle Randolph, who plays Ainsley, confessed in an interview that the moment was so uncomfortable even the crew broke into laughter. “My face went bright red,” she said. “We had to stop.”
And honestly, so did we.
3. Ethel’s Mouth Has No Chill
Ethel looks like your sweet old neighbor who bakes cookies and collects salt shakers. But when she speaks? Razor blades.
In Episode 5, a younger oil worker tries to patronize her. Big mistake. She delivers a line so sharp it could slice rig wire.
Everyone in the scene freezes—until the awkward silence bursts into laughter. It’s a reminder that Ethel may have years behind her, but she still leads with fire.
And let’s be real: we all know someone like her.
4. Tommy vs. The Stolen Plane
Oilfield drama? Check. Cartel schemes? Sure. But a stolen plane used for drug smuggling? That was a curveball.
In a scene straight out of a dark comedy, Tommy gets roped into a bizarre side plot involving a rogue plane. His expression says it all: “Why is this my life?”
What really sells it is Thornton’s mix of deadpan and disbelief. He doesn’t scream or flail—he just mutters his way through the madness like a man who’s seen too much. And somehow, that’s what makes it funny.
5. Kaboom! But Also… What?
Episode 2 brings the heat—literally. A rig goes up in a fiery blast thanks to equipment failure and poor planning.
It should be terrifying. And it is. But the over-the-top visuals, paired with the crew’s almost cartoonish reactions, make it weirdly funny.
One guy does a duck-and-roll that looks straight out of a ’90s action flick. Another shouts something completely unintelligible. For a second, it’s less Landman and more Looney Tunes: West Texas Edition.
6. Tommy’s Radio Rant
Sometimes you talk back to the radio. Tommy, though? He roasts it.
In Episode 1, he listens to a financial analyst discuss oil prices. And he can’t hold it in. He rants. He grumbles. He calls the guy a “city-slicker with a spreadsheet.”
It’s the kind of rant every working-class viewer has probably had—and it hits home. Plus, Thornton’s delivery is pure gold. You almost want to start heckling NPR yourself.
7. Monty’s Pep Talk That Went South
Now, motivational speeches are tricky. Get them right, and you’re remembered forever. Get them wrong, and well… you’re Monty.
Jon Hamm’s Monty tries to fire up the team. He compares the oilfield to a battlefield. Then a racetrack. Then something about dragons?
His metaphors lose everyone. It turns into the kind of awkward mess where people just nod because they want it to end.
Honestly, we felt for him. But we also laughed. A lot.
8. Angela’s Dinner Meltdown
Episode 5 serves up family dinner with a side of disaster.
Angela, Tommy’s ex, tries to pull off a classy meal. But the food burns. The kids argue. Someone knocks over wine. The whole evening collapses like a flan in a cupboard.
It’s chaos, but the best kind. Think Thanksgiving dinner meets a telenovela.
9. Rebecca Falcone, Courtroom Sniper
Rebecca doesn’t raise her voice. She doesn’t need to. Her words do all the damage.
In one courtroom scene, she slips in a savage retort that leaves opposing counsel stunned. And just like that, she turns a dry legal exchange into a mic-drop moment.
You almost hear viewers across America whisper, “Damn.”
10. Cooper’s Love Life Flop
Poor Cooper. He’s sweet, he’s sincere, and he cannot deliver a smooth line to save his life.
In a painfully adorable moment, he tries to confess his feelings to a coworker. But the words come out like alphabet soup. She blinks. He stumbles. We scream into pillows.
But we love him for it. Because haven’t we all been there?
So, Who Said Oil Couldn’t Be Funny?
Sure, Landman tackles heavy stuff: environmental damage, cartel violence, generational pain. But it also makes room for awkward dinners, snarky one-liners, and beer that barely qualifies as beer.
And those laughs matter. They make the characters more human. They give us a breather between all the explosions. And they prove that even the toughest Texans still know how to crack a joke.
So the next time Tommy cracks open a Michelob Ultra, raise a toast. Just maybe pour yourself some orange juice too—it’s stronger.
