Let’s talk about editing, because honestly, not enough people do. The unsung hero in the TV world, lurking quietly in dark rooms, surrounded by screens, coffee cups, and probably a few colorful sticky notes. But when it comes to “Landman,” all eyes are on Ishai Setton — the editing wizard who sliced together cartel chaos and family feuds like a champion chef prepping a five-course meal.
And no surprise here — Setton’s résumé comes thick with drama, music, and wickedly tangled stories. You might remember his punchy timing in “Glee,” or those razor-sharp cuts in “Empire.” He’s no stranger to the high-pressure arena, but the “Landman” project? Totally next-level chaos.
Wrangling Oil, Family, and Bullet Casings — Just an Average Day
“Landman” isn’t your run-of-the-mill Texas yarn — no tumbleweeds drifting lazily across the screen here. Instead, you get gnashing cartel bosses, guns moved around like chess pieces, and a family breaking apart, then snapping back together under enough stress to make a wildcatter weep.
Setton’s real job? Don’t let anyone get whiplash. But make no mistake — there’s intensity, and then there’s Landman intensity. Take the cartel storyline. It surges in and out like a summer thunderstorm, shaking up the Norris clan — especially Tommy, played with gritty perfection by Billy Bob Thornton.
There’s Tommy, one minute cracking a joke, and the next, he’s chained up in a warehouse by cartel thugs. So how does Setton sell that chaos? Quick cuts. He moves between faces — a sneer, a tear, a fist tightening. But then, just as a heartbeat slows, Setton brings in long, excruciating shots. We sit there, right in Tommy’s agony. The pain is palpable. The stakes? They don’t get much higher.
Syncing Sheridan’s Vision — and Dodging Clichés
Of course, Setton didn’t do it alone. Taylor Sheridan, the brains behind the “Landman” operation (and modern master of “make-everyone-sweat” drama), brings a clear, bold vision to the room. Sheridan wants viewers on the edge. He wants realistic grit — none of that quick and tidy TV drama stuff.
So Setton listens. He pushes the footage, rearranging timelines, stretching moments just long enough to make viewers squirm. But — and it’s a big but — he also knows when to pull back so Sheridan’s story doesn’t turn into an unintelligible tumble. Every scene matters. Every cut sings.
Now, there’s something else worth talking about. The depiction of Latino characters. Cartel dramas sometimes slide too easily into stereotype territory, and early chatter online jumped on “Landman” for possibly going down that road. But Setton didn’t just shrug and lean in. Instead, he and the crew made sure to dig deeper. When editing, he gave weight to quieter moments — conversations, hesitations, familial grief — not just the big brawls. You see people, not plot devices. Social buzz on sites like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Reddit, and even some critical columns on Landman.tv itself kept this discussion alive all season. It forced the show’s team, including Setton, to watch for nuance.
Finessing Family — And Sucker-Punching Cartel Drama
One of “Landman’s” signature moves is how it hurtles between home life and hard crime. Setton’s pacing keeps it all from feeling bananas. Here’s what you’ll notice:
- The Norris dinner table scenes hum with tension. Every silence feels loaded, every glance charged.
- Cartel sequences? The energy ratchets up, but Setton tosses in a little visual chaos — quick flashes, abrupt cuts that mimic adrenaline.
- Whenever the stakes run high, like Tommy’s abduction, Setton slow-rolls the ache. He holds moments, letting them burn in.
And while he’s juggling those threads, he plants little seeds — blink-and-miss hints about shifting loyalties or looming threats. Fans on social, especially those parsing scenes frame by frame on TikTok, have started clocking these clever cuts, sharing their own mini “Easter eggs” discoveries.
Getting into the Cutting Room — What’s It Like, Anyway?
Setton has talked in recent interviews about the madness of the “Landman” editing process. He stepped into a room stacked with hours of raw footage — dusty sunlight pouring through Texas windows, nervous glances, car chases tearing up backroads.
But raw footage is messy. Some scenes run long. Emotions spill over, or a line delivery spins off in a wacky direction. It’s up to Setton, trusty digital scissors in hand, to find the right beat. So he’ll run a scene once, twice, sometimes twenty times. Does the family fight sound fake the tenth time you hear it? Cut it. Does the cartel glare suddenly get stale? Trim it, and maybe throw in a reaction shot from someone trembling in the corner.
- Long hours mean lots of coffee. (Rumor has it, he’s got a favorite mug that’s survived three network shows and two indie films.)
- Sometimes, he hangs scenes up on a physical board — old-school style — just to see the puzzle pieces outside of the timeline.
- He works with Sheridan and the writers, tinkering with episode order, making sure cliffhangers hit maximum emotional velocity.
Hype, Hashtags, and What People Are Actually Saying
Since “Landman” dropped, fans have not been shy about sharing opinions online. On the Landman.tv forums and Reddit deep-dives, everyone’s got a theory about that final cartel twist or whether the Norris dad, Will Patton’s character, is hiding a secret.
But let’s not gloss over the critical reception. Trade outlets like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter pointed out that the editing really let Billy Bob Thornton’s performance shine, especially in the infamous torture scene. Some pointed out how the episode structure — nope, not chronological — helped drop viewers right into the thick of action, before letting up long enough to provide breathing room. Setton gets the credit for that.
- Multiple critics said it’s a “patchwork quilt” approach, but one where all the seams hold.
- Others mentioned how Setton’s transitions — fast to slow, then back again — keep adrenaline high but also make the family stuff land.
- Social media folks love sharing freeze-frames of those tense dinner fights or the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cartel threat in the background.
It’s Not All Grit — There’s Some Heart, Too
Here’s the deal: beneath the violence and bloodied knuckles, Setton’s edits pull out moments of tenderness. A kid’s worried glance for his dad. Someone stitching up a bruised hand in shaky silence. Not all the pain comes from outside threats; sometimes, it’s all about what happens inside those four Texas walls.
That balance? It’s brutal to get right. Yet, thanks to Setton, even the quiet scenes thrum with energy. No dead space. No filler. The fans notice, too — over on Landman.tv’s reviews, people are clocking those small sighs and silent heartbreaks.
Next Stop: Season 2, and the Hype Train Has No Brakes
With Paramount+ announcing the Season 2 renewal, anticipation’s officially off the charts. The oil fields aren’t running dry for plot — or for drama. Cartel threads look set to tighten, and Sheridan’s scripts are rumored to dive even deeper into the family’s tangled web.
And you can bet Setton’s already scoping out the story for those clever intercuts. If Season 1’s rollercoaster is anything to go by, brace yourself for more whiplash — narrative, emotional, and maybe even physical, if you watch it on the edge of your seat.
Here’s what to expect:
- Even bigger set pieces. If you thought the warehouse shoot-out was wild, just wait.
- New character arcs rising from unexpected corners. Setton’s keen to highlight those subtle emotional pivots next time around.
- Maybe — just maybe — a resolution for Tommy’s battered soul. Or does Setton and Sheridan have another gut-punch in store?
Fade Out: Every Sharp Cut Counts
So, next time you’re glued to “Landman” and feel your pulse spike or your heart clench, spare a thought for Ishai Setton and his editing room symphony. Every jolt, every tear, every nail-biting pause? That’s not by accident. That’s sharp instincts, sharper scissors, and a truckload of Texas grit.
Don’t just watch the action — watch the edit. Because without Setton’s eyes, “Landman” wouldn’t just be another crime drama. And come Season 2, all bets are off.
