Gritty Oil & Western Dramas to Fuel Your Next TV Obsession
You’ve just binged every gritty, tense episode of Landman, and now you’re left pacing your living room. Your pulse is up, and your brain is craving more oily politics, rugged landscapes, and scorching family drama. What’s next, after witnessing boomtown chaos from Taylor Sheridan’s riveting lens? Don’t fret—I’ve got your back. I’ve scouted the best picks out there, shows that deliver all the same thrill, grittiness, and intrigue you loved from Landman.
So buckle up, pour yourself a stiff drink, and grab those snacks. It’s binge-watch season.
Dive into an Oil-Fueled Classic: Dallas
First up, let’s reach back to television gold by dusting off an oil-rich classic. Remember the Ewings from “Dallas”? If you’re craving corporate elbow-throwing, scandal, and shocking twists, this is your sweet spot. Sure, it’s got an ’80s aesthetic—oversized shoulder pads and all—but at its heart, Dallas delivers perennial grit. The infamous family rivalries, high-stakes business betrayals, and lush Texas landscapes echo Landman’s rich drama.
Dallas checks these Landman-similar boxes:
- Epic family drama with generational feuds.
- Corporate intrigue dripping in oil money.
- Characters driven by ambition, ruthlessness, and greed.
Trust me; there’s no shortage of power-grabbing J.R. Ewing moments to keep your pulse racing long after bedtime.
Friday Nights Under Stadium Lights: Friday Night Lights
Speaking of small-town intensity, did you catch that sneaky Friday Night Lights reference buried in Landman? It’s no random Easter egg—the parallels between these two series are pitch-perfect. Friday Night Lights is Midwestern poetry wrapped up in football pads, community pride, and painful life lessons. Dillon, Texas, pulses with heart and hurt, exactly like Sheridan’s episodic world.
Whether you love the gritty authenticity or the honest portrayal of small-town America, here’s why FNL makes a perfect follow-up:
- Authentic slice of rural Americana.
- Complex characters juggling dreams, trauma, and family loyalty.
- Raw emotional realism matched with inspiring underdog stories.
Clear eyes, full hearts, cannot lose by jumping aboard this binge.
Riding the Range with Yellowstone
But maybe football isn’t your thing; maybe you prefer old-school Western grit, modernized with sharp intensity. Enter Yellowstone, fellow Taylor Sheridan masterpiece. It’s literally Landman’s spiritual sibling. Both shows boil down anger, wealth, greed, and land disputes into one thrilling pot. They’ve got action, complex family relationships, and breathtaking scenery that’s worth the price of your streaming subscription alone.
Why Yellowstone fits the bill:
- High stakes between family members thrust into tense rivalries.
- Stunning Montana landscapes dripping with wilderness lore.
- Deep dives into issues like land disputes, environmental politics, and Native American rights.
You’ll quickly realize why millions crave another serving of John Dutton and his unruly clan. Trust me on this one.
Go Back to Where it All Began: 1883
If Yellowstone catches your imagination, you’ll find joy trekking back to its roots in 1883. This Yellowstone prequel throws viewers into pioneer life, complete with emphatic hardships, unforgiving nature, and compelling storytelling. “1883” feels raw, gritty—just how a Western genre should feel. Sheridan’s touch here delivers authenticity wrapped in tragedy and hope.
Here’s the rundown worth your attention:
- Intense frontier drama and the brutality of life in the Old West.
- Family unity forged through hardships and unending challenges.
- Pioneering spirit at its ruthless best, fueled by determination and sacrifice.
Pack your saddlebags; this journey westward won’t disappoint.
Roaring into History: 1923
Another front porch companion to Yellowstone, 1923 throttles viewers forward into Prohibition-era madness and financial collapse. If you crave that tense relationship between struggle and the American dream, 1923 casts a gripping net. Sheridan once again excels by placing resilient, relatable characters behind a curtain of hardship, promising you won’t blink much for several intense hours.
In short, expect:
- A gritty historical backdrop you can sink your cowboy boots into.
- Family dynamics boiling under threats of financial ruin and ruthless rivals.
- Sweeping narratives capturing the struggles of inheritance and legacy.
Your historian heart will salute this powerful saga in approval.
Justified in your Cravings: Justified
Maybe historical sagas are exhausting for you, and contemporary storytelling feels more intense. Don’t worry. Raylan Givens from FX series “Justified” is here to scratch that itch. This series delivers smart storytelling wrapped up in outlaw charm and law enforcement vigor. Set in rural Kentucky, the show plays hard and fast with crime, justice, and deeply rooted community tensions. Think Wild West but modern—pulsing with biting humor, sharp dialogue, and unforgettable characters.
Getting lost in Harlan County offers:
- A perfect cocktail of drama, crime-solving, and small-town sensibilities.
- Memorable characters that blur the line between heroes and antiheroes.
- Western vibes uniquely infused into a modern crime narrative.
Trust me; you’ll tip your hat to Marshal Raylan before episode two even finishes.
Race Across the Rails in Hell on Wheels
Train tracks crisscross the American West, nourishing towns much like oil wells. Hell on Wheels vividly showcases the brutal truths behind the railroad-building era. Complex, nuanced, and merciless, this drama follows laborers, profiteers, and rogues navigating rough frontier realities. It feels raw and earthy, mirroring the gritty tone of Landman.
Bonus essential points to consider:
- Sharp exploration of frontier ambition and savage conditions.
- Richly drawn characters working toward redemption or revenge.
- Stunning visuals and accurate period detail, making it gritty yet epic.
This show steams along relentlessly, and you’ll gladly hop aboard.
The Son’s Texas Sized Drama
If wealthy family sagas spark your binge thirst, Pierce Brosnan-led drama “The Son” may be your next distraction. Based on the acclaimed novel by Philipp Meyer, The Son recounts a Texas dynasty built on oil, ambition, and sacrifice. Brosnan’s patriarch brings both charm and ruthlessness, his saga told across generations amid violent land disputes and insightful introspection. This hits pretty close to Landman’s home turf.
Key reasons to dive in:
- Powerful acting matched by stunning cinematography.
- Multi-dimensional characters navigating legacy, loss, and power.
- Texas oil towns painted vividly in all their gritty contradiction.
Pour yourself a bourbon neat—this one’s ideal for savoring.
Rural Justice with Longmire
Trade Texas hills for Wyoming’s wilderness and saddle up with Sheriff Walt Longmire. This series plunges audiences into raw frontier law enforcement with simplicity and sincerity, filled with humanity tempered by hardship. If Landman’s rugged exterior concealed its heart, Longmire lays it bare, offering crime-solving rich in moral dilemmas and rural realities.
Look forward to:
- Unforgettable characters bearing scars from past traumas.
- Rustic realism painting deeply engaging stories.
- Quiet tension mixed with thoughtful narrative development.
This smart, subtle storytelling pulls viewers effortlessly into Longmire’s jurisdiction.
Clash of Cultures in Tulsa King
For those craving a Taylor Sheridan story with city grit, punch in your streaming password for Tulsa King. Starring tough-as-nails Sylvester Stallone, it’s a gangster Western colliding mafia bravado with Oklahoma sensibilities. Sure, Tulsa isn’t Midland, but power struggles, razor-sharp dialogue, and cultural clashes feel universally gripping. It’s gritty, funny, brutal, and honest in equal servings—perfect companion pieces for Landman enthusiasts.
Count on Tulsa King to bring:
- Irresistible charm from Stallone’s criminal charisma.
- Clever storytelling meshing urban bravado and rural humor.
- Dramatic tension grounded by sharp writing and character depth.
Mob boss meets cowboy equals surprisingly compelling drama.
Grab the Popcorn and Settle In
Now, Landman devotees, your binge-watching journey doesn’t end here—quite the opposite. You’ve got plenty of great TV ahead, full of desperation, courage, ambition, family squabbles, and enough grit to gravel your driveway twice over. Whether classic or contemporary, deep in Texas oil fields or far-off Wyoming mountains, each show feels like stepping into different corners of the same rugged universe.
So slide deeper into the couch, let your curiosity lead, and click play. There’s endless wild-west-flavored drama ready to unfold. Your next obsession awaits.
