5 Tropes Landman Puts a Spin On
If you’ve ever found yourself watching a Taylor Sheridan series and thought, “Wait, haven’t I seen this character before?” you’re definitely not alone. Sheridan, the creator behind Yellowstone, 1883, Mayor of Kingstown, and now Landman, doesn’t exactly reinvent the storytelling wheel with every new show. But here’s the twist—he doesn’t have to. Because he knows how to use the same familiar parts and rebuild something that still feels bold, gritty, and worth watching.
With Landman, Sheridan heads down to the wild terrain of West Texas and the even wilder world of oil speculation. Think cowboy hats meet corporate greed. It’s classic Sheridan territory: masculine, morally messy, and drenched in Americana. But this time, he cranks a few knobs in unexpected directions.
So, let’s break down the Sheridan storytelling toolbox—and how Landman takes those signature tropes and runs them through a new filter. Here are five familiar elements you’ll spot, with a few surprise twists that make this show feel like more than just another dusty drama.
1. The Strong, Silent Type… Who’s Actually Saying a Lot
Taylor Sheridan loves a stoic male lead. You know the type—grizzled, quiet, full of inner turmoil. He perfected it with Kevin Costner’s John Dutton in Yellowstone and doubled down with Jeremy Renner’s Mike McLusky in Mayor of Kingstown. In Landman, that figure is Tommy Norris, played with a gravel-voiced charm by Billy Bob Thornton.
On the surface, Tommy fits the archetype: ex-roughneck turned smooth-talking land negotiator. He’s got swagger, a checkered past, and a permanent squint that says, “Don’t mess with me.”
But here’s where it gets interesting:
- Tommy’s silence doesn’t equal indifference. He’s often thinking ten steps ahead.
- His interactions with his son, Cooper, and daughter, Ainsley, crack open that hardened shell.
- There’s a deep sense of guilt under the surface—something Sheridan doesn’t always reveal this early in a series.
So yes, he’s a classic Sheridan cowboy, but with a bit more emotional access than usual. And we’re here for it.
2. Family Ties That Strangle
One of Sheridan’s favorite sandbox toys is family dysfunction. Whether it’s the ruthless Dutton dynasty or the gritty McLusky brothers, he thrives on internal family tension.
In Landman, the Norris clan brings that same volatile energy. Tommy’s relationship with his ex-wife, Angela (played by Ali Larter), simmers with unresolved heat and old resentment. Meanwhile, his two kids are each on their own collision course.
- Cooper, the son, dives headfirst into the oil fields—desperate for approval, but stubborn like his dad.
- Ainsley, the daughter, makes a sharp return from New York with ambitions that don’t align with the roughneck lifestyle.
And let’s not forget, there’s a tragic backstory woven in. The Norris family is still healing from a loss that colors every conversation. Sheridan doesn’t just write family drama—he loads it with generational weight and the kind of scars that never fade.
3. One Man Against the Machine
Here’s a trope that Sheridan practically trademarked: the lone outsider trying to navigate—and often dismantle—a corrupt system. In Sicario, it was the war on drugs. In Hell or High Water, it was the banks. And in Landman, it’s the oil industry.
Tommy Norris isn’t exactly trying to burn the whole system down, but he’s not playing nice either. He’s caught in the tangle of corporate ambition, shady government deals, and environmental politics. Every negotiation he walks into is a minefield.
- Big Oil doesn’t care about small landowners.
- The government says one thing and does another.
- Activists are watching every move.
Tommy plays the game because he has to—but not without taking a few swings at the rules. Sheridan’s message is clear: the real wild west is made of boardrooms and PR departments now. And Tommy? He’s trying to survive without selling his soul.
4. Morality with Mud on Its Boots
Let’s be real: no one watches a Sheridan show expecting clear-cut heroes. The fun lies in the moral murk. And Landman may be his muddiest effort yet.
Tommy makes decisions that are… complicated. He works with corporations that exploit, but he tries to negotiate fair deals. He’s a father trying to do right, but he often puts work first. He’s charming, but also deeply manipulative when it serves him.
Meanwhile, other characters blur the lines too:
- Cooper covers up mistakes on the rig to protect his future.
- Angela prioritizes stability, even if it means compromising her values.
- Ainsley questions the whole industry’s ethics—and still benefits from it.
This is Sheridan’s playground: people doing the wrong thing for the right reasons (or vice versa), all trying to make peace with the chaos they create. No tidy lessons. Just consequences.
5. The Land Is Always Listening
If you’ve watched any of Sheridan’s shows, you know the scenery isn’t just window dressing. It’s a character. A big, looming one.
In 1883, the dusty plains shaped the journey. In Yellowstone, Montana’s sprawling ranches breathed life into every conflict. In Landman, it’s West Texas—harsh, hot, unforgiving. And it’s beautiful in that brutal way only Sheridan can capture.
- Oil fields stretch endlessly, promising riches and danger.
- Sunsets fall over machinery like God’s watching the whole mess unfold.
- Dust clings to everything—people, choices, relationships.
It’s not just a setting; it’s a metaphor. The land gives, but it also takes. And if you dig too deep, you’ll either strike gold or open something best left buried.
Grit, Gas, and That Good Ol’ Sheridan Magic
Here’s the thing: Landman doesn’t reinvent the wheel. But it doesn’t have to. Sheridan knows exactly what stories he likes to tell. And he’s good at them.
What makes Landman different is how self-aware it feels. It winks at the tropes. It lets characters ask questions they normally wouldn’t in a Sheridan show. It plays with the formula while still delivering those meaty, morally complex scenes that fans crave.
So whether you’re a die-hard Sheridan fan or just dipping your toes into his universe, Landman offers enough drama, dust, and dynamite dialogue to keep you hooked.
And hey, if you start spotting these tropes in other shows? Welcome to the club. You’ve officially unlocked the Sheridan filter.
