Taylor Sheridan's Landman has been steadily getting better, but it needs another jump in quality if it wants to be considered among the best of what Sheridan has to offer. Taylor Sheridan's universe of TV shows is primarily made up of Westerns, but he's slowly sprinkled in other genres as it's expanded.
Landman has been a way for him to bridge his Western storytelling style with a modern, and perhaps more contemporary show. Yellowstone is a neo-Western, but the plot is deeply rooted in classic Western storytelling. Landman, on the other hand, is centered on much more modern-sounding plots and characters.
The series stars Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris, a petroleum landman of a large oil company. Season 1 of the show earned a 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it was not the success of Sheridan's earlier shows. Season 2 improved things, and with season 3 on the way, Landman is looking to keep the trajectory up.
Landman Season 2 Was A Worthy Sequel
Landman season 1 had the benefit of being a novel story in the Sheridan universe. It introduced a set of new characters and a new setting, meaning whatever it offered was going to feel fresh. It's not the perfect season of television, but there are enough twists and tense Sheridan moments to keep it interesting.
Season 2 was an improvement over the first. On Rotten Tomatoes, season 2 earned an 83%, and critics agreed that Sheridan tweaked his neo-Western enough to alleviate some of the pain points from the first season. Even with the loss of a major character in season 1, Landman season 2 holds up.
Rotten Tomatoes Scores for Landman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Season | Critic Score | Audience Score | Average |
1 | 78% | 66% | 72% |
2 | 83% | 46% | 65% |
Billy Bob Thornton once again carries the series on his shoulders, and in season 2, the actor has fully slipped into the character. There were moments where he felt like a caricature in season 1, but in season 2, Tommy is more of a real character, with the occasional odd line and gaffe here and there.
The drama in the story is still as addictive as it was in season 1, drawing you in like only those Sheridan shows can. You may not be amazed by what happens in Landman, but you can count on the storyline being clear and satisfying, making any binge worthwhile.
Why Landman Season 2 Sparked Mixed Reception
However, just because Landman season 2 was better received than season 1, that doesn't mean it was a masterpiece. In fact, the audience score for season 2 was lower than the one for season 1. There are still plenty of problems with season 2, some new, and some a continuation of season 1.
A consistent criticism of Landman and Taylor Sheridan shows, in general, is that the female characters are underwritten. Season 2 makes some attempt to alleviate the issue, but there's still a pretty big disparity between the male and female characters. There's fun to be had with Tommy and the oil, that's for sure.
Whenever we're in the oilfields or in the boardrooms where big, plot-driving decisions are being made, the show chugs along nicely. Anytime Sheridan attempts to develop Tommy as some sort of family man, Landman falls apart. There is not enough to Tommy's family to make that storyline interesting.
The dialogue in Landman has also taken a hit in season 2 in some regards. One-liners still don't work in season 2, just as they didn't in season 1, and they break up the generally naturalistic lines of the show. It's a series that can quickly confuse you with its choices, making watching it a wobbly affair.
What Landman Needs To Fix For Season 3
Landman still has a lot it needs to fix if it wants to emerge as one of the great neo-Westerns of the 2020s. On a large scale, Landman needs to marry its family drama storyline with its cold-blooded business storyline in a more harmonious way than it has in the past two seasons.
The biggest issue with the first two seasons of Landman is the huge drop in quality between the moments when Tommy is at his work and when he's at home. It does not mesh, and Landman season 3 has to find a way to make them mesh. If that means dropping some of the family drama, then so be it.
Landman season 3 is in production, and while a release date is not currently known, guessing from the previous release dates, it's likely we will have season 3 as soon as November 2026. If Sheridan can up his game just a bit more over season 2, Landman could really become something special.
Taylor Sheridan Exit Addressed By Landman Star
Landman season 2 has officially come to a close, and with season 3 on the horizon, Jacob Lofland reflects on the show and its future, including Taylor Sheridan's upcoming departure.
Although Sheridan will soon be leaving Paramount, he will still be around for Landman season 3. However, if the show gets renewed after its third installment, there will be a noticeable shift as the creator is leaving Paramount when his contract ends in 2028 and joins NBCUniversal in 2029.
His decision to leave has driven a wedge between both critics and audiences. While many support his new endeavors and are excited to see what he does next, others were worried about their favorite shows losing the person who created and nurtured them.
In an interview with ScreenRant's Grant Hermanns for the Landman season 2 finale, Lofland, who portrays Cooper in the Paramount+ series, offered his own input regarding Sheridan's departure. The actor said that he was sad to see him go, and it's something that he tries not to think about.
However, he has faith in the creative team behind the hit drama series, such as Christian Wallace (co-creator and executive producer), who will most likely be staying on board after Landman season 3. Lofland said that Sheridan's departure and reasons for leaving were none of his business, so he wasn't going to get involved:
Yeah, I try not to think about it. No, I mean, I trust everyone there. We'll just see what happens. And I don't know, that's not my business, so I try to stay out of it. That's between them.
Sheridan first confirmed that he was leaving Paramount for NBCUniversal in October 2025. The creator struck a five-year deal with the latter for film, television, and streaming. The contract will go into effect on January 1, 2029. His longtime business partner, David Glasser, will also leave for NBCUniversal, bringing 101 Studios with him under a first-look film and TV deal after the company completes its remaining projects with Paramount.
Sheridan has also delivered many successful TV shows for Paramount during his time with the studio. Beginning with Yellowstone, he continued to put out high-performing series that have ranked among Paramount+’s most-watched titles. He also played a significant role in attracting and retaining new subscribers for the streaming platform.
Landman seasons 1 and 2 can be streamed on Paramount+.
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