Taylor Sheridan’s Landman season 1 only has one more episode to go, meaning this final hour of television has to make good on several narrative elements. Landman’s cast is led by veteran actors like Billy Bob Thornton, Ali Larter, and Jon Hamm, all of whom have delivered exciting performances in the series exploring the complex world of the oil industry, based on the podcast Boomtown by Christian Wallace. Like Taylor Sheridan’s other popular shows, Landman takes a dramatized look at a real-world industry, exploring themes of family and the American Dream.
Based on those thematic ideas and the events of Landman episode 9’s ending, there’s a lot to cover in the season 1 finale. The most recent episode saw Jon Hamm’s Monty Miller seemingly pass away from his long-term heart issues, leaving Tommy with a more important role in his private oil company, M-Tex. The Cartel made threats against Tommy, suggesting that they’re watching him at all times. Lastly, episode 9’s ending scene with the coyote has major thematic implications, combined with a cameo from Jerry Jones, suggesting what Taylor Sheridan’s latest show is really all about.
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Landman’s Season 1 Finale Needs To Finally Give Demi Moore’s Cami Her Moment
Demi Moore Has Been Sidelined Throughout Landman Season 1
Demi Moore may not be a name that’s as popular in Hollywood as it was in the early 1990s, but the 62-year-old actress has been celebrated over the past few months for her return to the limelight in the popular film The Substance. A role on a major Taylor Sheridan TV show seemed like the continuation of an exciting comeback for a beloved movie star, but she’s spent much of season 1 as a background character, only appearing in brief scenes.
The series isn’t living up to its full potential if one of the most talented actors in the cast isn’t doing anything of note.
Demi Moore plays Cami Miller, Monty’s wife, and with Jon Hamm’s character out of the way, Landman’s season 1 finale seems like the perfect time to give Cami her moment. The series isn’t living up to its full potential if one of the most talented actors in the cast isn’t doing anything of note. Cami could contribute some compelling drama to the series, adding a layer of depth to the conflict.
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Michelle Randolph’s Ainsley Needs To Demonstrate Some Growth As A Character
Ainsley Has Barely Shown Any Development In Landman Season 1
Michelle Randolph’s Ainsley has been the subject of controversy throughout Landman season 1, with viewers criticizing the overt sexualization of a character who’s meant to be seventeen years old. Regardless of what one thinks of this character’s portrayal, it’s highlighted the fact that she hasn’t really had much opportunity to grow as a character, with most of her scenes in recent episodes centered around her interest in Ryder.
Ali Larter’s Angela has begun to find a compelling new aspect of her character, with her interest in helping entertain people at an old folk’s home. Ainsley has been attached to this storyline, but she hasn’t demonstrated any personal engagement outside of helping her mother. The early episodes of season 1 saw her chatting more with Tommy, suggesting she might have a more complicated future than she’s let on, but she’s still yet to have her bubble burst about reality.
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The Cartel Needs To Finally Make Good On Their Threats Against Tommy
The Cartel Should Be The Final Boss Of Landman Season 1
The conflict with the Cartel has been prevalent since Landman’s opening moments, and they should finally come to a head in the season 1 finale. While episode 9 saw Tommy having a somewhat productive conversation about returning to the way things were, the phone call ended with the Cartel making threats and Tommy looking around, paranoid.
Landman episode 7’s ending saw Tommy meet Ryder for the first time, and the sequence ended with someone watching them in the bushes, presumably a Cartel member. The audience knows that the Cartel is keeping tabs on him and that they know about Ainsley. With that in mind, Tommy’s daughter could be a target for the Cartel in the season 1 finale. That could be the reality check Ainsley needs to set her up for season 2.
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Landman’s Season 1 Finale Needs To Set Up M-Tex’s Future For Season 2
A Power Conflict Between Tommy & Rebecca Should Be A Central Conflict Going Forward
Now that Monty is likely out of the way, there’s going to be a power struggle at M-Tex. Tommy was instated with a new role, with Monty intending for him to keep Cami and his children protected. However, Monty also promotes Rebecca Falcone, who, while competent, absolutely despises Tommy and wants nothing to do with him.
Given that there’s going to be limited time in the season 1 finale, a Rebecca appearance should be anticipated, but this conflict shouldn’t be resolved until season 2 and beyond. The issues between them are too complicated, especially now that Cooper has gone off to follow his own path in the oil industry. The conflict between Rebecca and Tommy is going to get worse before it gets better, and the season 1 finale should at least foreshadow this.
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Billy Bob Thornton’s Tommy Norris Needs To Decide His Future In Landman
Can Tommy Have This New Position At M-Tex And Also Hold His Family Together?
The most notable moment of episode 9’s ending saw Tommy standing out in his backyard watching a coyote before his neighbor shoots it and kills it. This coyote likely represents the possibility of Tommy’s freedom, which was killed the moment he agreed to a higher role at M-Tex. The scene suggests that Tommy will be doomed to a similar fate as Monty, pursuing his work at the sacrifice of family and personal happiness until it eventually kills him.
However, episode 9 also saw a cameo appearance from Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who gives some potentially life-saving advice to Tommy. Landman seems to pose a central thematic question about the divide between family and the pursuit of wealth that vitally connects to what Sheridan is setting up for both Tommy and Cooper. With the oil industry roping them both in, the finale needs to show how they’ll react to new successes and whether they can maintain their personal lives in pursuit of the dream.