Landman is the latest Western series from creator Taylor Sheridan, and it’s already received numerous comparisons to Yellowstone. Since the original Kevin Costner-led Paramount Network Western premiered in 2018, Taylor Sheridan has become one of television’s most coveted and famous writers/producers. He’s developed spinoffs for Yellowstone that follow earlier periods of the Dutton family, crime shows like Tulsa King, and an action series called Lioness, all for Paramount+, but with Yellowstone set to end after season 5, part 2, the search for a replacement is crucial.
Any of the planned Yellowstone spinoffs could be excellent. The Madison will star Michelle Pfeiffer, Matthew Fox, and more, which sounds like the makings of a terrifically exciting follow-up. However, with Kevin Costner gone from Yellowstone’s final stretch of episodes, the franchise’s future is currently being tested on whether it can prosper in the same manner without him. Meanwhile, Sheridan’s latest series, Landman, which bares no connection to the larger franchise, has just premiered and offers the star power to compensate for Costner’s absence. Landman’s cast includes Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Hamm, Demi Moore, and more.
Billy Bob Thornton’s Tommy Norris Is Similar To Kevin Costner’s John Dutton
Tommy Norris Is The Oilman Equivalent Of John Dutton
The most immediate similarity between the two shows is the strong male leads that represent Landman and Yellowstone. Billy Bob Thornton plays Tommy Norris, an oil company crisis manager whose family life intertwines with his work. While Norris isn’t quite as dominant in his particular industry as John Dutton, the oil industry is much larger than the cattle industry, so they even out in a general sense of power and influence. In Landman episode 2, Norris even meets with a Texas cattle rancher who’s owned his property for generations and is comfortable talking down on him.
In their respective shows, Tommy Norris and John Dutton are the forces to be reckoned with. They’re men who are burdened by constant threats and obstacles and yet always have time to verbally destroy a big-city suit or pass down worldly wisdom to their children. Even more importantly, they’re immensely proud men, which can often be a detriment. Audiences have had far less time to become acquainted with Tommy Norris, but it’s perfectly apparent from the first two episodes that he and John Dutton are made from the same stuff.
Landman Explores Similar Themes To Yellowstone
Landman & Yellowstone Explore An American Way Of Life
Like Yellowstone, Landman is a deeply American show that explores ideas of the American Dream, the worker’s life, the economics of land, and the thin line that exists between major corporations and organized crime. Landman is based on real-world influences, allowing an authentic approach to various lifestyles surrounding the Permian Basin in Texas, while Sheridan utilizes his own experience and knowledge to explore the cowboy rancher life in Yellowstone. To call Landman “Yellowstone but with oil” is undoubtedly an oversimplification, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
Landman & Yellowstone Are Neo-Westerns
Both Shows Are Set In Contemporary Settings But Use Western Motifs
Both Landman and Yellowstone fall into the category of the neo-Western genre. To differentiate, classical Westerns like The Searchers are set in the Wild West and have character archetypes of gunslingers, lawmen, bandits, etc, while exploring themes of lawlessness in the American frontier. A neo-Western takes many of those same archetypes, themes, and ideas and places them in a contemporary setting. In Yellowstone, John Dutton is a millionaire and politician, yet he has cowboys who work on his ranch who are branded and occasionally execute people for him.
Tommy Norris might not be riding around on a horse shooting guns at anyone, but the elements of criminals, law enforcement, and men seeking wealth in the Western landscape are all present.
Landman’s first episode opens with a sequence where Billy Bob Thornton’s character has a bag over his head and he’s being questioned by cartel members. He convinces them to let his industry use their land by explaining that they’ll profit from it and threatens to have the DEA after them if they don’t comply. Tommy Norris might not be riding around on a horse shooting guns at anyone, but the elements of criminals, law enforcement, and men seeking wealth in the Western landscape are all present.
Yellowstone Is More Focused On An Ensemble Of Characters
Landman Is A One Man Show So Far
One of the biggest differences between Yellowstone and Landman so far is the attention to a variety of characters. Yellowstone is focused not only on John Dutton but also the entirety of his family and the bunkhouse crew, and there are various supporting characters from politicians, law enforcement officers, opposing factions, and more. So far, the vast majority of Landman has been spent following Tommy Norris around in his day-to-day activities.
Stellar actors like Jon Hamm are in the show, but have only been present in a few scenes. Hamm has had dialogue with Tommy Norris, but it’s all been via phone calls, and it would be interesting to see him actually out on the scene. Demi Moore is in the series but has barely spoken after only appearing in a few scenes in the first two episodes. Ali Larter has also only been on FaceTime calls, but she’s set to appear on-screen in episode 3.
How Landman & Yellowstone’s First Episodes Compare
Landman Is Off To A Better Start
In terms of their opening episodes, Landman is off to a cleaner start than Yellowstone. The original Paramount Western’s two-part opening episode was well-executed, but season 1 is one of the worst seasons in the Yellowstone franchise. It’s weirdly paced, characters get up to some strange business, and a key family member dies and is never really mentioned again. So far, the bar is relatively low for Landman to overtake the first season of Yellowstone, and it’s on the right track after two successful opening episodes.
Can Landman Be Yellowstone’s Replacement
It’s Not Impossible, But Landman Has A Long Way To Go
Replacing Yellowstone is a huge deal, and of course, it’s far too early to tell what Landman is capable of. Right now, Yellowstone has the advantage of an ensemble of characters who have been steadily explored for multiple seasons. Outside of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton, there are unforgettable characters like Beth Dutton, Rip Wheeler, and others who feel well-defined and equally essential. The longevity of Yellowstone is massively important for that, as the show improved season-to-season at the start, and its audience grew simultaneously.
There is a possibility that Landman will last multiple seasons, but the show needs to demonstrate more usage of its supporting characters. It’s the Billy Bob Thornton show right now, and while that’s entertaining in its own right, part of what’s made Yellowstone work for so long is that it covers a widespread cast, allowing for unique stories to develop over time. Landman has the makings of something great, but it still needs to prove itself.