Paramount+’s new showLandmanis a gritty drama series revolving around theoil industry in West Texas, but the initial episodes of the show have drawn criticism surroundingcertainLandmancharacters. The neo-Western follows Tommy Norris, played by Billy Bob Thornton, as he attempts to manage problems that arise for oil industry executive, Monty Miller, played by Jon Hamm. While the show’s drama surrounding the particular crises of an exploding plane and an exploding oil rig provide plenty of entertainment for audiences, the scenes that revolve, instead, around Norris’s family have raised some questions.
Taylor Sheridan’s past shows, such asYellowstoneandTulsa King,are also Westerns primarily targeted towards men and feature men in many of the largest roles, meaning that some audience members have come to expect that women in his shows may not be as well written, butLandmanhas taken these claims to the next level.The two episodes ofLandmanthat have premiered so far both feature very uncomfortable scenes featuring Norris’s teenage daughter, Ainsley, and viewers have been quick to voice their opinions.
The Daughter Storyline In Landman Is Weird & Uncomfortable
Several Questionable Scenes Involve The 17-Year-Old Character
Landman’s treatment of Ainsley Norris so far has been disturbing to say the least. 27-year-old actor Michelle Randolph plays the 17-year-old character, who, in episode 1, has a very uncomfortable chat with her father. While attending a football game for her boyfriend,Tommy Norris questions Ainsley about her sex life. She responds in far too much detail for any father-daughter relationship to ever have, and Norris’s only response is the hilarious utterance “I’m gonna go get a Dr. Pepper.” Unsurprisingly, this scene quickly went viral on social media, with fans questioning why Sheridan thought the dialogue was necessary.
While the father-daughter sex life talk was bad,Landmancontinued the uncomfortable streak into episode 2 as well. When Ainsley decides to stay at her father’s house for a while, she repeatedly comes into contact with his old friends who just happen to be staying there too. Multiple scenes show Ainsley walking around the house barely clothed or tanning in a bikini. Unfortunately,Landman’s older men consistently make the audience uncomfortable with their gawkingand overt sexualization of a character who is stated as being 17.
The Daughter Story Is Part Of A Bigger Problem With Landman
The Women Are All One-Dimensional
While the scenes including Ainsley are definitely the most uncomfortable, they are not the only strange aspects ofLandman. On the whole,all the women in the show are very one-dimensional. This extends to Angela Norris, Tommy’s ex-wife and Ainsley’s mother, who is usually clothed in very revealing low-cut or see-through clothing with the questionable motive of being somewhat flirtatious with her ex-husband. Ali Larter delivers the best performance possible given the character she has been written does not seem to be doing that much at this point in the show.
Where Was Landman Filmed? Shooting Locations & How Much Was Really Texas Explained
Paramount+’s series Landman follows competing groups in the oilfields of West Texas, and the scenery leaves viewers wondering if it is really Texas.
Likewise, Demi Moore appears throughout the show as Monty Miller’s wife, Cami, but is given similarly little to work with character-wise. For such well known actors,audiences have begun to question why Taylor Sheridan has not utilized Larter and Moore’s characters more. Kayla Wallace’s Rebecca takes the slightly more aggressive role of an attorney, but even she seems to be a one-dimensional representation of what a working woman is. So far, the women ofLandmanhave audiences and critics alike baffled and hoping for better.
The Show Does Have Some Positive Moments
Despite all the criticism that the writing and direction of women characters have received,Landmandoes still include great performances and some great writing. In particular,reviews have praised Billy Bob Thornton’s portrayal of Tommy Norris as intense and believable.Likewise, the plot and pacing have kept audiences entertained in the initial episodes, and the drama is likely to continue ramping up throughout the season.Landmancurrently boasts a solid 76% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, proving that, overall, most viewers have been able to overlook the most troubling scenes.
Ali Larter has even remarked on how strong she feels her character is and how good Taylor Sheridan’s writing is, pointing toward a larger character arc for her later in the season.
While the clips trending on social media paint the series in a very negative light, there is much more depth to the show than these short scenes.Ali Larter has even remarked on how strong she feels her character isand how good Taylor Sheridan’s writing is, pointing toward a larger character arc for her later in the season. While the current online response to some ofLandman’s scenes is very negative, it is important to note that the show could see these characters develop much further in the coming weeks, leading to a change in public opinion.
Landman
Cast
Set in West Texas, this series explores the world of oil rigs and the fortunes they create. It portrays a modern upstairs/downstairs narrative of roughnecks and billionaires, highlighting the profound impact on the climate, economy, and geopolitics in these boomtowns.
