There is no way Taylor Sheridan drops something new without sparking a whole lot of chatter! Now that Landman is the latest in town, discussions are popping up everywhere. The big question, is Sheridan just repackaging his signature style and telling the same story in different ways?
Sure, the Yellowstone saga may be over, wrapped up with its sequels and prequels, but Landman feels like a fresh start. Of course, cowboy hats remain a constant, but what else can we deduce from this? Is it just Yellowstone with a new twist, or is Sheridan taking us somewhere entirely different? The conversation is only just beginning!
Is Landman Just a Repackaged Yellowstone with a New Spin?
Set in West Texas, Landman takes the viewers into the high-stakes oil world, where people will do anything to make it big.
Based on the 2019 podcast Boomtown, Taylor Sheridan‘s show gives a behind-the-scenes look at the industry through the eyes of the industry insiders making it all happen. In many ways, it feels like Yellowstone, just with a fresh twist on the wild west.
Both shows explore the American dream, with Tommy Norris stepping into a role similar to John Dutton. The line between making money and crossing into organized crime is razor-thin in both Yellowstone and Landman.
Other than that, it’s hard not to root for the bad guys. Whether it’s the Duttons ruling the ranch like old-school cowboys or the oil tycoons eliminating anyone in their way (including the nature), power is wielded with little to no consequences. Visually, the style and wardrobe choices for the characters are surprisingly similar, making it feel like Yellowstone with a new coat of paint.
What Taylor Sheridan’s Landman Doesn’t Quite Deliver
Many viewers feel Landman does not bring anything new to the table, offering little more than a repackaged version of Yellowstone. But beyond that, people already have a lot of issues with the show, number one being it fails to fully engage with the complex issues it sets out to tackle.
It attempts to shine a light on heavy topics like wealth inequality, racism, the environmental damage and much more. However, instead of delving deep into these weighty subjects, it merely brushes the surface for just the sake of it.
These critical themes feel like they’re there just for show, without much exploration or meaningful insight. What could have been a powerful critique of society instead ends up feeling underdeveloped, missing the opportunity to make a real impact. The result is a show that doesn’t quite do justice to the important topics it hints at.