Taylor Sheridan's Landman Outguns Yellowstone at Its Own Game

If you know anything about Taylor Sheridan, you know he’s got a real thing for families in crisis—especially when they’re tangled up with messy legacies and far more cows than is strictly sensible. And sure, Yellowstone has never exactly been subtle about its obsession with dynastic drama. But Sheridan’s latest, Landman, does something different—and frankly, it’s probably better for it.

Yellowstone: Cowboys, Shakespeare, and Family Feuds

Let’s be honest: Yellowstone has always been a bit extra, hasn’t it? Kevin Costner’s John Dutton rules his empire like he’s running for King of Montana one day and hatching a Machiavellian plot the next. The Dutton clan isn’t so much a family as they are a Shakespearean troupe who swapped poisoned goblets for cattle and land deeds. Every interaction is loaded with rivalry, resentment, and the perpetual question: can anyone survive Dad long enough to inherit anything?

If you ever wanted your family holiday arguments to end with melodramatic monologues about ‘legacy’, Yellowstone set the gold standard. Sheridan took the whole thing about land, greed, and inheritance and dialled it all the way up, cheered on by backstabbing, humiliation and, inevitably, tragedy. That was the formula, and for a while, it worked.

Landman: Messy, Modern, and (Shockingly) Relatable

Landman is cut from a different cloth altogether. Instead of cowboys hacking lumps out of each other over Dad’s empire, you’ve got Billy Bob Thornton playing Tommy Norris—a man who’s juggling the family oil business, not-so-friendly cartels, and his spectacularly complicated home life. In other words, it’s about 20% less Shakespeare and about 80% more recognisable to anyone who’s ever had to balance work and family without accidentally triggering a blood feud.

This time, Sheridan reins in the myth-making. Instead of overwrought family betrayals, he lets his characters be as dysfunctional (and oddly endearing) as most real families. Tommy Norris isn’t a cruel, manipulative overlord—he’s a man who’s making it up as he goes, dealing with messes at M-Tex Oil and the ever-present threat of some bloke with a gun and a bad attitude on his land. He’s even got the ex-wife, Angela (Ali Larter), who seems like the one actually holding everything together—not that he’d admit that, obviously.

There’s the son, Cooper (Jacob Loffland), the daughter, Ainsley (Michelle Randolph), and all the awkwardness that comes with kids, exes, and a dad who’s more worn down than world-weary cowboy poet. Tommy’s struggles feel more grounded—like the kind you overhear in a pub, rather than through a centuries-old epic.

If you want a patriarch who’s actually like someone you might know (and might even like), Tommy Norris is your man. He’s got his flaws. Mind you, he tries—as opposed to just stomping about scowling and plotting like a pantomime villain, which has always been John Dutton’s MO.

Where Is Landman Going? Let’s Talk Season 3

Now, for those worried things might get too cosy, you should know Season 2 ended with Tommy setting up a shiny new company—CTT Oil Exploration and Cattle. In classic TV tradition, he ropes in the family: Cooper is bumped up to president, Cooper’s girlfriend Ariana (Paulina Chavez) gets a gig, and Rebecca the lawyer (Kayla Wallace) is named COO. Nepotism is alive and well, but at least here it feels less like arrogant empire-building and more like a desperate attempt to keep everyone onside (or possibly just in sight).

Of course, the company is also funded by Daniel 'Gallino' Morrell (Andy Garcia)—a Cuban-American cartel boss with a knack for making even legitimate businesses feel deeply dodgy. Tommy’s doing his best to fend off the sharks circling both his business and his family, which is the sort of mess Sheridan loves to unleash.

• Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton): overstretched dad, oilman, occasionally has a clue
• Angela (Ali Larter): the ex-wife, holding the threads together
• Cooper (Jacob Loffland): son, now company president
• Ainsley (Michelle Randolph): the daughter
• Ariana (Paulina Chavez): Cooper’s girlfriend, newly-minted employee
• Rebecca (Kayla Wallace): corporate lawyer, now COO
• Daniel 'Gallino' Morrell (Andy Garcia): cartel-backed investor with his own agenda

The Norris clan aren’t likely to annihilate each other at the kitchen table, but their struggles are only going to get thornier as dodgy investments and family ties get tangled up. Rather than splitting apart under pressure—like the Duttons inevitably did—the Norrises seem to grow stronger when trouble comes calling. Flawed? No question. But at least you can actually pull for them.

If you want big, mythic tales about rugged men and their oversized egos, stick with Yellowstone. If you prefer your family drama with a dash more realism and actual heart, Sheridan’s Landman has quietly become the better bet. Frankly, it’s overdue.