Is Taylor Sheridan's latest western better and can it really be its replacement?

Landman is the latest western series from creator Taylor Sheridan, and has already received numerous comparisons with yellow stone. Since the original Kevin Costner-led Paramount Network Western debuted in 2018, Taylor Sheridan has become one of television's most sought-after and celebrated writer/producers. He developed spinoffs for yellow stone that follow the earlier periods of the Dutton family, crime shows like King of Tulsaand an action series called Lionessall for Paramount+, but with yellow stone Set to end after Season 5, Part 2, the search for a replacement is crucial.

Any of the planned yellow stone spinoffs can be great. Madison will star Michelle Pfeiffer, Matthew Fox and more, which sounds like the makings of an extremely exciting sequel. However, with Kevin Costner leaving Yellowstone In the final stretch of episodes, the future of the franchise is being tested to see if it can prosper in the same way without him. Meanwhile, Sheridan's latest series, Landmanwhich has no connection to the larger franchise, has just debuted and offers the star power to make up for Costner's absence. Landman's The 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 oil equivalent of John Dutton

The most immediate similarity between the two shows is the strong male leads they play. Landman and yellow stone. Billy Bob Thornton plays Tommy Norris, an oil company crisis manager whose family life becomes intertwined with his work. Although Norris is not as dominant in his specific industry as John Dutton, the oil industry is much larger than the livestock industry, so they are equal in a general sense of power and influence. In Landman episode 2, Norris even meets with a Texas cattle rancher who has owned his property for generations and feels comfortable badmouthing him.

On their respective shows, Tommy Norris and John Dutton are the forces to be reckoned with. They are men who are burdened by constant threats and obstacles and yet have time to verbally destroy a big-city suit or impart worldly wisdom to their children. Even more important, they are immensely proud men, which can often be harmful. Audiences have had much less time to get to know Tommy Norris, but it's perfectly apparent in the first two episodes that he and John Dutton are made of the same stuff.

Landman explores themes similar to Yellowstone

Landman and Yellowstone explore an American way of life

As yellow stone, Landman is a deeply American program that explores ideas of the American dream, the life of the worker, the economy of the land and the fine line that exists between large corporations and organized crime. Landman is based on real-world influences, allowing for an authentic take on various lifestyles around the Permian Basin in Texas, as Sheridan utilizes his own experience and knowledge to explore the lives of cowboy ranchers in yellow stone. To call Landman "yellow stone but with oil" is certainly an oversimplification, but that doesn't mean it's wrong.

Landman and Yellowstone are neo-westerns

Both shows are set in contemporary settings but use Western motifs

Both Landman and yellow stone fall into the category of the neo-western genre. To differentiate, classic westerns like The researchers are set in the Old West and have personality archetypes of gunslingers, lawmen, outlaws, etc., while exploring themes of lawlessness on the American frontier. A neo-Western takes many of these same archetypes, themes, and ideas and places them in a contemporary setting. In yellow stoneJohn Dutton is a millionaire and politician, but he has cowboys who work on his ranch, who are branded and occasionally execute people for him.

Landman's The first episode begins with a sequence in which Billy Bob Thornton's character has a bag over his head and is being questioned by cartel members. He convinces them to let his industry use their land, explaining that they will profit from it, and threatens that the DEA will persecute them if they don't comply. Tommy Norris may not be riding around on horseback shooting anyone, but the elements of criminals, police officers and men seeking wealth in the Western landscape are all present.

Yellowstone is more focused on one set of characters

Landman is a one-man show so far

One of the biggest differences between yellow stone and Landman so far is attention to a variety of characters. SEllowstone is focused not just on John Dutton, but also on his entire family and the shed teamand there are several supporting characters from politicians, police officers, opposing factions and more. Until now, the vast majority of Landman spent accompanying Tommy Norris in his daily activities.

Stellar actors like Jon Hamm are in the series, but were only present in a few scenes. Hamm talked to Tommy Norris, but it was all over the phone, and it would be interesting to actually see him 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 also only participated in FaceTime calls, but is expected to appear on screen in episode 3.

How Landman and Yellowstone's First Episodes Compare

Landman started better

In terms of its opening episodes, Landman had a cleaner start than yellow stone. Paramount Western's original two-part opening episode was well executed, but the first season is one of the worst in the series. yellow stone franchise. The pacing is strange, the characters make some strange deals, and an important family member dies and is never mentioned again. So far, the bar is relatively low for Landman to surpass the first season of yellow stoneand is on the right track after two successful opening episodes.

Landman could be Yellowstone's replacement

It's not impossible, but Landman has a long way to go

Replacing yellow stone It's a big deal, and of course it's too early to say what Landman is capable. Right now, yellow stone has the advantage of a set of characters that has been constantly explored for several seasons. Outside of Kevin Costner's John Dutton, there are unforgettable characters like Beth Dutton, Rip Wheeler and others who seem well-defined and equally essential. The longevity of yellow stone is extremely important to this, as the show improved season by season in the beginning and its audience grew simultaneously.

There is the possibility of Landman will last several seasons, but the series needs to demonstrate more use of its supporting characters. It's the Billy Bob Thornton Show now, and while that's fun in and of itself, part of what it's about is yellow stone works for so long is that it encompasses a broad cast, allowing unique stories to develop over time. Landman It has everything it needs to be something great, but it still needs to prove its worth.