Billy Bob Thornton delivers a standout performance in the new Paramount+ series Landman. Created by Taylor Sheridan, the drama dives into the high-stakes world of oil drilling, where every company relies on a "landman" — the person responsible for securing drilling rights, managing employees, and ensuring operations run smoothly, even if it means bending the law.
Thornton plays Tommy Norris, the landman at the center of the story, who proves his mettle in the series' intense premiere, which aired Sunday 11/17. The first episode opens with a dramatic sequence: a drug lord’s plane crashes on a company-owned private road, leading to a deadly, fiery collision with a tractor-trailer. Tommy steps in to handle the crisis, showcasing his unflinching dedication to his job.
However, his commitment to work comes at a personal cost. Tommy has a strained relationship with his son, Cooper (Jacob Lofland, Justified), who has opted for the grueling, entry-level position of "worm" on an oil derrick crew for the same company. Tommy maintains a closer bond — though still a distant one — with his 17-year-old daughter, Aynsley (Michelle Randolph, 1923), who lives with his ex-wife, Angela (Ali Larter, Heroes).
Landman is off to a gripping start, with Thornton bringing depth and complexity to a character caught between professional ambition and personal sacrifice.
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