Landman
Landman is an American drama series, co-created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, that immerses viewers in the high-stakes world of West Texas oil fields. The narrative centers on Tommy Norris, a seasoned landman for an oil company, as he navigates complex land lease negotiations, corporate politics, and dangerous incidents in the pursuit of black gold. The show blends elements of soap opera and crime drama, offering a raw and often gritty portrayal of the energy industry and the lives entwined with it. Target audiences are mature adults, given the series' themes and explicit content. While exploring themes of ambition, family dynamics, and survival in a cutthroat environment, Landman frequently features mature content. It is characterized by intense violence, pervasive strong language, and explicit sexual references, alongside depictions of substance abuse. The series delves into the moral complexities of its characters, often portraying them with a tough, no-nonsense demeanor. Due to its mature themes and graphic content, parental guidance strongly advises against younger viewers.
Concerns
Violence
HighLandman features frequent and graphic violence, including deaths from gunshots, explosions, and brutal beatings. The series does not shy away from depicting severe injuries, close-up shots of charred bodies, and instances of characters sustaining gruesome harm.
In one instance, a truck collision with an airplane results in a large explosion, burning people inside to death, with later close-up shots of charred corpses. Tommy Norris is shown cutting off the tip of his own injured pinky finger onscreen with a knife. In Season 2, Episode 9, Cooper Norris beats a man within an inch of his life after he attempts to assault Ariana, punching him 17 times.
Romance and Sexual Content
HighThe series contains frequent sexual references, explicit innuendo, and some nudity. Discussions and jokes about sexual acts, body parts, and relationships are common, alongside scenes implying sexual activity and featuring partial nudity. There are also references to sex work and masturbation. A scene in Season 2 Episode 9 depicts an attempted sexual assault.
Sexualized breast nudity and brief natural buttock nudity are present. Characters engage in conversations with references to sex, orgasms, erectile dysfunction, and genital size. Tommy's ex-wife, Angela, makes crude jokes about her daughter's boyfriend and suggests she might try to have sex with him if they broke up. In Season 2, Episode 9, Ariana experiences an attempted sexual assault in an alley behind a bar, leading to Cooper intervening violently.
Profanity
HighProfanity is extremely frequent and strong throughout the series, with many instances of offensive language. Multiple sources highlight the pervasive use of expletives in character dialogue.
The f-word is heard nearly 50 to over 100 times in a single episode, and the s-word is used approximately 14 to 35 times. Other strong terms such as 'a--', 'bitch,' 'bastard,' 'damn,' 'dick,' and 'hell' are also used frequently. Additionally, God's name is misused multiple times, including instances followed by 'damn,' and Jesus' name is used in vain.
Substance Use
HighThe series frequently depicts characters using alcohol and tobacco. There are also explicit references to and depictions of illegal drugs and their trade, indicating a pervasive presence of substance-related content.
Characters are frequently shown drinking liquor and beer and smoking cigarettes. The plot includes references to an illegal drug trade, with a plane containing a shipment of cocaine or heroin, and bags of powder being loaded into a truck. A concession-stand worker offers Tommy marijuana gummies, and some characters inject themselves with various supplements. Tommy's son, Cooper, discusses his parents' past drug addictions.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe show contains highly intense and potentially frightening content, primarily stemming from graphic violence, dangerous situations, and a scene of attempted sexual assault. These elements are central to the dramatic tension and often depict dire consequences.
Scenes include an oil pump exploding, killing three workers, and a truck ramming through an airplane, leading to an explosion and charred bodies. Tommy Norris self-amputates part of his finger onscreen after an injury. In Season 2, Episode 9, the attempted sexual assault of Ariana by a man in an alley is a highly intense and disturbing sequence.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumThe series introduces a non-binary character, Paigyn Meester, in Season 2, Episode 9. Their initial portrayal sparked controversy, being described by some as a 'strawman' of liberalism in interactions with Ainsley Norris. However, their character later develops in the Season 2 finale, with Ainsley defending Paigyn from anti-LGBTQ bullies, leading to a more positive and nuanced representation. The actor playing Paigyn, Bobbi Salvör Menuez, is openly trans and non-binary.
In 'Landman' Season 2, Episode 9, Ainsley Norris meets her non-binary roommate, Paigyn, who uses they/them pronouns. Ainsley initially reacts negatively to Paigyn's preferences and lifestyle, describing them as 'like the godless religion' when asking about their name's pronunciation. By the Season 2 finale, Paigyn is shown as a professional sports physio who helps Ainsley, and Ainsley later defends Paigyn from schoolkids harassing them for being nonbinary, leading to a reconciliation and decision to be roommates again.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumCharacters in Landman frequently display disrespect and rebellious attitudes, particularly towards authority figures and societal norms. This is seen in both dialogue and actions, contributing to the show's gritty and often confrontational tone.
Tommy Norris is known for his 'colorfully profane terms' and 'pissy little diatribes' about various societal elements, including 'clean-energy zealots' and 'governmental red tape,' indicating a general rebellious and defiant nature. In Season 2, Episode 9, Ainsley Norris initially shows disrespect towards her non-binary roommate, Paigyn, due to their differing lifestyles and identity, complaining to a school administrator about the situation.
Anti-Christian Themes
MediumThe series includes frequent misuse of sacred names, which can be considered anti-Christian. While one review describes the show as having a 'strong moral worldview with pro-family and other conservative values', the explicit and pervasive profanity, including misuses of God's and Jesus' names, presents conflicting messaging for Christian viewers.
God's name is used in vain eight times in an early episode, including seven instances with 'damn.' Jesus' name is also used in vain four times. In Season 2, Episode 9, Ainsley Norris, upon meeting her non-binary roommate Paigyn, asks if the name is pronounced 'like the godless religion,' which could be interpreted as a disrespectful reference or a slight against differing belief systems, though this characterization is later softened.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThere is no evidence found of explicit witchcraft or occult practices, rituals, or themes being central or significantly present in the series.
No specific examples of witchcraft, sorcery, occult rituals, demons, spells, or explicit supernatural elements were identified in the available content reviews.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Not recommended for viewers under 18. The series contains pervasive strong language, frequent graphic violence, explicit sexual content and nudity, and significant substance abuse, making it suitable only for mature adult audiences.
Additional Notes
The content intensity for Landman appears consistent across the first two seasons, with reviews highlighting significant levels of violence, language, and sexual content from the premiere. The introduction of a non-binary character in Season 2 indicates an evolving scope of social themes. The series has been renewed for a third season, suggesting continued exploration of these mature themes.
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