Why ‘Landman’ should be your first binge on Paramount+
Why ‘Landman’ should be your first binge on Paramount+
Billy Bob Thornton leads a high-stakes drama set in the ruthless world of Texas oil.
When I think Paramount+, my brain usually goes straight to the “Yellowstone” universe that includes “1883” and “1923” — or maybe those big franchise shows like “Star Trek” and “NCIS.” But if you just signed up for the platform, there’s one drama I think you should hit play on first. I’m talking about “Landman.” It’s gritty, smart, and totally gripping, with Billy Bob Thornton delivering one of those performances that just locks you in. Here’s why “Landman” is the must-watch drama on Paramount+ if you’re a brand new subscriber.
Top drama TV show to stream first when you sign up for Paramount+
Why ‘Landman’ is the must-watch drama on Paramount+
If you just signed up for Paramount+ and haven’t hit play on “Landman” yet, you’re missing the show that’s built for this platform. Taylor Sheridan — the same guy who turned “Yellowstone” into a TV juggernaut over on Peacock — is back doing what he does best: throwing big personalities into even bigger moral messes. But this time, it’s not ranchland that’s at stake. It’s oil. Money. Legacy. And Billy Bob Thornton is right in the thick of it.
I grew up in Alberta (the “Texas” of Canada), so this one hit home fast. I’ve got friends still working in the oil patch, and while “Landman” definitely dials the drama up to 1000x, it gets the vibe dead right. In fact, most of my oil field working friends have watched the show too and love it because of how well it captures their lifestyle. The boomtown chaos, the quiet pride in roughneck work, the huge, flat skies that stretch out forever… it all feels familiar. Sheridan’s version is messier, meaner, funnier, and way more explosive, but the world he builds? It’s a (mostly) honest look at what it’s like to pull oil out of the ground.
Billy Bob Thornton plays Tommy Norris, a crisis manager whose job is basically to keep the whole machine from blowing up… while quietly lighting a few fires himself in classic Billy Bob fashion. The guy oozes charm and menace in equal parts. He’s the kind of character who’ll smile while cutting your knees out from under you. And Thornton plays it with such quiet control that even when he’s just standing there, you feel the pressure mounting. The show moves at a slow boil, but the stakes are sky-high, and when things erupt, it hits hard.
What really makes “Landman” work is that it’s not just about oil, but power. Who has it, who’s losing it, and what people will do to hang onto it. Every deal has strings. Every character has secrets. You’ve got corrupt CEOs, cartel enforcers, climate activists, and old-school oilfield hands all colliding in West Texas, and Sheridan keeps it tight with that trademark mix of sharp dialogue, great tension-building, and sudden, brutal turns.
Also, this show just looks phenomenal. The wide shots of pumpjacks silhouetted against orange skies, the hard sun beating down on backroom deals, the dust rising as trucks roll across the plains — the show has a style that feels cinematic without trying too hard. It’s gritty, grounded, and steeped in place. So, if you just signed up for Paramount+ and you’re wondering where to start? This is it. “Landman” is smart, intense, and impossible to turn off once you start.
What is ‘Landman’ about?
“Landman” follows Tommy Norris, a crisis manager for an oil company in West Texas who’s constantly putting out fires, both literal and political. He’s the guy big oil execs call when things go sideways: rig accidents, land disputes, cartel threats, environmental scandals. Tommy’s job is to smooth it over fast and quietly, even if it means cutting deals with people you probably shouldn’t trust. Played by Billy Bob Thornton, he’s part fixer, part middleman, and part enforcer… someone who understands the game and isn’t afraid to bend the rules when the pressure’s on.
But this world isn’t just about big business. It’s about the people caught in the middle. From roughneck workers trying to survive the boom-and-bust cycle to billionaires playing chess with land rights, “Landman” digs into the messy, high-stakes politics of the oil industry. There are climate activists, border tensions, cartel ties, and family drama all swirling through the story. Every episode adds another layer of ambition, corruption, and personal cost. It’s a gritty, fast-moving drama that turns the oil field into a battlefield where power comes at a price and no one gets out clean.
Other must-stream drama shows on Paramount+
If you’re wondering what else to watch after “Landman,” your next move should be “MobLand.” This one’s a slow-burn crime series with a loaded cast: Tom Hardy plays the fixer caught between rival crime families, Pierce Brosnan brings quiet menace as the brains behind it all, and Helen Mirren owns the screen as the matriarch you don’t want to cross. It’s got old-school mob drama vibes, but with a sharp, modern edge.
Another solid pick is “1923,” especially if you like your drama with a historical backdrop. It’s a “Yellowstone” prequel, but you don’t need to know anything about that universe to dive in. Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren (again!) lead this one, playing a frontier couple holding it all together through drought, disease, and economic collapse. It’s got big Western energy, beautiful cinematography, and more than a few moments that’ll knock the wind out of you.
And if you want something darker and more grounded, “Mayor of Kingstown” brings gritty, street-level drama to the table. Jeremy Renner stars as a power broker trying to keep the peace between gangs, cops, and prisons in a town that lives and breathes the criminal justice system. It’s bleak, tense, totally absorbing, and a perfect follow-up if you liked the morally messy world of “Landman.”
Paramount Plus
Paramount+ is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 40,000+ TV show episodes from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., and more. Get free access with a Walmart+ subscription.
Paramount+ includes “1883,” “Tulsa King,” “Star Trek: Discovery,” “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and “PAW Patrol.” Subscribers can watch the NFL, college football, The Masters, college basketball, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Serie A, and NWSL. The service also offers the option to watch your live CBS affiliate. The upgraded ad-free package includes premium movies and shows from Showtime.