Landman has had a fair share of controversies, but for the most part, it has been incredible. Created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace and inspired by the podcast series Boomtown, the neo-Western has taken viewers on a wild journey through oil rigs and boardrooms. It also provides insights into the personal lives of those who work hard to ensure the world never runs out of oil.
Season 2 of Landman just ended, and fans will have to wait until at least November for another season. That’s a long time, and fans might be wondering what else they can watch in the meantime. Thankfully, there is no shortage of great shows that explore the oil industry while sprinkling in a little (or a lot of) family drama. Some are way more technical than the Paramount+ series, while others are a little inferior. Still, they are all enjoyable.
10
‘The Son’ (2017 – 2019)
In 2013, Philip Meyer wrote one of the greatest Western novels of all time, becoming a finalist for the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. A few years later, the book would be adapted into The Son, a TV show starring Pierce Brosnan as a powerful, ruthless cattle baron turned oilman. Eager to ensure his empire passes down to generations, he fights hard to keep it running.
Even though it wasn’t nominated for any Emmys, The Son is that rare thing in the television landscape today: a smart human drama. In a smart stroke of casting true-to-type, Brosnan is superb as the dapper baron. The rest of the cast members back him well, and when it comes to cinematography, few shows come close. This is yet another show that ought to have stayed on air for multiple seasons… but as they say… it is what it is.
9
‘The Troubleshooters’ (1965 – 1972)
The Troubleshooters sure feels a lot like Landman. Kinda like Tommy Norris, Brian Stead (Geoffrey Keen), the show’s initial central character, is a ruthless COO for Mogul Oil, who ensures all operations run smoothly. Later episodes focus on “troubleshooters” like Peter Thornton (Ray Barrett) and Alec Stewart (Robert Hardy), who move around the globe to handle sabotage, industrial accidents, and political problems.
Blending field adventure with corporate machinations, The Troubleshooters excels by educating viewers on the dark side of the oil industry. And so accurate is it that it also predicted a few global events. For example, Mogul took over a chemical company in one episode, only for BP to do the same a few days later. Additionally, the show predicted that some engineers and workers would live in underwater houses to probe seabeds for oil. This became true.
8
‘Dynasty’ (1981 – 1989)
Forget the reboot. In the original (and superior) Dynasty, the Carringtons live in Denver, and the patriarch, Blake (John Forsythe), is an oil magnate. One of the most powerful men in the land, he often finds himself in numerous scandals, though most of them are family-related. So, if you love Landman for the Ainsley-Angela-Cooper stuff more than the corporate stuff, this is the kind of show to watch.
Solid long-running soap operas abound, but only a few pack the wallop of this highly intense, twist-packed show from the great writer-producer couple Richard and Esther Shapiro. Beyond the endless kissing scenes and the Carringtons’ inhumane, unbearable treatment of others, the ABC series shakes us up even more with the unconventional business practices and the perilous and selfless acts of kindness by those who do not play by Blake’s rulebook. You’ll never have a dull moment.
7
‘Blood & Oil’ (2015)
The North Dakota “Bakken” boom made a lot of people rich, and Blood & Oil uses it as a canvas on which to paint its fictional tale. The main characters are Billy LeFever (Chace Crawford) and his wife, Cody (Rebecca Rittenhouse), a young couple who move to the region hoping to get rich from oil. Unfortunately for them, a major obstacle emerges in the form of ruthless oil tycoon Hap Briggs (Don Johnson).
Even though it isn’t based on any real people, Blood & Oil never feels far removed from the actual world we live in. The oil-related plots are great, but the tales of personal conquest and romantic derring-do really make for a naughty, entertaining viewing experience. Showrunner Jon Harmon Feldman is gifted at examining the recurrent peccadilloes and shocking sexual mores among the elite, but nothing ever feels redundant or overwrought. It’s a shame the show only lasted a single season.
6
‘Roughnecks’ (1994 – 1995)
In the vivid nail-biter that is Roughnecks, the underused, underrated Liam Cunningham (better known for portraying Davos Seaworth in Game of Thrones) gives a flawless performance as a man who must do his job while bearing life-threatening working conditions. The series centers on the professional and personal lives of the crew of the fictional “The Osprey Explorer” oil rig in the North Sea.
The sheer technical and visual brilliance of Roughnecks offers no hint of the extremely arduous conditions under which the show was made. According to Filming in Scotland, offshore filming was undertaken at the oil rig Dan Countess, which wasn’t in use but didn’t have the best on-set environment. And you won’t get over the main theme, written by composer Mike Post, who has done extensive work in shows such as Law & Order and Magnum P.I.
5
‘Rig 45’ (2018 – 2020)
Imagine if Landman had an extended murder mystery plot. That’s what Rig 45 looks like, a show that expertly addresses “Big Oil” negligence. Here, Andrea (Catherine Walker), a damage regulator for Benthos Oil, is tasked with investigating a fatal accident at a rig during the festive season. The crew refuses to cooperate, and when a hurricane cuts all communication, another worker mysteriously dies. Someone’s killing people!
Taut, fast-paced, and suspenseful, Rig 45 is not to be missed. Even with momentary distractions, the show’s main dramatic tension derives from Walker’s character, and our appreciation of one regulator’s lonely, desperate predicament. Each development makes the viewer sympathetic to Andrea’s impossible position, but there are a few moments when we begin to question her motives. Will the murders ever get solved? And will Benthos get back on track?
4
‘State of Happiness’ (2018 – 2024)
Described by some media houses as the Scandi-Mad Men, State of Happiness covers the implications – financial, personal, and environmental – of the 1969 discovery of the Ekofisk oil field. The main characters include Anna Hellevik (Anne Regine Ellingsæter), a farm girl who secures a job as a secretary in an oil firm, her fiancé Christian Nyman (Amund Harboe/Paal Herman Ims), a deep-sea diver, Toril Torstensen (Malene Wadel), a rig worker from a religious family, and Jonathan Kay (Bart Edwards), an attorney for Phillip’s Petroleum
Undoubtedly one of the all-time champs in Scandi-TV, but definitely not for the anti-slow-burn, the occasionally heart-wrenching series received five Gullruten (Norwegian version of the Emmys) awards from among eight nominations in 2019, including Best Drama Series and another five wins from nine nominations, for its second season. You’ll love most things, especially how the show humanizes its characters, emphasizing their disconnection from the brutal professional world they are reluctantly forced into, as well as heightening the absurd, naive nature of all the supporting players.
3
‘The Oil Fund’ (2018 – 2019)
Landman often forgets to tell you that the government gets massive tax income from the oil industry. But how is it managed? In Norway, there is the Norwegian Pension Fund (Oljefondet), established to ensure the money is invested in future generations. In The Oil Fund, those in charge of the fund have mutual antipathy, resulting in plenty of comical moments. Still, they must learn to co-exist.
Another of maverick producer-writer Harald Zwart’s hilarious yet consciousness-raising social shows, this tale proves a potent metaphor for government bureaucracy, all while highlighting the benefits of the oil industry. With running times of 20–30 minutes, the episodes feel precise and impactful, leaving viewers eager to change careers. You’ll need to read subtitles, but it’s all worth it.
2
‘Oil Strike North’ (1975)
Oil Strike North studies the lives of rig workers and shows the impact that the job has on their families and friends. It’s kinda like having an entire series about Landman’s Cooper and the rest of the gang. The show’s main characters work at Nelson One, a North Sea oil rig owned by the fictional company Triumph Oil.
Virtually simultaneous with the oil crisis of the 1970s, this engrossing adventure provides great historical lessons while eloquently presenting a case for the end of monopoly. The show goes where no other has gone before, and the storylines never dip in quality. Unfortunately, only one season was ever made, a shame considering how likable the characters are.
1
‘Dallas’ (1978 – 1991)
Reputed for its cliffhangers, Dallas remains iconic to this day. Set against the backdrop of the high-stakes Texas oil industry, the soap opera covers the mischief of the wealthy Ewings, with most events taking place at their sprawling Southfork Ranch. Major conflicts put the corrupt, power-hungry J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) against his moral brother, Bobby (Patrick Duffy), and various business rivals.
Dallas suggests that even in elite circles, life is never as paradise, as evidenced by the numerous crisis moments that often pop up. As with other celebrated soap operas, the show’s inherent pathos is leavened with lots of romantic moments. However, the show isn’t just a family story. Early seasons heavily focus on “wildcatting,” an area Landman often touches on, too. Beyond that, there’s politics, with the Office of Land Management (OLM) being used to fight personal wars.
Which other show has Landman’s DNA?
- Release Date
-
November 17, 2024
- Network
-
Paramount
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
