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Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Landman season 1, episode 10!Landman delivers a gripping ending with a massive, 80-minute season finale. "The Crumbs of Hope" closes out the Paramount+ show in a satisfying way that leaves room for future stories. The end of Landman episode 9 saw Tommy (Billy Bob Thornton) get a call from Cami (Demi Moore), hinting that Monty (Jon Hamm) is in a dire situation. Episode 10 confirms this at the start, with the oil tycoon needing a heart transplant he may not be strong enough to get. But this is just the setup to the finale, which sees every single story finally come to a head.
Set in West Texas, this series explores the world of oil rigs and the fortunes they create. It portrays a modern upstairs/downstairs narrative of roughnecks and billionaires, highlighting the profound impact on the climate, economy, and geopolitics in these boomtowns.
Release Date November 17, 2024
Character(s) Tommy Norris , Angela Norris , Cooper Norris , Rebecca Falcone , Sheriff Walt Joeberg , Dale Bradley , Cami Miller , Monty Miller , Nathan , Ellie , Dakota Loving , Abilene , Barney , Isabel , Boss , Manuel , Antonio , Armando , Luis Medina , Jimenez , Elvio Medina
Creator(s) Taylor Sheridan , Christian Wallace
Seasons 1
Writers Taylor Sheridan , Christian Wallace
The Norris Family Stories Finally Reach Their Conclusions
Ainsley & Cooper Have A Big Focus In The Finale
Custom image by Sean Morrison
While Tommy deals with the new circumstances Monty's incapacity has brought upon the oil company, his children, Ainsley (Michelle Randolph) and Cooper (Jacob Lofland), are finding their own places in the world with lighter storylines. While Ainsley has been controversial throughout the series, her most discomforting moment happened when she successfully got Ryder (Mitchell Slaggart) to become a male stripper for nursing home residents. The scene was tinged with an uncomfortable layer that, ultimately, was peeled away to reveal a wholesome love story taking shape between the pair.
This is emphasized when he spends the night with her, ultimately sleeping together in bed beside one another. This moment appears in contrast to her previous boyfriend, Dakota (Drake Rodger), who, in the series premiere, didn't want a genuine romantic relationship with her. Although some elements of her story can feel oversexualized at points, the controversy surrounding her character doesn't prevent her reward from feeling earned by the end. She finally achieved the relationship she's always wanted, and, given the strip club storyline, it seems like Ryder will be around for quite some time.
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Landman Season 1, Episode 9 Review: Angela & Ainsley Are Way Too Removed From The Main Storyline Ahead Of A High-Octane Finale
After the shocking end to last week's episode, Landman season 1, episode 9 lays the groundwork for the finale as endings and beginnings collide.
However, out of all the characters in Landman, Cooper continues to stand out as a light in the darkness. His plans to unite various landowners and create an oil empire is starting to take shape, managing to sign deals that will see him and his partners make lucrative profits in the future. After the layers of suffering he's been through since the show began, it's nice to see him getting some wins. However, this is contrasted by Ariana (Paulina Chavez) sorting through Elvio's (Alejandro Akara) belongings, deciding what to donate and what to keep.
This culminates in Cooper coming home while she's looking at photo albums of her and Elvio's wedding, trying to hide her tears by running into the bathroom. He's able to uncover the truth without much effort, deciding to sit with her and go through the album together. This elevates Cooper and Ariana's romance, as it's clear their love for one another can transcend the tragedy that brought them together. It's a nuanced scene that is earned after all the pain they've endured together, and makes it clear they very well might have a long future together.
Tommy's New Role Doesn't Stop The Cartel's Threatening Presence
He Finally Confronts Their Leader In A Highly-Anticipated Climax
On Tommy's side of the story, he becomes president of Monty's oil company, forced to organize a deal with selling off land while his friend is at death's door. This leads to a grief-laden series of phone calls with Rebecca (Kayla Wallace), Nate (Colm Feore), and Angela (Ali Larter), over which he slowly comes to terms with the probability his friend is going to die. Despite their conflict in Landman episode 8, Tommy and Rebecca are able to make an alliance because of Monty's wishes, with him putting her in charge of getting the deal sorted out.
Demi Moore also gets a chance to shine as Cami, as her presence has been sorely missing throughout the majority of the season.
But things quickly get ugly for Tommy, who is captured by the cartel and forced to watch them blow up an oil well. However, he's undeterred, explaining how many organizations they've likely drawn to the area because of their decision. Things don't bode well for the titular landman, however, as he gets taken underneath a strip club and tortured, the cartel intending to use his death as a message for his oil company. It's the first time he's been in imminent danger, something that resonates thanks to a short scene showing no one knows where he is, and isn't concerned.
The intensity of the whole ordeal weighs on the audience just as much as the main character, but also emphasizes how different the show's future might be.
Luckily, the cartel's real leader appears and guns down his own men, offering an alliance to Tommy. However, he declines, laying out how they can be friendly but not friends. While this doesn't alleviate his stress over what happened to Monty, it does take the cartel off his back for now. As president, however, it's possible he'll be running into them again, even if it's on lighter terms. The intensity of the whole ordeal weighs on us just as much as the main character, but also emphasizes how different the show's future might be.
Landman Sets The Stage For A Very Different Season 2
A Character Death Cements Tommy's New Role
Custom image by Simone Ashmoore
While Dale (James Jordan) is driving Tommy home, Monty ends up dying on his hospital bed. This sad moment is compounded by the knowledge that Thornton's character is now president, giving him new responsibilities going forward. This sets the stage for a possible Landman season 2, which sees him no longer working as the titular profession, but instead trying to run the company instead. The show leaves the results of the land sale and Tommy's next move up to interpretation, opting for a family-oriented final moment instead.
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Landman Season 1, Episode 8 Review: Explosive Confrontations Set The Stage For A Dangerous New Era In The Norris Family Saga
Landman season 1, episode 8 elevates the show's dramatic tension, as characters' clashing ideals mount conflict that will challenge the Norris family.
In one last conversation between Tommy and Angela, he confessed she was on his mind at the moment he believed he would die. After the emotional exchange, he limps outside and sees another coyote in his backyard, sniffing at the dead one from the previous episode. He offers it a warning: "You better run, buddy. They kill coyotes around here." This final line is a symbolic one regarding his circumstances, indicating both the harshness Tommy had to face and the potential change he'll need to endure moving forward.
By wrapping up narratives in satisfying ways and leaving plenty of space for even more stories to come, Landman season 1, episode 10 proves to be one of the best episodes of the entire show. Strong performances are elevated by writing that helps parallel different events from earlier in the show, helping the series come full circle as the Norris family finds their footing in a new world. While Tommy's struggles aren't over, the show ends in a strong spot that leaves the future to the imagination — for now.
All episodes of Landman are now streaming on Paramount+.
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Pros
- The Norris kids get satisfying conclusions to their stories, both offering bright futures ahead.
- The cartel storyline is neatly wrapped up with some hints about their future appearances.
- Tommy's new role means season 2 could be on the horizon.
- Memorable ending with symbolic final words that enhance the show's last episode.
English (US) ·