Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Landman’ Just Got Knocked Off by a Techno-Thriller That Makes Every Episode a Cliffhanger

1 week ago 7

Published Feb 3, 2026, 6:38 PM EST

Collier Jennings is an entertainment journalist with a substantial amount of experience under his belt. Collier, or "CJ" to his friends and family, is a dedicated fan of genre films - particularly science fiction, fantasy and comic book adaptations, not to mention all forms of animation animation. This stems from a close bond with his father, who introduced him to these genres via copies of X-Men comics and reruns of the original Ultraman series. Using his near-encyclopedic knowledge and bottomless love of genre, he's been able to tackle a wide variety of articles.

Landman has become a streaming success in recent weeks, topping the charts at its home of Paramount+ and iTunes while also overcoming negative reviews. At first glance, it seems like yet another win for the Taylor Sheridan television empire, but Landman was recently dethroned by the critically acclaimed techno thriller that is Mr. Robot. Per FlixPatrol, Mr. Robot has taken the #5 spot on iTunes' top TV shows list, while Landman has shifted to #6. This shift isn't too surprising once you sit down and watch a few episodes of Mr. Robot; there are plenty of elements that contribute to its must-watch status.

One of those elements is Rami Malek, who plays protagonist Elliot Alderson. Elliot struggles with a host of mental issues, including dissociative identity disorder and clinical depression, and manages them with a combination of cyber-vigilantism and heavy drug use. Soon, Elliot encounters the titular Mr. Robot (Christian Slater) who recruits him into his society of hacktivists. Mr. Robot premiered at a crucial time in television history, as it marked USA Network's shift away from its "blue skies era" while also helping to cement Prestige TV as the new standard for scripted television. Years after its release, Mr. Robot also remains a gripping watch thanks to the way its narrative is constructed.

Each Episode of 'Mr. Robot' is an Exercise in Escalation

Elliot raising his arms with a billboard behind him in Mr. Robot.

Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail seems to have had one single question in mind throughout the series: "How can I make things harder for Elliot?" Each episode ends on a jaw-dropping cliffhanger, delivering major revelations while also keeping the audience hooked for the next installment. The second episode, "eps1.1_ones-and-zer0es.mpeg", is a prime example: during a discussion between Elliot and Mr. Robot, Elliot confesses that he broke a promise to his terminally ill father...leading Mr. Robot to push him off a cliff! This moment winds up taking on a darker meaning when it's revealed that Mr. Robot is one of Elliot's alternate personas that's based on his late father. It also explains why Mr. Robot has been taking off on iTunes. With such a propulsive plot, viewers can't help but watch the entire series!

Ironically, Mr. Robot would inspire its own real-life twist, as Sam Esmail almost got hacked himself! Esmail unpacked the story at a New York Comic Con panel, where he says the so called hacker wanted a spinoff based around Elliot's sister Darlene (Carly Chaikin) and Joey Badass's Leon:

"So I almost got hacked...A couple months ago, I get a phone call, and it's the, you know, 'hey, your Gmail's been compromised, blah blah blah. We need to get some information to help you. I'm like, dude, you have the wrong person to do this. I was actually flattered...I thought it was just a random hack, and it turned out he was a fan."

This story, while hilarious, highlights another way that Mr. Robot still has pull in the modern world. Inspiring someone to try and renew a television series via hacking is not only feasible, but shows how technology has grown by leaps and bounds after Mr. Robot's run.

Person in a radioactive suit spraying a chemical in a foggy background in 'Chernobyl.'

'Mr. Robot' Remains Frighteningly Relevant

The best thrillers are rooted in real-life concerns, and with Mr. Robot, the weaponization of technology is a major reason why it remains a must-watch series. While Elliot and his fellow hacktivists want to utilize their skills to make an actual difference in the world, technology in the real world is often weaponized against women or people of color. Social media is one of the biggest examples; people have used Twitter and Instagram as a method to constantly harass creators or actors until they get their way. Landman's exploration of the oil industry, while full of backstabbing and betrayal, somewhat pales in comparison.

Mr. Robot's resurgence on the streaming charts points to a major shift in the way television is being watched. While slow-paced dramas used to be the major draw, now fast-paced, engaging work is taking off. It also doesn't hurt if you have a great cast and a great hook.