Landman Season 1 kicks off by introducing us to Tommy Norris, a skilled landman working for M-TEX Oil in Texas. His job involves securing land leases and managing daily operations, which often means dealing with local cartels who regularly “borrow” their equipment for drug runs. The series begins with Tommy tied to a chair in a cartel meeting, showing just how dangerous his job can be. Despite the tension, he successfully negotiates a deal, demonstrating his ability to work in this complex environment.

Early in the season, a serious incident occurs when a drug-running plane crashes into a tanker on M-TEX property. This accident brings unwanted attention from the DEA and sets up several season-long conflicts. Tommy handles the situation by working with local law enforcement and trying to minimize the company’s exposure, showing his skill at managing crises. During this time, we’re also introduced to Tommy’s son Cooper, who starts working on an oil rig crew, bringing a fresh perspective to the dangerous world of oil extraction.

The season gets more complicated when Tommy’s ex-wife Angela and their daughter Ainsley move back in with him. Angela leaves her current husband and tries to recreate their old family dynamic. This creates an interesting personal storyline as Tommy balances his dangerous work life with his complex family situation. Meanwhile, Ainsley navigates her own coming-of-age story, including relationships with local boys and trying to understand her parents’ complicated relationship.

A major storyline develops when Cooper becomes romantically involved with Ariana, the widow of a worker killed in a well explosion. This relationship creates tension within the company and the local community, especially with some of the deceased worker’s family members who work in the oil fields. Cooper faces physical violence because of this relationship but remains committed to Ariana, showing his determination and growth as a character.

The show dives deep into the complex relationship between oil companies and drug cartels. When cartel activities start interfering with oil operations, company owner Monty Miller arranges for the Texas National Guard to use their land as a training ground, hoping their presence will deter the cartels. This plan backfires spectacularly when the Guard accidentally kills several cartel members during a training exercise, escalating tensions dramatically.

The situation reaches a breaking point when cartel leader Jimenez kidnaps and tortures Tommy in retaliation. This intense sequence is resolved when another cartel boss, Gallino, intervenes and saves Tommy. Their interaction sets up an interesting dynamic where Gallino expresses interest in legitimate oil business opportunities, suggesting a potential future alliance that blurs the lines between legal and illegal operations.

Throughout the season, we see the development of several key relationships. Rebecca, initially introduced as an antagonistic company lawyer, becomes an important ally to Tommy. The show explores her transition from being primarily focused on protecting the company to understanding the complex human elements of the oil business. Meanwhile, Tommy’s relationship with Monty Miller reveals the often conflicting priorities between profit and safety in the oil industry.

The season takes a dramatic turn when Monty suffers a heart attack and requires emergency surgery. His health crisis forces quick decisions about company leadership and creates uncertainty about M-TEX’s future. As Monty’s condition worsens, Tommy must step up to handle increasingly complex business challenges while dealing with cartel threats and family issues.

In the season finale, several major plot points come together. Monty ultimately dies, leaving Tommy as the new president of M-TEX Oil. This promotion comes with the massive responsibility of handling a $167 million farm-out deal that could either make the company billions or lead to bankruptcy. The deal requires drilling nine initial wells at great expense, with success depending on consistently striking oil. The pressure is immense as Tommy knows one mistake could destroy not just the company but also the financial future of Monty’s family.

The finale also establishes an intriguing potential alliance between Tommy and Gallino’s cartel, suggesting future cooperation between legitimate oil business and cartel interests. This setup creates interesting possibilities for future storylines about the grey areas between legal and illegal operations in the oil industry. Meanwhile, Cooper continues developing his own ambitions in the oil business, with Tommy symbolically warning him about the dangers ahead by comparing him to a coyote that needs to run before it gets killed.

Looking ahead to Season 2, viewers can expect several engaging storylines to develop. Tommy will need to navigate his new role as M-TEX president while trying to make the farm-out deal successful. The relationship between Tommy and Gallino’s cartel will likely become more complex as they explore potential business partnerships. Cooper’s journey to establish himself in the oil business could create tension with his father, especially as his relationship with Ariana continues to develop.

The groundwork laid in Season 1 suggests Season 2 will further explore the intersection of family, business, and crime in the Texas oil industry. We’re likely to see more about how Tommy handles being president of M-TEX, especially with the pressure of the farm-out deal. The show will probably continue to examine the complex relationship between oil companies and cartels, along with the political and environmental concerns that come with oil extraction.

Personal storylines will likely continue to develop as well. Tommy’s relationship with Angela might face new challenges as they try to maintain their reconciliation. Ainsley’s coming-of-age journey will probably continue, perhaps with more focus on her relationship with local quarterback Ryder. Cooper and Ariana’s relationship will likely face new challenges as Cooper pursues his ambitions in the oil industry.

Season 1 successfully established Landman as a show that balances family drama with business intrigue and criminal elements, all set against the backdrop of the Texas oil industry. It showed how personal relationships become entangled with business operations, especially in family businesses where professional and personal lives often overlap. The season ended with enough resolved to feel satisfying while leaving plenty of interesting threads to explore in Season 2.