Critic’s Rating: 4.05 / 5.0
4.05
If there’s one thing Landman (not to mention countless reality TV shows) has proven, it’s that messy people and messy lives make for great TV.
Landman Season 1 Episode 4, “The Sting of Second Chances,” keeps leaning into that chaos, and I’m eating it up.
Sure, the oil industry is the backdrop, but this show is all about the people — flawed, funny, frustrating, and somehow relatable even when they’re making terrible decisions.
(Emerson Miller/Paramount+)
Let’s start with Angela and Ainsley, who open the episode doing aerobics in their underwear in Nate’s living room.
Poor Nate. Imagine trying to do lawyer things with two human hurricanes turning your house into a liability waiting to happen.
(Emerson Miller/Paramount+)
Angela’s the kind of person who thrives on chaos, and Ainsley is her perfect sidekick. They’re loud, bold, and not the least bit sorry about it — and I respect the hell out of that.
Critics might call it ridiculous, but let’s be honest: real people are ridiculous. That’s what makes them fun.
Angela and Ainsley aren’t the kind of characters you see every day, and maybe that’s why they’ve ruffled some feathers.
Angela is unapologetically brash, while Ainsley — her mini-me — is figuring out how to channel her mother’s boldness. They don’t fit into a neat mold, and why should they?
Not everyone is built for quiet reflection and soft-spoken moments.
Angela may be loud, and Ainsley may be a handful, but together, they bring humor, energy, and, let’s be real, a little chaos to a world that’s otherwise rough and cold.
(Emerson Miller/Paramount+)
But Angela isn’t just here for laughs. Her tearful story about losing everything after the oil market crash is a gut punch, and it reminds us that the characters on Landman are grappling with very real stakes.
She might be dramatic, but there’s depth under all that bravado.
And her complicated relationship with Tommy?
That’s the kind of messy love we don’t talk about much anymore — the kind where passion and dysfunction walk hand in hand. Sure, it’s flawed, but it’s real. People like Angela and Tommy don’t make sense on paper, but they make sense to each other.
(Emerson Miller/Paramount+)
Tommy’s relationship with Ainsley, on the other hand, strikes a different chord. Some critics have gone so far as to call it inappropriate, which frankly feels like they’re missing the point.
This isn’t some shadowy, sinister dynamic; it’s a father and daughter trying to find their way back to each other. Ainsley idolizes Tommy, even if she’s still figuring out what that means.
And Tommy? He’s trying, in his gruff, awkward way, to be the dad she needs. He’s not perfect — he’s far from it — but his love for her is clear.
They’re both navigating uncharted waters, and the honesty of that struggle is what makes their relationship compelling.
And then there’s Rebecca, who’s coming into her own as a character. Watching her dismantle those attorneys in the deposition was immensely satisfying, and her dynamic with Tommy continues to evolve in unexpected ways.
You can almost see her reassessing him after meeting Angela and Ainsley — maybe realizing that the grumpy, chain-smoking oilman has more layers than she thought.
(Emerson Miller/Paramount+)
Rebecca may still cling to her idealism, but you can tell she’s starting to understand that life — and people — are a lot more complicated than she’d like to believe.
Meanwhile, Cooper’s arc continues to shine in the background. His transition from greenhorn to capable worker is unfolding in a way that feels earned.
The rig scenes this hour, with their intense focus on the physicality and danger of the job, are classic Taylor Sheridan. They don’t just look cool — they make you feel the weight of the work.
When a coworker’s arm is mangled, Cooper steps up without hesitation. It’s a big moment for him, not just as a worker but as someone proving his worth in a brutal environment.
(Emerson Miller/Paramount+)
Monty’s backstory adds another layer to the episode, showing us why he’s so good at thriving in chaos. His ability to make a fortune in busts rather than booms mirrors the resilience we see in characters like Tommy and Cooper.
Their conversation about the revamped well producing 250 barrels a day is a small but significant moment, a reminder that, in this world, survival often depends on finding success in the darkest times.
But let’s get back to what makes Landman stand out: its unapologetically messy portrayal of love and family.
Angela, Ainsley, and Tommy don’t fit into anyone’s idealized vision of how families should behave, and that’s okay.
Angela’s wild, Ainsley’s headstrong, and Tommy’s just trying to hold it all together. It’s not perfect — it’s not even close — but it’s theirs.
The critics who see something darker or more insidious in Tommy and Ainsley’s relationship seem to have forgotten what real family love looks like. It’s imperfect, awkward, and full of missteps, but it’s genuine.
(Emerson Miller/Paramount+)
Maybe it’s easier to critique than to admit that not all bonds fit into neat, shiny packages.
“The Sting of Second Chances” is Landman at its best — messy, complicated, and deeply human.
The characters aren’t perfect, and their choices won’t always make you cheer, but that’s what makes them feel real.
Whether it’s Tommy navigating his personal chaos, Cooper proving himself in the field, or Rebecca learning to roll with the punches, this show thrives on the humanity of its characters.
Life is messy. Love is messy. And that’s what keeps Landman so compelling.
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