Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Landman’: Breaking Down Episode 5’s Biggest Moments

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Landman’s Episode 5 Raises The Stakes

Let’s start with a recap of Landman episode 4.

If you have never watched Taylor Sheridan’s new hit series, it features Tommy Norris as the main character, played by Billy Bob Thornton. The show follows Tommy’s family and work life as an oil tycoon fixer.

In the previous episode, we witnessed Tommy reunite with his ex-wife, Angela.

Additionally, a court case filed against him was surprisingly dismissed, especially considering that in the first two episodes, it appeared the case would be more significant. If you believed that, you were right, as it returns with a vengeance in episode five.

Watch the full recap of the previous episode below. 

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A Recap Of Episode 5

Landman is back with another roller coaster of an episode, so buckle up. Here is what you missed.

If you remember, a plane was stolen from the company early in the season. The cartel took the plane to smuggle drugs into the U.S., which has been a recurring issue that Tommy has had to deal with.

This time, however, it blew up. Literally.

The plane crashed on their property, leading to a legal battle over what many assumed was Tommy’s negligence. However, in episode four, a lawyer stepped in to defend Tommy and successfully dismissed the lawsuit. This quickly resolved what the season had positioned as a significant plot point.

The same man from the cartel who appeared in the opening scene of the show makes a reappearance to threaten Tommy. He demands payment for the drugs they lost in the plane crash. Tommy exchanges some words with him, but the situation is far from resolved.

One Big Happy Family

In Episode 5, the audience gets its first chance to see the entire Norris family together in one room. Up until this point, the storyline has focused on each family member independently.

Angela organized the dinner, ensuring everything looked perfect. However, their family is far from that.

Cooper and his sister, Ainsley, have a strained relationship. The dinner is filled with awkward silences, as no one knows how to connect with one another. The audience gains a deep understanding of the family dynamics, setting the stage for potentially explosive interactions in the future.

Did Cooper find love?

Early in the season, Cooper’s entire crew at the oil fields was tragically killed in a freak accident. The crew members were all relatives, resulting in the family losing brothers, uncles, husbands, and cousins all in a single day. In an effort to show his respect, Cooper attends the funeral despite having known the man for only a couple of days.

At the funeral, he meets Ariana, played by Paulina Chavez, and they quickly form a bond. Despite being warned to stay away from her, he chooses to ignore the threat and returns to her house in this episode. He mows her lawn, helps her organize her finances, and is there for moral support.

While he is mowing her lawn, Manuel suddenly appears, pointing a gun at Cooper’s face and threatening him to stay away from Ariana. He believes that Ariana is moving on too quickly after her husband’s death and is trying to protect her. However, Ariana does not see it that way. She steps in front of Cooper, shielding him from the gun, and then kisses him.

The episode ends with another gory death in the oil fields, but this time, Angela is there to watch. See how this plays out in the next episode.

Watch the teaser below for episode 6 of Landman.