Things get complicated for Tommy when his ex-wife Angela comes to town.
Here are some random thoughts prompted by “Hell Has a Front Yard” — Episode 3, Season 1 of Landman. Warning: There are scads of spoilers here, so you should wait until you watch before you read.
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- Lots of profanely funny lines for Billy Bob Thornton’s Tommy Norris in this episode — few of which, unfortunately, are printable here. He really got revved up as he explained to litigator Rebecca Savage that, even with the wide use of solar panels, wind turbines and other forms of alternative energy, companies like M-TEX will remain in business because oil is used to manufacture to many products. So there.
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- Tommy and Rebecca are a long way from becoming friends — or even frenemies — but she did appear to hate him a bit less when, while they were surveying the crash site, he killed a rattlesnake that she was too spooked to run away from.
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- Speaking of rattlesnakes: Just last week in another Taylor Sheridan-produced show — Yellowstone, of course — Rip had to kill another rattlesnake before it sunk its fangs into Teeter. Does Sheridan buy snakes in bulk, or does he keep using the same stunt snake over and over?
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- Tommy’s ex-wife Angela showed up in town — supposedly to comfort Ainsley after the latter’s breakup with her hunky boyfriend, but primarily to misbehave, drink too many margaritas at the River Crest Country Club in Fort Worth, and generally annoy the hell out of Tommy. Tommy responded, as is his wont, sarcastically: “Think of all the life lessons you’re teaching our daughter.” But he didn’t seem entirely averse to the notion when, late in the evening, Angela offered to join him between the sheets. It was only when Tommy revealed that Ainsley wants to move in with him for a while that… well, let’s just say her ardor cooled.
- Yes, we were surprised by the brief nudity, too.
- So far, Monty Miller seems steadfast in his refusal to blame Tommy for the various mishaps, OSHA violations, and accidental deaths that have plagued M-TEX Oil. Why? Evidently, Tommy may know where all the bodies are buried, but Monty’s the one who gave him the shovel. Just as important, as Monty reminds an associate, a good fixer is hard to finder: “Every company has a Tommy. You cannot find one without it.”
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- Meanwhile, Cooper managed to recover from the explosion after the deaths of Luis, Armando and Elvio, and set out to find another outfit where he could serve as a newbie (or “worm”), But he was not welcomed by Antonio and Manuel, two crewmen related to victims of the oil rig blow-up. A fight ensued, and Cooper had to rely on his experience as a member of his high-school wrestling team.
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Jacob Lofland and Paulina Chávez in Landman.
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- Later, Cooper received an equally frosty reception when he paid his respects at the home of Armando’s family. But Luis’ widow insisted that Cooper remain for a good meal — and sit by young Ariana, the widow of Elvio. Ariana needs cheering up, and Cooper does his best to make her and her infant child happy. Not surprisingly, this did not go over well with Antonio and Manuel.
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- Boss (Mustafa Speaks of Joe Pickett) added Cooper to his crew. On his first day in the field, however, Manuel, another member of the crew, produces a knife while they’re on their to the work site, and warns Cooper to never, ever, go near Ariana again.
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- Of course, you don’t expect Cooper to heed Antonio’s warning, do you?
Photography: Emerson Miller/Paramount+
