The Paramount+ series Landman throws viewers into the high-stakes world of West Texas oil, complete with fiery rigs, cartel standoffs, and coffee served by baristas in bikinis. As fans get hooked on the drama, a big question keeps coming up: how much of this is real? The show’s co-creator, Christian Wallace, is the man with the answers. With a background as an oil roughneck and as the host of the Boomtown podcast the show is based on, Wallace works to balance real-life grit with the need for thrilling television.
Billy Bob Thornton stars as Tommy Norris, a fixer for the powerful M-Tex Oil company. While Tommy’s job involves exciting action like stopping well blowouts, real-life landmen have a different daily routine. Their work is more about research, negotiations, and handling complex paperwork. Wallace admits the show combines many real jobs into Tommy’s character to make the story move. He says the goal is to entertain first but to stay as true to the oil field culture as possible.
The Real Stories Behind the Dramatic Scenes
Many viewers find some parts of Landman hard to believe, but Christian Wallace states that the most shocking moments are often pulled from reality. In a recent interview, he pointed to specific examples that are grounded in truth.
One scene that sparked many questions shows a worker tragically crushed by pipes on a rig. Wallace confirmed this was inspired by a real accident his uncle, a longtime oil field worker, told him about. Another detail that seems exaggerated is the presence of bikini-clad baristas at roadside coffee stands. Wallace says this is a real part of the boomtown economy, a topic he even covered in an episode of his Boomtown podcast.
“Some of the things that almost seem unbelievable are actually based on reality,” Wallace told Deadline.
The show also portrays criminal activity like oil theft and cartel operations in the region. Wallace clarifies that while the specific relationship between the cartel and the fictional M-Tex company is made up, the general threat is real. He notes that drug trafficking and equipment theft are ongoing issues in the area, calling parts of West Texas “the wild west”.
Where the Show Takes Creative Shortcuts
To keep the story exciting and easy to follow, the Landman team makes deliberate choices to simplify complex situations. Wallace is on set every day to advise on realism, but he also understands the need for these adjustments.
Technical processes on a drilling rig are extremely complicated. The show uses visual shortcuts to explain them quickly. For instance, a character might look at a pressure gauge that signals danger. In reality, that gauge might not work exactly that way, but it helps the audience instantly understand the problem. The goal is to translate a highly technical industry into clear visual storytelling.
The character of Tommy Norris himself is a creative shortcut. A real landman might spend most of their day at a courthouse or on a computer reviewing leases. Tommy, however, is shown doing the jobs of many different people. He negotiates deals, handles field emergencies, and deals with security threats. This lets the show explore various facets of the oil industry through a single character.
How Real Oil Experts View the Show
The American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL) became involved with Landman early on. They provided the production with information and even helped get the title right—it’s “Landman,” not “Land Man”. Their weekly podcast breaks down each episode, separating fact from fiction for interested viewers.
Real landmen like Julie Woodard, a senior vice president at the AAPL, see value in the show despite its drama. She agrees that while landmen don’t typically face daily life-or-death encounters, the show highlights the job’s complexity and moral challenges. The negotiation of deals and the balance between business interests and ethics are portrayed, even if in a heightened way.
Kyle Reynolds, president of the AAPL, compares it to medical dramas. Just as people don’t think hospitals operate exactly like Grey’s Anatomy, viewers likely understand that Landman amplifies the excitement. He believes any attention that starts a conversation about the vital role of the energy industry is positive.
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The Balance Between Truth and Entertainment
Christian Wallace’s unique role bridges the worlds of journalism and Hollywood. Coming from a fact-based podcasting background, he initially focused on absolute accuracy. He says collaborating with Taylor Sheridan taught him a key lesson about their primary mission.
“Our mission is to entertain first,” Wallace explained to Variety.
This philosophy guides every choice. They use real drilling rigs and hire real roughnecks as extras to create an authentic environment. The attitudes and big personalities of characters like Tommy, his ex-wife Angela (Ali Larter), and daughter Ainsley (Michelle Randolph) are inspired by the bold people Wallace knows from West Texas. However, the plotlines are condensed and amplified for maximum drama.
The result is a show that those inside the industry have praised for getting many details right, from the specific language used on a rig to the economic tensions in a boomtown. Wallace notes that even skeptical family members who work in the oil fields have acknowledged the show’s authenticity. Landman is now streaming on Paramount+, with new episodes releasing weekly.
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