Premise: Taylor Sheridan’s “Landman” portrays the oil industry as inevitable and addictive, akin to drug cartels
, mirroring current geopolitical rhetoric regarding U.S. dominance and deregulation.
Critique: Juhasz argues that while the show attempts to romanticize the industry, the depiction of its destructive reality turns the series into an indictment rather than propaganda.
Political Context: The essay notes that fossil fuel dependency is political, not technical, contrasting the show’s fatalism with the viability of energy transitions.
Reflecting Dangerous Realities
Workplace Hazards: The show features gruesome deaths via explosions, poisoning, and accidents. The protagonist, Tommy Norris, is portrayed as a broken man cleaning up disasters and warning his son against joining the industry.
Real-World Statistics: Oil and gas extraction is the second deadliest job in the U.S., with a fatality rate five times the national average.
Art Imitating Life: Recent real-world fatalities in the Permian Basin mimic the violent deaths depicted in the series, reinforcing the show’s dark realism.
Industry Reaction and Public Sentiment
Lobbying Response: The American Petroleum Institute purchased seven-figure ad spots to counter the show’s negative imagery, highlighting a need for positive PR.
Public Opinion: 60% of Americans prioritize expanding wind and solar over fossil fuels.
Worker Outlook: Despite record production, the industry is shedding jobs due to automation, and many workers view green energy as the future.
The Future of Energy
The Transition: Characters within the show admit the oil era is ending. While the protagonist argues against the cleanliness of renewables, Juhasz cites experts stating 100% renewable energy is possible by 2035.
Forced Relevance: The essay argues the industry maintains relevance by pushing petroleum-based plastics and goods rather than transitioning.
Hellish Imagery: The show’s dominant visual language involves gas flares and fire, creating a “hellscape” where characters refer to themselves as “demons.”
