The ending ofLandmanseason 1 was able to beat Taylor Sheridan’sYellowstoneseason 5, part 2 in one major way: through the death of one major character. Even though it marked the end of one of the biggest TV sensations in recent memory, theending ofYellowstonedidn’t fully live up to the hype. Many longtime fans found fault withYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, and one of the most common criticisms was how it handled the deaths of its major characters. None of the show’s major deaths were very satisfying, butLandmanhad no such problem.
In contrast toYellowstone, theending ofLandmanseason 1was one of the Taylor Sheridan show’s stronger episodes. It moved quite a few of its converging stories forward, shone a spotlight on some underutilized characters, and left the door wide open forLandmanseason 2. One of the things it did best, however, was also exactly whatYellowstonedid worse.Landmanhandled the death of one of its major characters significantly better thanYellowstonedid, and it may be proof thatLandmancould be Taylor Sheridan’s next major TV franchise.
Yellowstone Season 5’s Biggest Deaths Didn’t Land The Way They Should Have
John, Jamie, & Sarah Atwoods' Deaths In Yellowstone All Felt Underwhelming In Some Way
There were three major deaths inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2: John Dutton III (Kevin Costner), Jamie (Wes Bentley), and Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri). Unfortunately, all three of their deaths were underwhelming in their own ways. John’s death was rushed afterKevin Costner leftYellowstone, so he simply died in his sleep instead of going out fighting.Meanwhile,Jamie’s fate inYellowstoneand Beth’s revenge was anti-climactically jammed into the end of the show despite being built up for multiple seasons. Even Sarah’s death was more of a shock twist than a fitting end to a villain of her stature.
Every Yellowstone Spin-Off Explained
With the massive popularity of Yellowstone, it’s no surprise that Paramount decided to branch into spinoffs, but they can be hard to keep track of.
After making fans wait years to see how all ofYellowstone’s intriguing plots could be satisfyingly resolved, the show floundered at the last minute.Instead of giving John a warrior’s death, he was quickly and messily disposed of to make room for other characters. Instead of giving Beth the satisfaction of killing Jamie, Rip burst in to kill him in mere moments. Instead of letting Sarah stew in her failure to tear down the Duttons, she was shot dead right as she started to realize she was in danger. All of them were lacking in some way, but Taylor Sheridan got to fix those mistakes.
Monty’s Landman Death Nailed The Emotion That Yellowstone Was Missing
Even though all ofYellowstoneseason 5, part 2’s major deaths left something to be desired,Landmanproved that Taylor Sheridan can still nail a character’s demise. WhenMonty Miller (Jon Hamm) finally died inLandman, his death didn’t feel rushed or anti-climactic.A lot of that was due to Demi Moore and Billy Bob Thornton’s tremendous acting, as they were able to convey all the grief and tragedy that Monty’s death entailed. For instance, when Cami fully climbs on top of Monty’s lifeless body and begins weeping, she gave the moment an almost uncomfortably heartbreaking quality.
Then, when the moment came, Landman took its time and let the emotions surrounding Monty’s death stew for a while.
The biggest reason Monty’s death felt so much more satisfying that John, Jamie, or Sarah’s was becauseLandmandid a lot more to earn it thanYellowstonedid.Landmanspent the entire season foreshadowing Monty’s heart problems and establishing how important he was not only to M-Tex but also as a friend and husband.Then, when the moment came,Landmantook its time and let the emotions surrounding Monty’s death stew for a while. On top of that, Monty’s death opened new opportunities for the rest of thecast ofLandman’s stories, and the entire ordeal worked much better thanYellowstone’s major deaths.
Is Landman Now Truly Yellowstone’s Replacement?
Landman Has A Lot Of Potential, But Yellowstone Leaves Big Shoes To Fill
It’s clear that Taylor Sheridan was able to getLandmanseason 1 over the finish line better than he could manage withYellowstoneseason 5, part 2. In fact, now thatYellowstoneis over, many viewers may be wondering whetherLandmancould be the replacement show Sheridan has been searching for. It certainly has a lot going for it:Landmanhas a star-studded cast, an extremely strong first season that opened a wealth of new possibilities for season 2, and a story that has enough steam to get to a satisfying conclusion. If Sheridan plays his cards right,Landmancould very well be his new franchise.
Landman True Story & Inspiration Explained: What To Know About The Texas Oil Boom
Landman introduces audiences to the world of the Permian Basin’s oil industry. Here’s the real-life basis for the show’s subject explained.
That being said,Landmanstill has a long way to go before it can really be considered aYellowstonereplacement.One of the biggest advantagesYellowstonehad was how easily it could spawn spinoff shows. Any moment in the nearly 150 years that the Dutton family owned the ranch made for a great premise, and it was extremely easy to create a new ancestor that had their own period-specific problems to overcome.Landmancould conceivably do a spinoff about Cooper (Jacob Lofland) trying to become an oilman himself, but other than that, there’s not much room for growth yet.
Taylor Sheridan’s Upcoming and Potential Series and Movies
1923 season 2
6666 Yellowstone spinoff
Mayor of Kingstown season 4
Tulsa King season 3
Landman season 2
1944 Yellowstone Spinoff
Unconfirmed
For the most part, however, the only thing that will definitively answer whetherLandmanis the newYellowstoneis time.In a few years,Landmanmay introduce enough new characters and interesting parts of Tommy’s backstory to warrant spinoff shows, and it may grow into a franchise unto itself. For now, though, it’s impossible to say what the future holds, or ifLandmancan maintain the momentum its first season built up. On the bright side, no matter what happens,Landmancan still be proud that it beatYellowstonein one key area.
Landman
Cast
Set in West Texas, this series explores the world of oil rigs and the fortunes they create. It portrays a modern upstairs/downstairs narrative of roughnecks and billionaires, highlighting the profound impact on the climate, economy, and geopolitics in these boomtowns.
Yellowstone
Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on June 20, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
