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Taylor Sheridan’s Wild Ride From Yellowstone to Landman
You can't unsee Billy Bob Thornton’s masterclass on alternative energy, and I’m now a full-blown Taylor Sheridan fan.
It’s official y’all: I’m a Taylor Sheridan fan.
I know, I know… “Everybody loves Yellowstone. Everybody's seen Yellowstone.”
It’s not exactly breaking news that Sheridan’s cowboy empire has gained cult status, but honestly: I didn’t love it at first.
I wasn’t immediately sold on the sprawling saga of the Dutton family, all cattle ranches and power struggles. In fact, I kind of rolled my eyes at first when I read the plot early 2024. I don’t know what happened but I found myself getting more and more hooked with every episode.
Then, I just recently came across Lioness…the gritty, military-laden drama starring Zoe Saldaña. That was it. I was in.
Now, with Landman, I’m deep into the Sheridan-verse.
It’s like stepping into a dark, cowboy boot-clad rabbit hole I didn’t realize I wanted to fall into.
Episode 3 of Landman gave me a whole new appreciation for Billy Bob Thornton, and I’m not even talking about his world-class acting chops.
No, what made me stop in my tracks was the rant he delivers on wind energy. Yes, a rant. This was no casual rant. This was a masterclass.
He goes off about the realities of "alternative energy," and I found myself sitting there, nodding, getting completely schooled by this fictional character.
More specifically, I got schooled by Taylor Sheridan’s unapologetically sharp writing.
Billy Bob’s Epic “Alternative Energy” Rant: A Mic Drop Moment
In Landman, Billy Bob plays Tommy Norris, a rough-around-the-edges oilman who’s seen enough of the world to know that things are never as simple as they seem.
His character doesn't mince words, especially when it comes to the oh-so-trendy alternative energy debate.
So, there’s this moment when he’s talking to a big-city lawyer (played by Kayla Wallace), who gets all excited about seeing windmills in the middle of oil country. She’s like, “Oh, they use clean energy to power the oil wells?” And then Billy Bob, deadpan, delivers this brutal, no-holds-barred takedown of “clean” energy:
“You wanna guess how much oil it takes to lubricate that thing or winterize it? In its 20-year lifespan, it won’t offset the carbon footprint of making it.”
Wait. What?
It wasn’t just the words…it was the delivery. This man had memorized a huge chunk of dialogue that any actor would kill for, but it wasn’t just the memorization, it was the way he felt the words.
Every syllable was like a jab in the gut, and it didn’t just feel like a scripted moment. It felt like a guy who’s been around long enough to know the hard truths, and he’s damn well not afraid to speak them.
Sheridan knows what he's doing here. The rant doesn’t just put the “green energy” movement on blast…it makes you think.
He’s not here to scream at you from the left or right, but instead, he’s offering a nuanced perspective that makes you question things you’ve been told without thinking twice.
There’s nothing more sobering than a well-timed mic drop about something you thought you understood. Like, how much oil does it take to run the windmills, huh? Or how about the lithium in your shiny new Tesla battery, and the environmental cost of that? It’s one of those moments that makes you go, “Shit, I never thought of that.”
It’s also a beautiful reminder that Sheridan isn’t afraid to dive into real issues with a sense of blunt, unapologetic realism.
You don’t get that kind of complexity from every show.
Sheridan’s Unique Approach: A Bit of Cowboy Wisdom for the Modern World
Now, let’s be clear here. Taylor Sheridan isn’t out here throwing full-on conspiracy theories at us. He’s simply asking us to think deeper. To ask better questions.
He’s been criticized by some for being "too conservative," but here’s the thing about Sheridan: He’s not about the political side of things…he’s about honesty. He calls out both extremes and doesn’t let anybody off the hook.
In Yellowstone, we see John Dutton (played by Kevin Costner) do the same thing when he’s ripping into the vegan activist Summer Higgins (Piper Perabo). His legendary rant about the price of being a vegan came straight out of a Sheridan playbook.
You ever plow a field to grow your quinoa or whatever the hell you eat? Yeah, you kill everything. There’s no such thing as a "clean" diet when you’re talking about industrial agriculture.
If you’ve seen Lioness or Mayor of Kingstown, you know that Sheridan has a knack for diving into issues with a bit of grit.
But I digress. The point is: Sheridan doesn’t let us off easy.
His work holds a mirror to the complexities of life…the contradictions, the hypocrisies, the uncomfortable truths that so many of us shy away from.
Whether it’s land grabs, war, prison systems, or the environment, his shows are more than just good TV…they’re thought-provoking pieces of art.
Saying What Needs to Be Said & Keeping It Real
Now how does this all tie back to me? This whole journey from “Yellowstone” skeptic to Taylor Sheridan superfan?
It’s simple, really: Sheridan writes characters that feel real…the good, the bad, the ugly. He doesn’t shy away from controversy, and that’s where the magic happens.
Whether it’s through Billy Bob Thornton’s epic rants in Landman, or the complex moral gray areas in Yellowstone, Sheridan challenges us to dig deeper into the issues that shape our world.
When you’re trying to write authentically, whether it’s in a blog post or a novel, take a page from Sheridan’s book.
Speak your truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. It’s not about being “right”…it’s about being real.
Sheridan’s success lies in his fearless ability to walk that line, blending raw emotion with intelligent commentary.
A Few Tips To Borrow on Writing with Authenticity:
Be Unapologetically Yourself: Sheridan doesn't hide his opinions behind a veil of politeness. Own your truth, and don’t water it down.
Find Your Voice: Sheridan’s characters don’t sound like anybody else. They have a rhythm, a particular cadence. I bet you noticed it! Your voice should feel unique, don’t just copy someone else’s style.
Don’t Be Afraid to Be Uncomfortable: Sheridan tackles tough subjects head-on. Don’t shy away from things that make you or your readers uncomfortable. That’s where the best conversations begin.
Show, Don’t Tell: You’ve heard it before and it’s still true. Sheridan’s characters live their truths, which makes the message more powerful. Instead of telling your readers how they should feel, show them through the story or argument.
So, there…I’m officially a fan.
Sheridan’s work has pulled me in, and now I’m hooked for the long haul.
