Landman Episode 4 Review: Oil Scourges, Shattered Hands and Painful Past

In Landman episode 4, “The Sting of Second Chances,” Tommy must reconsider some painful family truths and Angela must come to terms with her unhappiness.

The last time we saw Tommy and co. In Landman Episode 3, he was in big trouble for downplaying the plane theft incident. Monty was urged from all sides to blame his compatriot. Tommy’s troubled ex-wife Angela had also traveled to the city, drinking heavily and partying.

In the new episode of Landman, Tommy finally has to face up to his statement. Will Rebecca side with him or will he go down in a ball of flames like the plane in question?

Here’s a full recap of Landman Episode 4, with major spoilers!

Tommy’s testimony takes place in Landman Episode 4

In Episode 4, we begin the way Taylor Sheridan intends: with a greater focus on Ainsley and Angela’s sexuality, which is a nuisance to the men around them. While Nate points out that the ladies are working out half-naked in the living room, Tommy is on his way to testify about plane theft.

He is being sued for failing to inform authorities about the theft of the plane, which then led to the deaths of several people after a truck collided with the plane while it was parked on the street for a drug drop.

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But M-TEX’s lawyer, Rebecca, is worth every penny. During the meeting, she quickly attacks the DA, accusing him of sexist comments and wasting everyone’s time when A) Tommy reported the theft to the FAA and B) the accident occurred on a private road that the truck shouldn’t have been using.

After picking apart the other lawyers, she tells them to give up the case, which they reluctantly accept. Tommy is absolutely thrilled with her approach and invites her for a drink.

Tommy and Rebecca develop a bond

Shortly afterwards, at the bar, Tommy and Rebecca continue their feud when they get into a debate about the moral compass of a local sex worker. But Rebecca slowly begins to understand him as he explains what it means to experience an “oil bust” in a city like this – everyone loses everything.

Meanwhile, Ainsley and Angela, bored, try to get into the country club but are turned away due to a “private event” (unlikely). So they drive around and go to the same bar where Tommy and Rebecca are drinking.

As Tommy explains Monty Miller’s backstory to Rebecca (how he made his fortune after growing up in a trailer park), Angela spots her on the other side of the bar. Her intent is clear: it’s time to cause trouble.

Angela gets jealous

Angela and Ainsley come over and it’s not long before Angela insults Rebecca (telling her that her name “sounds like a Marvel character”) and then invites her to dinner.

Meanwhile, at the oil well, Cooper and his new team work through the night to prepare the well for morning. However, chaos ensues when Antonio crushes his hand on the mechanics. Cooper and Manuel rush over to help him, but he passes out before they can take him down.

Cooper then lifts Antonio all the way down the well and Dale immediately takes him to the hospital. The boys have to finish the well by morning, so Cooper is sent up to feed the pipe in the pine tree in Antonio’s place – a task he has not yet tackled.

Back at the bar, Angela tells Ainsley and Rebecca a story about how Tommy once surprised her with tickets to a George Strait concert. It’s a beautiful memory, but the moment turns bitter when Angela breaks down in tears and tells them that shortly afterwards the markets crashed and the oil crisis came, meaning they lost everything they had. “And I really mean that everything“ she tells them.

Tommy, suddenly feeling uncomfortable, finds an excuse to leave the table. While Angela cries, Ainsley tells Rebecca that Tommy doesn’t like talking about the bankruptcy. Rebecca offers to drive the ladies home.

Ainsley makes a promise to Tommy

On the way back, Rebecca questions Angela about why she is jealous of Tommy when they are no longer married. Defensively, Angela reminds Rebecca that she could sleep with her boyfriend “and there’s nothing you can do about it.” She also tells her that Tommy needs unhappiness to feel like a man and that Rebecca isn’t his type.

When Tommy gets home, Nate is up late working on settlements for Luis’ family to prevent a lawsuit before it happens. He then finds Ainsley on the couch, mad at Angela. “She is a rising star. The market collapses and she leaves you,” she emphasizes. But Tommy sympathizes with Angela and defends her. Still, Ainsley promises Tommy that Barracks Never leave it no matter what the market does.

As he speaks of Angela, he goes into his bedroom and finds her crying in bed. She regrets ending her marriage, but Tommy reminds her that they had a terrible relationship. That may be true, but Angela still tells him that she is leaving her current husband. After some coaxing and pleading on her part, Tommy agrees to get back together with her.

A new day, a new beginning

The next morning, Ainsley goes into the kitchen and scares Nate in her half-dressed state. Tommy tells her to put some clothes on, to which she replies that the only clothes she brought were ones to seduce her boyfriend. (Why does Sheridan keep writing things like this?)

When Angela comes down and Ainsley finds out the two are back together, she is thrilled. The three have a “fucking family hug” before Tommy makes his way to the well.

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Luckily, it’s up and working properly, and Boss tells Tommy how hard Cooper tried to get it finished. Tommy tells Monty on the phone that it’s working great now, before going to his son and telling him he needs to come home and see his mother. Cooper isn’t nearly as happy as Ainsley with the news of his parents getting back together.

As Tommy leaves, Cooper receives a call from Ariana, Elvio’s widow. Annoyed, she asks him to come to her. Knowing that it would get him in big trouble with her cousins, he says “yes” anyway.

Landman Episode 4 is now available to stream on Paramount+.

Find out more about what a countryman actually is. You can also check out Taylor Sheridan’s other TV shows and see what’s going on on 6666 and The Madison.