We go from the red hot scene in the bar where Rebecca points out all those things that work in her favor and make Cooper look guilty as hell to insulting the audience by totally dropping that storyline and instead giving us Rebecca feeling conflicted about fracking, only to get verbally bitch slapped by Tommy about her "moral high ground."
They don't seem capable of having a female character be a powerhouse. Making all the top movers and shakers men and having the women put in their place or relegated to shallow pursuits which add nothing to the drama is bad business, as is dropping a red hot storyline with Rebecca and Cooper and expecting us to not notice.
The women on the show are an asset. Don't abuse them; use them! Kayla Wallace (Rebecca) isn't the only actress getting shafted.
Think of...say...Michelle Randolph (Ainsley). Is anyone excited about her character's role in the show at this time?
Having Tommy kidnapped and then having all the taste to show us a.torture scene, only to then make Tommy look like an ignorant jackass when he proceeds to light up a smoke after he's literally been doused in gasoline ...as did cutting off his finger because he couldn't wait for the surgeon.
Doing those things don't prove Tommy's toughness; they prove he's seriously lacking in common sense. They are the actions of a child. He was already in a hospital. the doctor said if he cuts off his finger himself, chances are 90 percent it gets infected and he loses his arm within a month.
Of course Tommy doesn't have to pay the consequences for his poor decisions though. Wonderful. Nothing like a drama when poor decisions don't carry consequences.
Then after taking a hammer shot to his hand and a nail driven into his thigh, he's not even in need of going to the hospital? Why would you ever do that? It nullified the impact of the torture scene. How bad could he have been hurt if he doesn't need any medical attention?
You want to make the torture look devastating. That way it has more emotional impact, but making light of it by lighting up when he's soaked in gasoline and then showing him not needing medical care, it cheapens what we just saw!
The beating you take is only as devastating at as the consequences it has on you.
That's basic storytelling psychology.
Here's the kicker:
Tommy never should have been kidnapped.
Ainsley should have been.
Why? I'm glad you asked!
For one, Ainsley needs a storyline with some gravitas to it. Having her convince Ryder to shake his ass for an octogenarian doesn't cut the mustard.
Ainsley being kidnapped makes all the sense in the world because, honestly, what other character could evoke as much sympathy as a hostage than the sweet, 17 year old daughter of the central character?
You don't have the kidnapping resolved in a few minutes like they did. You draw it out. Leave Ainsley in the clutches of the cartel as the season finale comes to a close and you have one hell of a cliffhanger ending that leaves the audience dying to know how the tension will be resolved!
That's how Yellowstone ended their seasons. It's how Dallas ended its seasons.
Also:
The women of Landman are being criminally underutilized.
Have Monty's will make Cami the new president and then you give Demi Moore, an A-list actress, something of substance to do. Finally!
You make Tommy and Rebecca vice presidents of equal power in the company which sets up a tremendous adversarial situation because neither has any more pull than the other and they're at odds with each other in a serious way, thanks to Cooper costing the company 1.8 million dollars despite working for them for only two days.
Then you have:
What kind of president will Cami make?
How will Cooper be able to deal with Rebecca's plan to legally go after Cooper?
The scenes with Tommy and Angela terrified about the well being of their daughter would be gold! What worries parents more than child of theirs being kidnapped by a vicious drug cartel?
The objective
D - 11 months ago
Great Show. Worse Actress Ainsley. She needs to work on her image in the show. If it wasn't for her looks I have no patience for her character.
David Dupont - 11 months ago
I'm curious. The scene when they return to the nursing home after visiting the strip club. The nurse steps on the van and announces; "Wake up everyone". Is it just me or did it seem as though she was going to find someone dead? I was thinking the old black male was the victim.
Kelly - 11 months ago
Scene with Tommy and cartel goons too violent and sadistic.
Lon Cottingham - 11 months ago
Sets the scene for a specular season 2.
Lon Cottingham - 11 months ago
Best show on TV since "The Son" and "1923". Can hardly wait to see season 2.
We go from the red hot scene in the bar where Rebecca points out all those things that work in her favor and make Cooper look guilty as hell to insulting the audience by totally dropping that storyline and instead giving us Rebecca feeling conflicted about fracking, only to get verbally bitch slapped by Tommy about her "moral high ground."
They don't seem capable of having a female character be a powerhouse. Making all the top movers and shakers men and having the women put in their place or relegated to shallow pursuits which add nothing to the drama is bad business, as is dropping a red hot storyline with Rebecca and Cooper and expecting us to not notice.
The women on the show are an asset. Don't abuse them; use them! Kayla Wallace (Rebecca) isn't the only actress getting shafted.
Think of...say...Michelle Randolph (Ainsley). Is anyone excited about her character's role in the show at this time?
Having Tommy kidnapped and then having all the taste to show us a.torture scene, only to then make Tommy look like an ignorant jackass when he proceeds to light up a smoke after he's literally been doused in gasoline ...as did cutting off his finger because he couldn't wait for the surgeon.
Doing those things don't prove Tommy's toughness; they prove he's seriously lacking in common sense. They are the actions of a child. He was already in a hospital. the doctor said if he cuts off his finger himself, chances are 90 percent it gets infected and he loses his arm within a month.
Of course Tommy doesn't have to pay the consequences for his poor decisions though. Wonderful. Nothing like a drama when poor decisions don't carry consequences.
Then after taking a hammer shot to his hand and a nail driven into his thigh, he's not even in need of going to the hospital? Why would you ever do that? It nullified the impact of the torture scene. How bad could he have been hurt if he doesn't need any medical attention?
You want to make the torture look devastating. That way it has more emotional impact, but making light of it by lighting up when he's soaked in gasoline and then showing him not needing medical care, it cheapens what we just saw!
The beating you take is only as devastating at as the consequences it has on you.
That's basic storytelling psychology.
Here's the kicker:
Tommy never should have been kidnapped.
Ainsley should have been.
Why? I'm glad you asked!
For one, Ainsley needs a storyline with some gravitas to it. Having her convince Ryder to shake his ass for an octogenarian doesn't cut the mustard.
Ainsley being kidnapped makes all the sense in the world because, honestly, what other character could evoke as much sympathy as a hostage than the sweet, 17 year old daughter of the central character?
You don't have the kidnapping resolved in a few minutes like they did. You draw it out. Leave Ainsley in the clutches of the cartel as the season finale comes to a close and you have one hell of a cliffhanger ending that leaves the audience dying to know how the tension will be resolved!
That's how Yellowstone ended their seasons. It's how Dallas ended its seasons.
Also:
The women of Landman are being criminally underutilized.
Have Monty's will make Cami the new president and then you give Demi Moore, an A-list actress, something of substance to do. Finally!
You make Tommy and Rebecca vice presidents of equal power in the company which sets up a tremendous adversarial situation because neither has any more pull than the other and they're at odds with each other in a serious way, thanks to Cooper costing the company 1.8 million dollars despite working for them for only two days.
Then you have:
What kind of president will Cami make?
How will Cooper be able to deal with Rebecca's plan to legally go after Cooper?
The scenes with Tommy and Angela terrified about the well being of their daughter would be gold! What worries parents more than child of theirs being kidnapped by a vicious drug cartel?
The objective
Great Show. Worse Actress Ainsley. She needs to work on her image in the show. If it wasn't for her looks I have no patience for her character.
I'm curious. The scene when they return to the nursing home after visiting the strip club. The nurse steps on the van and announces; "Wake up everyone". Is it just me or did it seem as though she was going to find someone dead? I was thinking the old black male was the victim.
Scene with Tommy and cartel goons too violent and sadistic.
Sets the scene for a specular season 2.
Best show on TV since "The Son" and "1923". Can hardly wait to see season 2.