Landman Season 1 Episode 8 recap: The Cartel attack, Monty's heart problems and more 

Episode 8 of Landman brought back the intensity after the slower pace of Episode 7. This Taylor Sheridan drama continues to explore the high-stakes world of the oil industry, family drama, and conflicts with the cartel. Billy Bob Thornton shines as Tommy Norris, a crisis manager trying to balance his professional and personal battles. Let’s break down the episode in simple, clear language.

Tommy Norris has been walking a dangerous line with the cartel throughout the season. To reduce cartel activity near M-Tex Oil's operations, he came up with a bold idea: allow the National Guard to practice missile tests in the area. His plan wasn’t aggressive, he wanted the military’s presence to scare off the cartel.

However, things didn’t go as planned. A National Guard missile accidentally struck a cartel vehicle. This vehicle was transporting drugs, and the explosion killed at least one cartel member. Though the strike wasn’t intentional, the cartel is unlikely to see it that way.

During the climax of the episode, National Guard pilots refer to the destroyed vehicle as a “bogeys.” This term is used in military language to describe unidentified targets. The use of “bogey” makes it clear the missile hit was an accident. But for Tommy, this accident could spell big trouble as the cartel seeks revenge.

---

Recap of episode 8

With one of their own dead, the cartel is sure to retaliate. Earlier in the season, one of their members was seen watching Tommy, which hinted at brewing danger. Now, the cartel might target Tommy’s family or his company.

Tommy’s relationship with the cartel has always been unpredictable, and this incident pushes the tension to a breaking point.

Cooper stepped up in this episode, showing his negotiation skills. At the beginning of the episode, he worked out a deal with M-Tex Oil to double the settlement offered to the families of the oil rig explosion victims.

Originally, each family was offered $500,000, but Cooper managed to secure $1 million for Ariana and the other two families. This move avoided a court battle, which could have exposed the company’s faulty equipment.

Rebecca Falcone, a sharp and ruthless lawyer, wasn’t pleased with the outcome of the settlement negotiations. She lost the battle to Cooper and felt humiliated. Out of frustration, she started spreading a false story.

Rebecca claimed that Cooper and Ariana had plotted to profit from the settlement. While the audience knows this is untrue, Rebecca’s accusations are dangerous. Her actions reveal her true nature: she’s willing to ruin lives to get even.

Monty, played by Jon Hamm, has struggled with health issues throughout the season. In this episode, his condition worsens. Stress, a poor diet, and lack of exercise caught up with him, and he ended up in the hospital.

Monty’s heart issues have been a recurring theme, but this episode highlighted how bad things have gotten. He monitors his heart rate with a smartwatch, and during a tense phone call with Rebecca and Cooper, his stress levels spiked dangerously.

Monty’s hospitalization is a major blow for Tommy. Monty has been one of his key allies, and his absence leaves Tommy more vulnerable. With Rebecca plotting against him and the cartel seeking revenge, Tommy has more enemies than ever.

Rebecca’s actions in this episode show how far she’s willing to go to win. She knows her conspiracy theory about Cooper and Ariana isn’t true, but she doesn’t care. She’s focused on spinning her own version of events to turn people against them.

Rebecca’s motivations seem to come from personal frustration. She’s upset about losing the settlement battle and being scolded by Monty. Her need for revenge could make her an even bigger threat in the final episodes.

Tommy’s decision to involve the National Guard backfired in a big way. While his goal was to deter cartel activity, the accidental missile strike created more problems. Now, the cartel likely sees this as a deliberate attack.

Ariana has been through a lot this season, losing her husband in the oil rig explosion. Cooper’s efforts to secure a better settlement gave her some relief, but Rebecca’s lies now threaten to drag her into a new battle.

Monty’s health issues add a layer of uncertainty to the story. Will he survive? If he doesn’t, his absence could create a power vacuum, leaving Tommy to fend off multiple threats alone.

With only two episodes left in the season, the stakes are higher than ever. The cartel seems poised to strike back, and Rebecca’s schemes could spiral out of control. Meanwhile, Tommy must navigate these challenges while protecting his family and his company.