Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Landman season 2, episode 3.There’s an invisible killer in Landman season 2, but the show didn’t fully explain the toxic gas leak that nearly cost Dale (James Jordan) and Boss (Mustafa Speaks) their lives. In Landman season 2, episode 3, a group of wild boar hunters approached an oil tanker while hunting and promptly fell over and died. Later, Boss, Dale, and a few other M-Tex workers came to the same tanker and began coughing, vomiting, and freaking out.
While Dale did mention an H2S gas leak and the deadliness of the situation was self-evident, Landman didn’t really explain what H2S actually is. That explanation is fairly important, given how much of a problem H2S caused for Dale and Boss and how it’ll likely contribute to Tommy and M-Tex’s growing list of problems. Unfortunately, H2S is a real hazard of the oil industry, and a well-known one at that.
Landman Season 2 Episode 3’s Killer Gas Leak Explained
Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) and Dale (James Jordan) in Landman season 2Ryan Green / ©Paramount+/Viacom Intl. / Courtesy Everett Collection
As previously mentioned, the gas that killed people in Landman season 2, episode 3 is known as H2S, also known as hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is an extremely flammable and toxic chemical compound that smells like rotten eggs at low concentrations, which is how the M-Tex workers were able to identify it so quickly and keep themselves safe. As Dale noted, H2S is a heavier gas than air, meaning it usually sticks near the ground.
Unfortunately, oil industry workers and roughnecks are likely already familiar with H2S. According to OSHA, hydrogen sulfide leaks can occur “anywhere and at any time,” either from underground oil and gas wells or from acid treatments on rigs and tanks. In high concentrations, like the H2S leak in Landman, hydrogen sulfide is odorless and can quickly cause breathing difficulty, organ damage, loss of consciousness, and “nearly instant” death (via OSHA).
Many oil workers, like Dale and Boss, carry electronic detectors that can alert them to the presence of H2S. When hydrogen sulfide leaks are detected in real life, there are usually procedures in place to ventilate the area and get the gas out of confined spaces. Many oil workers will also carry personal protective equipment like gas masks, which Landman also got right. In short, H2S is a massive and constant concern for the oil industry.
How Landman’s Killer Gas Leak Makes Tommy & M-Tex’s Problems Worse
Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris in Landman
Back in the context of Landman season 2, this new H2S leak is a huge problem for Tommy, M-Tex, and the entire cast of Landman. Dale mentioned that M-Tex should improve its wrongful death insurance coverage, and he was likely onto something. Four innocent civilians died due to the hydrogen sulfide leak, and several M-Tex employees were injured and nearly died. M-Tex is responsible for maintaining its equipment, and therefore liable for those deaths and injuries.
But, as we know from Cami searching Monty’s office, M-Tex has no money on-hand. The company also has to find $400 million to rebuild the offshore gas rig, and it simply can’t afford a multi-million dollar wrongful death settlement right now. That’s also not even taking into account the repair costs on the tanker and all the work that will go into fixing the H2S leak. All of M-Tex’s financial troubles just got compounded by this H2S leak.
Landman Season 2 Release Schedule
Episode Title
Release Date (Sundays @ Midnight PT)
Death and a Sunset
November 16
Sins of the Father
November 23
Almost a Home
November 30
Dancing Rainbows
December 7
The Pirate Dinner
December 14
Dark Night of the Soul
December 21
Forever is an Instant
December 28
Handsome Touched Me
January 4
Plans, Tears, and Sirens
January 11
Tragedy and Flies
January 18
There are also some personal implications of the leak on specific Landman characters. This is another source of stress for Tommy, but both Dale and Boss were nearly killed. Boss specifically was extremely rattled by the leak, and he was constantly thinking of his family during it. The H2S leak could make Dale and Boss reconsider their employment with M-Tex, which would be a huge loss for Landman.
Release Date
November 17, 2024
Writers
Taylor Sheridan, Christian Wallace
Billy Bob Thornton
Tommy Norris
