REVIEW: ‘Landman’ Season 2 Kicks Off With An Inconsistent Tone And Untapped Potential
- Moriba Forde
- 1 minute ago
- 5 min read
The Taylor Sheridan Universe, adored by everyone's grandfather, is back with another season of Landman. Folks looking to bear witness to the cut-throat nature of the oil industry in West Texas are in for a treat, but there is room for improvement.
Similar to how John Dutton fought for his ranch in Yellowstone, Tommy Norris fights for his oil to provide for his family and preserve a prosperous legacy. Ahead of him lies an uphill battle as geopolitics and the economy present new hurdles for his livelihood, while his past catches up to him.
Co-created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, Landman is a TV series adaptation of the Texas Monthly Podcast Boomtown, which Wallace hosts. The series stars Oscar-winning actor Billy Bob Thornton, Oscar-nominated actors Demi Moore and Andy Garcia, as well as Sam Elliott, who joins the cast in season two. Ali Larter, Michelle Randolph, Paulina Chávez, Kayla Wallace, Mark Collie, James Jordan, and Colm Feore also star.
The Good, The Bad, The Oily
Landman follows the rule book that Sheridan created for himself, depicting a maverick against metaphorical wolves, including his inner demons, in the world as we know it today. The neo-western series embodies all the gritty realism for which Sheridan is known, with an added rawness due to Wallace's firsthand experience in the oil industry. While the series itself offers an immersive cultural experience with complementary visuals, colorful language, and actors committed to their roles, the second season falls short in terms of story.
For a season picking up the pieces after an intense, no-holds-barred finale, this ironically feels more like a freshman season than a sophomore season. Despite recapping the events of season one, the second season's premiere comes across like it's the pilot episode. Tommy Norris takes over M-Tex Oil at the request of his dying friend last season, but season two's premiere plays out like he has been running the company all along. The way he adjusts to this new role after a traumatic ordeal is barely touched on. He may be depicted carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, through Thornton acting as if he does not recognize the world around him, but his characterization reveals different reasons for his troubled heart.
The first season's criminal themes, which contrasted with its political themes to depict two sides of the same coin — power takes a backseat as the latter drives the wheel, with messy family drama in the passenger seat. The geopolitical and corporate aspects are thought-provoking and entertaining, but the cartel's absence sticks out. Without veering into spoiler territory, season two, episode two jarringly foreshadows more of Tommy's trouble with the cartel, serving as a reminder of threats lurking in the shadows for the rest of the season. The setup is not organic as it should have been, coming across like the writers themselves forgot about these criminals until the last minute.
The family drama is the weakest link thus far, as it is split between Tommy's son, Cooper, building a new family with his love, Ariana, and Angela and Ainsley being reduced to some attempt at comic relief, with Tommy being caught in the middle. Cooper and Ariana are the most human characters in the series, with Jacob Lofland and Paulina Chávez giving their characters the necessary depth to make them relatable, complementing their family subplot. Then, there's Ariana and Angela, Tommy's wife and daughter, played by Ali Larter and Michelle Randolph, who deserve better. Larter and Randolph are both phenomenal actors, but their characters don't do them any favors. Ainsley is more of a stereotypical rich blonde, while her mother is stereotypically crazy. As annoying as they are, they are only part of a bigger problem: pacing. The pacing, unfortunately, lacks direction, resulting in the family dynamics clashing tonally against each other. Seeing Tommy in the middle of it all does not help matters. He looks tired like the rest of us.
The Heroes Landman Needs
Despite the hiccups, Landman remains essential viewing for Taylor Sheridan and neo-western fans, thanks to the ensemble supporting cast, as well as the immersive visuals doing most of the heavy lifting. The cast goes to great lengths to authentically represent Texan culture, and their portrayals proudly present the fruits of their labor. Demi Moore especially steals the show in all of her scenes as Cami. Season two's first episode makes it abundantly clear that she is a lioness refusing to be backed into a corner. Cami carries her grief quietly and rejects sympathy in favor of respect and fear for those who dare disrespect her. However, the biggest actor in this series is Fort Worth, Texas.
Seriously, it's no secret that Taylor Sheridan is a cowboy at heart, boasting his country roots in all of his works. He treats Landman with the same respect he gives Yellowstone by transforming the setting into a character. All scenes are masterfully shot in a way that stimulates not only the vision, but also seemingly all the senses. While this sounds like hyperbole, Landman feels like an invitation to experience the atmosphere onscreen through touch, taste, and smell.
The Stubborn Landman
Landman's second season has a rough start due to a jarring shift from the first season finale events, with season two's premiere feeling more like a series premiere. The series tries to frame this new development as "business as usual", but the execution looks unusual. Then there is the inconsistent tone that hinders the family dynamics. The potential to organically show the character parallels among the Norris clan is unfortunately missed, as the uneven pacing prioritizes them competing against each other for screentime.
The flaws can easily be forgiven because the cast breathes life into their characters, while Sheridan breathes life into Texas onscreen. They treat West Texan culture with the respect and dignity it deserves by using their talents and experience to ingrain themselves deep within the roots. They are the reasons why Landman season two deserves a fair chance. Hopefully, the story will improve as the season progresses. There is only one way to find out.
Landman season two premieres on November 16th, with new episodes every Sunday on Paramount+.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
About Landman Season 2
Premiere Date:Â November 16, 2025
Episode Count:Â 10
Executive Producer/Showrunner: Taylor Sheridan
Writers: Taylor Sheridan, Christian Wallace
Directors:
Production: Paramount Television Studios, 101 Studios, Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch Productions
Distribution:Â Paramount Global Content Distribution, Paramount Plus
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Ali Larter, Jacob Lofland, Paulina Chávez, Kayla Wallace, Mark Collie, James Jordan, Demi Moore
Logline: As oil rises from the earth, so do secrets — and Tommy Norris’ (Thornton) breaking point may be closer than he realizes. Facing mounting pressure from M-Tex Oil, Cami Miller (Moore), and the shadow of his kin, survival in West Texas isn’t noble — it’s brutal. And sooner or later something’s got to break.