Taylor Sheridan has had an unprecedented level of success as a writer, showrunner, and creator, but Landman may be the wildest project of his career thus far. Loosely inspired by the Boomtown podcast by Christian Wallace, Landman gave Billy Bob Thornton a major comeback role as the petroleum landman Tommy Norris, whose responsibilities include maintaining the oil fields in West Texas and dealing with crimes committed on the property of his employer, M-Tex Oil. Landman is a completely unpredictable show, as it has delved into local sporting events, rivalries with the Mexican drug cartel, the strange activities of Tommy’s ex-wife Angela (Ali Larter), and the hiring of the causation lawyer Rebecca Falcone (Kayla Wallace). However, the most interesting dynamic in the first season of Landman was the surprisingly sincere relationship between Tommy and his son, Cooper (Jacob Lofland).
The first season of Landman ended on a high note, as both Tommy and Cooper were forced to adjust to new positions of power. Tommy assumes a role as the new leader of M-Tex after the illness and presumed death of its previous owner, Monty Miller (Jon Hamm). At the same time, Cooper has grown into his responsibilities, as he has begun a serious relationship with the widow Ariana Medina (Paulina Chávez), whose husband Elvio (Alejandro Akara) was killed in an oil field accident in which many of his relatives had perished. Although Cooper and Tommy are both ambitious characters with strong family values, Landman Season 2 has the opportunity to develop their bond even further.
‘Landman’ Has a Powerful Father-Son Story
Landman may be the most purely entertaining show that Sheridan has ever made, as it contains a style of raunchy humor that isn’t always present in 1923 or Yellowstone. However, Tommy’s attempts to help Cooper find a new path in life are surprisingly moving, as it is one of the rare instances in which he shows complete and utter respect for someone else. Even though working in the oil fields is dangerous, and Cooper’s lack of experience means that he is bullied by some of the more experienced workers, Tommy understood that it was important to introduce his son to a profession that he could end up leading one day. While Tommy often struggles to voice his vulnerabilities when talking to Angela or his daughter Ainsley (Michelle Randolph), he is surprisingly open in talking to Cooper about his regrets.
Season 2 has an opportunity to reunite Cooper and Tommy, who spent much of the initial story apart. Tommy was forced to get into the thick of legal minutiae when settling claims made against M-Tex, and Cooper gradually learned that he possessed the skills to lead his own team. Even if Cooper has ended up going into the same line of work that his father does, he no longer idolizes Tommy in the same way, as he now understands the ruthless perspective that is needed to work with such shady clients and customers. If Cooper spent the first season trying to prove himself worthy of Tommy, it would be interesting for a second season to show him growing into his own man.
The difference between how Tommy and Cooper treat their families will also be a compelling topic in Landman Season 2, as it would be an understatement to say that their family is dysfunctional. While Tommy may be doing his best work in order to protect Ainsley and rekindle his bond with Angela, Cooper has shown complete sincerity in being a caring partner to Angela, and has even helped to raise her young child. It is implied that Cooper is particularly sensitive about these issues because of his challenging childhood, as he does not want Angela’s son to grow up without a father. While he has not had the opportunity to share these feelings with his father, Cooper’s growing confidence means that a confrontation with Tommy is more likely in Season 2.
Will Cooper and Tommy Be on Opposite Sides in ‘Landman’ Season 2?
Even if they ostensibly are working towards the same goals, the end of the first season suggests that Cooper is developing his own master plan, which could end up putting him in conflict with his father. Tommy is already going to be facing greater challenges in Season 2, as he only narrowly survived his kidnapping at the hands of the cartel. The first season of Landman was entertaining, but largely sought to set up the world and characters that would be fundamental to the story going forward. Sheridan is a writer who works best when he’s focused on a serialized narrative, particularly when it’s centered on flawed characters. Projects like Hell or High Water, 1883, Sicario, and 1923 represent Sheridan’s best work because he created characters with reasonable motivations, but questioned the lengths that they were willing to go to in order to achieve their goals. While viewers may have ended the first season of Landman invested equally in Tommy and Cooper, putting them in competition with one another would make the series more engaging and interesting.
Thornton has done some of his best work in decades on Landman, and Lofland has proven to be a true breakout star worthy of sharing the screen with the Academy Award winner playing his father. The family dynamics are the most compelling aspect of Landman, as the series has received more criticism for other storylines, such as Angela’s engagement with the elderly community, and the commentary on wind turbines and renewable energy. While the diversions and subplots are part of the reason Landman is unique compared to anything else on television, Sheridan earned his status as one of the most important writers in Hollywood because of his brilliance in creating characters. If he can find new layers for the two breakout stars of the first season and give them a more thought-provoking ordeal to cope with, then Sheridan may be able to craft the crowning achievement of his entire career with Landman Season 2.
Landman is available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.
