In the ever-unfolding landscape of prestige television, few shows have captured the high-stakes drama and gritty realism of the Texas oil patch quite like Taylor Sheridan’s Landman. Since its explosive debut in 2024, the series has steadily built a loyal following, blending the personal and professional lives of its characters with the unique pressures of West Texas’s energy boom. Now, as the second season barrels toward its conclusion, a flurry of pivotal moments and behind-the-scenes revelations have fans and critics alike abuzz about what’s next for the hit show—and for its stars.
First, the big news: in December 2025, Landman was officially renewed for a third season, according to Decider. The announcement came right in the thick of Season 2, further cementing the show’s status as a breakout success for creator Taylor Sheridan and Paramount+. For viewers, it means the saga of oil, ambition, and family in West Texas will continue to play out on screens for at least another year. And yes, the so-called "landmania" shows no signs of slowing down.
But as with any good drama, the real intrigue often happens within the storylines themselves—and Season 2’s penultimate episode, "Plans, Tears, and Sirens," did not disappoint. In a move that shocked many, company president Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) is fired by M-Tex owner Cami Miller (Demi Moore) during an opulent viewing party for a risky new gas rig project in the Gulf of Mexico. The fallout is immediate and intense. Cami, ever the risk-taker, tells the risk-averse Tommy, “I’m saying you’re fired.” It’s a moment loaded with emotion and consequence, not just for the characters but for the direction of the series itself.
Fans immediately wondered: does this mean Billy Bob Thornton is leaving Landman? According to Decider, the answer is a resounding no. Thornton, whose portrayal of Tommy has been central to the show’s success, remains at the heart of the series. In fact, the role was written specifically for him by Sheridan, and Thornton has often said that playing Tommy "fits like a glove." His commitment to the character, and the admiration of his castmates—Jacob Lofland, who plays Tommy’s son Cooper, called working with Thornton “so real and raw”—all but guarantee that Tommy Norris’s journey is far from over, even if he’s no longer at the helm of M-Tex. As for what comes next, viewers won’t have to wait long: the Season 2 finale is set to drop on January 18, 2026, and it promises to be a wild ride.
Of course, the drama doesn’t end with boardroom betrayals. Episode 9 also delivered one of the series’ most harrowing scenes to date—a violent assault that left both its characters and actors deeply affected. According to People, Ariana (Paulina Chávez), a bartender at The Patch, is attacked and assaulted by a patron named Johnny (Mike Harkins). The assault follows a previous altercation in which Ariana threw a beer on Johnny, leading him to seek revenge outside the bar. The scene is brutal and unflinching, with Johnny pinning Ariana to the ground, tearing her shirt, and attempting to rape her before Cooper Norris (Jacob Lofland) intervenes.
For Chávez, filming the sequence was an emotional ordeal. She described the experience to People as "just a woman's worst nightmare," admitting, “I bawled my eyes out. It was just a woman’s worst nightmare.” The scene was filmed in three sections over three days of rehearsals, with the show’s intimacy coordinator, Mam Smith, playing a crucial role in ensuring the cast’s emotional and physical safety. “Everybody was just so respectful and it was wonderful to have that team around me,” Chávez said, adding that Smith’s guidance on breathwork and aftercare was invaluable. “At the end of the night, we did take a tequila shot and then, you know, let it all go. I take aftercare very seriously and definitely just giving myself extra love that night was very important.”
Chávez also spoke with Taylor Sheridan before filming the scene, emphasizing that the purpose was to show Ariana’s strength and resilience. “I talked to Taylor and he was just like, ‘The thing about this scene is I never want Ariana to stop fighting.’ Cause she is a fighter,” she recalled. That determination is evident in the way Ariana fights back during the attack, refusing to be a passive victim—a portrayal that resonates with viewers and adds depth to the show’s depiction of adversity and survival.
While the emotional stakes of the episode were sky-high, Landman also continued its tradition of grounding its drama in authentic Texas settings. According to The Dallas Morning News, the episode is peppered with North Texas references, from the sprawling campus of Texas Christian University (TCU) to the luxury of Neiman Marcus in Fort Worth and the upscale Bowie House hotel. In one storyline, Ainsley (Michelle Randolph) arrives at TCU for cheerleading camp, navigating the nerves of moving into Colby Hall dormitory while her mother Angela (Ali Larter) copes with the transition through some serious retail therapy at Neiman Marcus. “You’ll pump all your love into a child, only to watch them outgrow you,” Angela laments to a store employee—a sentiment many parents can surely relate to.
Angela’s maternal instincts don’t stop at shopping. When Ainsley struggles with her new roommate, Angela whisks her away to the Bowie House for the week, a nod to the real-life hotel that recently hosted actor Sam Elliott (who plays Tommy’s father, T.L.) during the Lone Star Film Festival gala in November 2025. These local touches not only add authenticity but also serve as Easter eggs for Texas viewers, weaving the region’s culture and landmarks into the fabric of the show.
As the second season draws to a close, the stakes for Landman’s characters—and its audience—have never been higher. With Tommy Norris ousted from M-Tex, Ariana’s trauma and resilience on full display, and the Norris family at a crossroads, the upcoming finale promises to tie together the emotional and narrative threads that have defined the season. For those eager to see what happens next, Episode 10 drops on January 18, 2026, exclusively on Paramount+.
In a television landscape crowded with formulaic dramas, Landman continues to stand out for its unflinching storytelling, complex characters, and deep sense of place. Whether you’re tuning in for the oil deals, the family dynamics, or the Texas flavor, one thing’s clear: the landmania is just getting started.
