‘Landman’ Season 2’s Negative Fan Responses Highlight the Show’s Biggest Problem

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The series Landman has been picked up for a third season. Critics generally approve of the current season, praising its unflinching look at the negative sides of power and wealth. Its 77% score on Rotten Tomatoes is comparable to the first season’s 78%, suggesting reviewers haven’t seen a drop in quality. However, audience reaction is quite different, with a score of only 40%. This is surprising for a show that was once hailed as one of the best new series on TV.

Season 2 is far from bad – in fact, it still beautifully portrays the West Texas oilfields and features the compelling character of Tommy Norris. However, there are some valid concerns fans have raised. As the most popular show Taylor Sheridan has created since Yellowstone ended, the team needs to address these issues to ensure the show continues to be successful beyond its third season. While the current season can’t be altered, improvements are needed for the show’s future.

There’s a New Boss in Season 2, and She Doesn’t Play


Paramount+

The first season of Landman brilliantly captured the intense and often deceptive world of the Texas oil boom. It was a realistic and unbiased portrayal, avoiding both moralizing and dishonesty. Viewers were eager to see how the show would continue after Monty’s death, with Cami Miller (played by Demi Moore) taking charge of M-Tex. So far, she’s been a standout. Demi Moore consistently delivers strong performances, and she doesn’t disappoint here. The question wasn’t if she’d be good, but whether the storyline would give her the opportunity to shine. In the first season, Cami felt underutilized as a stay-at-home wife, a waste of Moore’s considerable talent. Thankfully, she’s now in a role that truly suits her.

The second season of Landman jumps right into the action. Following her husband’s death, Cami Miller, a powerful woman of wealth, plans to publicly announce her ownership of M-Tex at a luncheon filled with oil and banking leaders. A scene in the restroom echoes themes from Moore’s 2024 film, The Substance, as a group of younger women mistakenly assume Cami is attending the event to find a rich husband and shame her for it. Their surprise when she confidently takes the stage to deliver her announcement is a highlight.

Rather than being pleasant, she launches into a scolding, threatening to be even more severe than her husband was. Afterwards, some shareholders attempt to create new agreements, claiming the old ones signed with Monty are no longer valid now that he’s passed away. However, Tommy firmly rejects their efforts and challenges them to take legal action.

Things quickly pick up speed after Ainsley impresses her interviewer and makes the cheerleading squad at TCU. Angela decides to buy a house in Fort Worth to be near her daughter. Cooper thinks his future is secure when an oil well on his land is predicted to produce 500 barrels daily, but he soon discovers it’s not that simple. Meanwhile, T.L. Norris, Tommy’s father, learns about his wife Dorothy’s passing, leading to a funeral where he and Tommy have a raw and honest conversation.

‘Landman’s Ainsley/Angela Arcs Are Wildly Unpopular


Paramount+

Looking at audience reactions on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s clear most people are really enjoying the character of Tommy. He feels like the ideal lead for a modern Western set during the oil boom. In fact, he’s exactly how you’d picture a landman – the Billy Bob Thornton character is a perfect fit. The role is challenging, and Thornton delivers a fantastic performance. He plays the part with a subtle, controlled energy – you can see the intensity in his eyes, even when he’s angry, but he never overacts.

Viewers generally dislike seeing Tommy’s family appear on screen, particularly Ainsley and Angela (Cooper is somewhat tolerable). The main issue is that none of them are very appealing characters. Angela is consistently unpleasant and needlessly antagonizes Tommy, with her behavior often feeling erratic and illogical – like overreacting and breaking things or making empty threats. She seems focused solely on a superficial lifestyle of wealth and social events. Ainsley, meanwhile, comes across as a spoiled and self-absorbed teenager, lost in a world of pleasure-seeking.

Angela and Ainsley’s storylines often feel pointless. They switch between emotions or situations quickly – Angela goes from angry to flirtatious, and Ainsley’s relationship status changes on a whim. They’d be more engaging characters if they had more depth and development. While the writer uses them for comedic effect in over-the-top situations, it feels like he relies too much on tired and predictable plot devices.

The show needs to develop Tommy’s wife and daughter into more fully realized characters. Right now, they feel like simple stereotypes, and deserve more compelling storylines. The creator, Taylor Sheridan, has proven he’s capable of strong character development – look at what he did with Cami – and it’s best to address this while the show is still popular.

‘Landman’ Needs to Figure Out Its Identity

Where does Landman go from here? If the rest of Season 2 doesn’t improve, many fans will likely remain disappointed. However, with Season 3 already greenlit, the creators need to consider how to move forward. Given that most criticism focuses on the characters’ personal lives, should the show concentrate solely on the oil business in future seasons?

Popular shows like Succession and Billions have demonstrated that stories about wealth don’t have to be dull. These critically acclaimed dramas present finance and corporate maneuvering as a defining aspect of modern culture – for the characters, making money is as compelling and powerful as the criminal exploits in films like Goodfellas. Both shows also invested in thorough research of the specific industries depicted, enhancing their sense of realism.

Sheridan should focus more on the gritty details of the oil industry and less on trying to appease Angela. We need to see the real challenges – the late-night crises, secret scheming, desperate fixes, and the conflicts communicated through threats and messages. Essentially, we want to see the messy, high-stakes reality of the business.

Taking the show in this direction would set Landman apart from other Taylor Sheridan series – it could even earn an Emmy. However, there’s a chance it could turn off some viewers who were initially drawn in by the show’s more dramatic, personal scenes – like Angela’s video call or Ainsley’s early relationship with her father. The question is whether it’s worth losing those fans who enjoy the ‘soap opera’ aspects of the show in order to appeal to viewers who prefer the focus on the corporate world.

It’s a difficult decision to make. The most secure path would be to develop multiple strong characters instead of relying solely on Tommy. The show needs more characters for viewers to support. Angela and Ainsley deserve the same development as Cami, or they could be reimagined entirely. If Angela remains unlikeable, she could be modeled after complex characters like Carmela from The Sopranos or Skyler from Breaking Bad. If Ainsley stays frustrating, she could fit into a teen drama like Riverdale or Pretty Little Liars. To add drama, they could give Ainsley a substance abuse problem, or have Angela commit a serious crime and keep it hidden – something that could destroy the whole family.

The storylines could use some strengthening, but that should be achievable given the current positive momentum – we’re almost at a great place. We particularly appreciate the musical score by Andrew Lockington and the efficient way negotiations are handled. While this show isn’t groundbreaking or remarkably innovative—it focuses more on telling the story than on artistic flair—it’s the most engaging and dramatic series since ABC’s Blood & Oil.

Landman isn’t a disaster… not yet. While the characters are a bit silly and the storyline feels like a soap opera, it can be a fun watch, especially thanks to the energy of the cast. However, it risks falling apart if things don’t improve, so hopefully the show can get back on track before it’s too late.

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2025-12-09 20:13