Landman Season 2’s Ainsley Arc Falls Victim to TV’s Most Problematic Trope

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Season 2 of Landman has sparked debate among viewers, particularly regarding the storylines of Tommy Norris’ (Billy Bob Thornton) family. While some fans enjoy the characters of his ex-wife Angela (Ali Larter), daughter Ainsley (Michelle Randolph), and son Cooper (Jacob Lofland) along with his future daughter-in-law Ariana (Paulina Chavez), others find their stories frustrating.

The latest episode of Landman, titled “Plans, Tears and Sirens,” features several key developments. Angela deals with Ainsley leaving for college, while Tommy heads to Louisiana with Cami Miller, Rebecca Falcone, and Charles Newsome. Meanwhile, Norris loses his job as M-Tex Oil begins operations on its new offshore oil rig. This episode is proving to be quite divisive among viewers.

Ainsley Norris’ TCU Roommate Story in Landman Season 2, Episode 9, Explained

The show Landman features significant developments for its characters, particularly Ainsley Norris. In Season 2, Episode 9, Ainsley goes to cheer camp while attending college, initially joining the squad as a walk-on. Since then, however, her storyline hasn’t been heavily explored.

Ainsley has returned to TCU after spending the summer in Midland. She assures her worried mother she’s ready to experience life on her own, but comes home just hours later. The problem? A conflict with her roommate, Paigyn Meester, a second-year student.

Ainsley attempts to befriend Paigyn, who owns a ferret, but their connection quickly strains when Norris asks Meester about using air freshener—which Meester strongly objects to, calling it harmful. The tension escalates further when Paigyn asks Ainsley for her pronouns, and Ainsley responds with a rambling, unaware answer.

With tensions flaring between her and her roommate, Ainsley seeks out Greta Stidham, the admissions counselor she initially met at the start of the show. Instead of trying to resolve things with her roommate as Greta suggested, Ainsley calls her mother for help. Her mother steps in, manages to get Ainsley’s housing requirement lifted, and takes her to the pool to escape the awkward situation.

Ainsley’s Roommate Story Leans Into Unhelpful LGBTQ+ TV Tropes

The show Landman introduced its first LGBTQ+ character in the story of Ainsley going to college. The episode portrays Paigyn, who uses they/them pronouns, as someone who is struggling with resentment and unhappiness, and isn’t very considerate of others – a point highlighted when Ainsley’s mother intervenes in a difficult situation to help them.

The show relies on a common and harmful trope – the “tragic queer,” where LGBTQ+ characters are often denied happy endings, usually to further the stories of straight characters or create conflict. This pattern appears to be at the heart of the Landman storyline, particularly noticeable in the conversation between Angela and Ainsley after the events at the Bowie House Hotel.

The story falls flat because it ultimately judges Ainsley’s roommate, Paigyn, with Angela concluding that Paigyn’s issues stem from self-hatred and a tendency to blame others. Both Angela and Ainsley find Paigyn’s situation “so sad,” but this feels like a cliché and prevents the story from offering a truly empathetic portrayal.

Ainsley’s strong opinions on pronouns and her choice not to use them might be off-putting to some, but it’s understandable given her background as Tommy’s daughter. What was truly frustrating was that the show’s creators missed an opportunity to use the situation for education, and the story could have been told without portraying Paigyn in a way that reinforces harmful stereotypes.

Ainsley’s Roommate Story Could Be Setting Up Landman Season 3

Following Ainsley’s outburst in the dorm, she and Angela consistently dismiss Paigyn, repeatedly using the wrong pronouns throughout the episode. Though Ainsley has some amusing reactions to Paigyn’s comments about anatomy in the dorm scene, the overall impact is lessened by the show’s problematic message.

Although Landman has previously portrayed women in problematic ways, the recent storyline highlights a larger issue: Taylor Sheridan’s show often presents narrow and negative stereotypes. Now, with the “Plans, Tears and Sirens” episode, the series has expanded these limiting depictions to include LGBTQ+ characters.

The recent events surrounding the oil storyline could be a setup for deeper exploration of Ainsley Norris’s character in future episodes, if the show aims to develop her thoughtfully. Because her old roommate is studying sports medicine, there’s a possibility their paths will cross again, potentially offering Ainsley a new perspective.

The story portrays Paigyn as stubborn and seemingly responsible for their own problems, but also shows Ainsley as entitled and oblivious, hinting she might change. Norris might eventually learn to accept and understand Ainsley, as Greta hopes. However, currently, the story relies on harmful stereotypes about LGBTQ+ young people, and that message still comes through strongly.

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2026-01-14 05:07