Landman Season 2: Ariana’s Assault Echoes Yellowstone’s Brutality

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Be warned, this article contains spoilers for Season 2, Episode 9 of Landman, titled “Plans, Tears and Sirens.” Taylor Sheridan seems unable to resist incorporating the intense violence seen in Yellowstone into Landman. While Landman does feature dramatic, even explosive, events and character deaths, it’s also a family story with quirky humor, setting it apart from Yellowstone.

In season 2 of Landman, Cooper Norris (Jacob Lofland) proposed to Ariana Medina (Paulina Chavez). Their relationship has been a consistent and heartwarming part of the show. This season, Ariana’s character was further developed through her new job bartending at The Patch Cafe, where she serves drinks and deals with difficult customers.

The ninth episode of Landman season 2 features a deeply upsetting scene where Ariana is sexually assaulted by Johnny (Mike Harkins) in the alley behind The Patch Cafe. This attack was motivated by Johnny’s desire for revenge after Ariana defended herself by throwing a drink on him when he previously harassed her earlier in the season. Many viewers felt the scene was shockingly violent and reminiscent of the darker elements often seen in Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone.

Ariana’s Sexual Assault Echoes The Worst Yellowstone Violence

The sexual assault of Ariana in Landman season 2, episode 9 was difficult to watch and didn’t quite fit with the rest of the show. While Landman hasn’t shied away from intense moments – like car crashes, fights, and even murder – and featured Tommy Norris being kidnapped and tortured in the season 1 finale, this felt different.

The attack on Ariana, and the near-rape, represents a disturbing new level for the show Landman. It’s particularly frustrating because season two continues a pattern in Landman – and other Taylor Sheridan shows – of struggling to create meaningful stories for its female characters, such as Angela Russo (Ali Larter) and Ainsley Norris (Michelle Randolph).

Ariana was finally starting to rebuild her life and move on after the loss she experienced in season one of Landman. While getting a job seemed like a good step, it’s become clear that it was actually a trap, designed to make her a victim and require Cooper to come to her rescue.

The attack on Ariana by Landman strongly recalls the intense violence experienced by Beth and Monica Dutton on Yellowstone. Both women suffered severe and brutal beatings. While Landman has generally offered a different, more restrained tone, this act of violence feels especially shocking because it mirrors the harshness often seen in Yellowstone.

Cooper Norris Is Always Involved In Landman’s Yellowstone-Style Violence

Like his father, Tommy, Cooper Norris has also found himself at the center of the most brutal fights in the show Landman. In season 2, episode 9, Cooper stepped in to protect Ariana, severely beating Johnny in the process.

Cooper initially wanted to harm Johnny after he attacked Ariana, but the writers decided against turning Cooper into a killer. This creates a significant shift for his character, as he goes from being involved in a violent attack in season 1 to saving Ariana in season 2.

In the first season of Landman, a group including the family and coworkers of Ariana’s deceased husband, Elvio (Alejandro Akara), attacked and hospitalized Cooper. In the second season, Cooper got even, delivering a harsh form of justice reminiscent of Yellowstone. However, perhaps Taylor Sheridan could tone down the extreme violence in the setting of Midland, Texas.

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2026-01-12 13:58