Tommy’s mother dies and Demi Moore takes over
SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers from “Landman” Season 2, Episode 1, “Death and a Sunset,” which premiered Sunday, Nov. 16 on Paramount+.
Hello, “Landman” fans! I’m Bill, and I’m the city guy who’s heading to Texas with you to tackle new episodes of this sweet Billy Bob Thornton drama. As season 2 begins, the characters face many changes. Among them, Monty Miller (Jon Hamm) is dead and his wife Cami (Demi Moore) takes over M-Tex; cartel boss Jimenez (Alex Meraz) was murdered by his boss Gallino (Andy Garcia); Cooper (Jacob Lofland) tries to make his scandalous relationship with Ariana (Paulina Chavez) work as he sets out on his own to try to become an oil tycoon; and Tommy (Thornton) is promoted to tie more responsibilities at M-Tex after Monty’s death. It’s a stressful time, so let’s dive right in.
- Between Tommy’s breakfast lecture on the conspiracy theory and drinking coffee and cigarettes before the sun rises, I’m worried he’s having a heart attack too!
- There’s already good music this season – a Turnpike Troubadours needle drops in for less than five minutes? Hell yes!
- “The mosquitoes are so big they can fuck a turkey with flat feet.” Is it possible that this is not a common Texan expression, but rather a horrific reality in the South?
- “It’s a young women’s game here – no offense.” I’m sorry, Demi Moore made ‘The Substance’ – you have to treat her with respect or prepare to be eaten alive.
- Cami’s speech rules and is a great reminder of the take-no-prisoners attitude that makes this show special. “The only difference between me and Monty is that I’m meaner. Test me and you’ll find out how much.” Fuck yes!
- How is Cooper’s first exercise so successful? There’s one more shoe to drop in this get-rich-quick scheme, right?
- Wow, Ariana couldn’t be less excited about becoming a multi-millionaire overnight. Why is she so reserved?
- Angela (Ali Larter) expressing her love for gray sweatpants to her daughter, Ainsley (Michelle Randolph) is pretty gross! Will we see Tommy wearing them in a future episode?
- Ainsley and this college counselor couldn’t be less of a match — give me a bottle episode with these two on a road trip!
- Shout out to Randolph, who walks a tricky line between way over her head and disarmingly sweet during this scene. It’s hard to empathize with someone who spends most of the admissions meeting chatting about the importance of good-looking people having kids together, but she makes it work.
- Phew, what a sad introduction to TL (Sam Elliott). Is it too early to cry this season?
- TL’s harsh rebuttal to reconnecting with his wife after he dies: “If I do that, that means I’m in hell too.” Woof, we have some trauma to explore soon.
- The way the Norris women act around Cooper, you can almost smell him through the television.
- It’s funny how quickly everyone falls apart when Angela starts throwing plates during her tantrum. Bonus points for those around the table who escaped with their drinks and food in hand.
- Tommy and Angela’s quick NC-17 makeup after the dinner fight proves that those two weirdos are meant for each other.
- There’s something about smoking Thornton that makes the ugly habit so appealing, right?
- I love that final shot of the sunset, mirroring Tommy to who we now know is his father, TL, as they both search for meaning in the death of the family matriarch.
Until next week, feel free to discuss your own conspiracy theories and far-fetched easy money schemes in the comments below.
