No more waiting: "Landman" season 2 is finally here. The first episode of the season premiered on Paramount Plus earlier today (Nov. 16), and the streaming service is certainly hoping that the biggest hit it had last year is back to dominate the ratings once again.
Well, whether or not it dominates the ratings remains to be seen, though I have my suspicions it will do just fine. But I can promise you that the show we got last year is back, and it's still just the way it was in season 1, for better and for worse.
For those who missed the show's debut season, or just need a refresher, "Landman stars Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris. He's a crisis executive or “landman” for M-Tex, a Texas Oil company run by Monty Miller (Jon Hamm). Spoiler alert for those who haven't seen the first season: Monty dies. That leaves Monty's widow Cami (Demi Moore) in charge of the company, and elevates Tommy to her No. 2 in command.
Spoilers for "Landman" season 2 premiere beyond this point
That's where season 2 picks up, and in the trailer, we're painted a picture of an M-Tex in real trouble. The sharks are circling the company because Monty's death has blood in the water, and Tommy and Cami are in a fight to keep things business as usual.
We get some of this boardroom brawling in the premiere episode, with Cami delivering some killer lines after a few less-than-savory women savagely insult her over her age in the bathroom. She's soon reminded by Cami, who is really in charge — as is everyone else in the room — when the newly minted oil executive reminds them whose luncheon it is that they're all seated at. Or, as she eloquently puts it, "Enjoy your lunch. I paid for it with f---ing money."
Malcolm has been on the Tom's Guide streaming team since 2023, reviewing dozens of shows each year so you only have to watch the good ones.
"Landman" remains a tale of two shows
There's no denying that's a killer line from Demi Moore. There's also no denying that the oil industry drama at the heart of this show is still entertaining and compelling. Even when Billy Bob Thornton, perhaps acting as a mouthpiece for show creator Taylor Sheridan, uses some of his valuable screen time to rail against big cereal, declaring that our ancestors got it right when they opted for bone marrow over corn flakes, we're still having a fun time.
Even Cooper's (Jacob Lofland) storyline is intriguing in this first episode. Tommy's son has struck out on his own as a landman, and in this first episode, we see his first attempt at drilling strike black gold, ostensibly transforming him and his former co-worker's widow/current lover into millionaires. And yet, you get the nagging feeling that something will inevitably go horribly wrong there, so you can't help but want to see what's next.
Let's not forget that in this episode, we're introduced to T.L. (Sam Elliott), Tommy's father. Based on this episode and the trailer for "Landman" season 2, T.L. looks set to be involved in the drama whether we're with the Norris family or we're drilling for oil. I don't need to be told twice to stick around to see how that storyline plays out.
Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the rest of Tommy's family. Ali Larter and Michelle Randolph remain the weak links of the show, just like in season 1. Though in the case of the former, it's not for lack of acting talent. The way these two women are written remains atrocious, which is baffling when you consider that Demi Moore's portrayal of Cami, which is an increased role this season, is written relatively well.
The final third of this episode is a prime example of how cringey these two characters can be. We meet them for the first time this season, with Angela (Larter) commenting to her daughter (Randolph), an incoming college freshman played by a 28-year-old, about what a blessing gray sweatpants on college boys are. Setting aside whether or not a woman her age should discuss this at all, let alone with a daughter who is 18 at the oldest, it's just an eye-roll-inducing moment, and you can't help but think it's there simply for shock value.
Similarly, once we're done with our time at TCU's campus, which includes Ainsley rambling about how it is “best for humanity” if the attractive people breed, we then head back to the Norris homestead in Midland. Here, Angela attempts to prepare a cultured meal of cacio e pepe with a $2,800 white truffle, which is admittedly comical. But the comedy of the moment is undercut by Tommy making not one but three separate comments about how she's on her period and it's affecting her mental state. Again, the value of this to the show's overall plot and story remains a mystery.
Maybe things will improve as the season goes on; maybe they won't. Most likely, for the vast majority of viewers, the side plot of the Norris women and their antics will provide something from comic relief to an opportunity to scroll on your phone until the show gets back to what works, which is the drama about our titular landman as he tries to keep his dead friend's company afloat.
But here's the thing: Sheridan used this same formula in season 1, and it worked. Whether you liked the season, found it uneven with some incredible moments (like I did), or flat-out loved it, this show was incredibly popular in season 1. So, perhaps unsurprisingly, Sheridan seems to have adopted an attitude of if it ain't broke, don't fix it. This is what "Landman" is, for better or worse, and the season 2 premiere seems proof that we're not changing things up any time soon.
Watch "Landman" on Paramount Plus
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