A Triumphant Return to the Oil Patch

On November 16, 2025, Paramount+ unleashed the highly anticipated second season of Landman, Taylor Sheridan’s gritty drama set in the unforgiving oilfields of West Texas. After a blockbuster debut in 2024 that became Paramount+’s most-watched global premiere, the series returns with Billy Bob Thornton reprising his role as Tommy Norris, the embattled landman-turned-president of M-TEX Oil. Season 2 dives deeper into the high-stakes world of roughnecks, billionaires, and now, a dangerous cartel connection led by Andy Garcia’s menacing Galino. With family tensions simmering through Ali Larter’s Angela Norris, a larger role for Demi Moore’s Cami Miller, and the addition of Western icon Sam Elliott, Landman Season 2 promises explosive twists, raw emotion, and Sheridan’s signature blend of crime and drama. Filmed across Texas and Oklahoma, the season is poised to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Let’s explore the chaos, ambition, and heart of this modern-day tale of fortune and betrayal.

Tommy Norris Faces New Challenges

Billy Bob Thornton’s Tommy Norris, the heart and soul of Landman, is no stranger to crises. In Season 1, which premiered on November 17, 2024, Tommy navigated a relentless storm of lawsuits, dangerous working conditions, and a kidnapping by a local cartel. The season finale, aired on January 12, 2025, delivered a gut-punch with the sudden death of M-TEX Oil’s CEO, Monty Miller (Jon Hamm), from a heart attack, thrusting Tommy into the company’s presidency—a role he never wanted. Season 2 picks up with Tommy grappling with this new responsibility, balancing corporate pressures with a risky alliance with cartel boss Galino, played by Andy Garcia.

Thornton, who earned a Golden Globe nomination for his Season 1 performance, brings raw authenticity to Tommy, a fixer whose life is a constant juggling act. In a June 2025 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Thornton described the scripts as “like picking up a book you can’t put down,” hinting at the intense stakes awaiting Tommy. Now running M-TEX, Tommy must finalize a high-risk exploratory drilling deal that could bankrupt the company if it fails. Adding to the tension is his uneasy partnership with Galino, who wants to use M-TEX’s land to expand his cartel’s operations. Thornton teased a “chess match” dynamic with Garcia’s character, noting, “Tommy’s got a smart guy on the opposite side of the law who is his equal.” This battle of wits promises to be a central thread, blending legitimate business with illegal dealings.

The season also introduces new challenges closer to home. Tommy’s relationship with ace lawyer Rebecca Falcone (Kayla Wallace) remains contentious, with their professional feud poised to escalate. Despite her legal prowess, Tommy distrusts her, and Season 2 will explore whether she becomes an ally or a threat. As Thornton told Collider in July 2025, “Rebecca’s someone Tommy doesn’t know how to handle, and that’s dangerous.” With M-TEX’s future on the line and Galino’s influence growing, Tommy’s decisions will ripple through the oilfields and beyond.

A Star-Studded Cast Elevates the Drama

Landman Season 2 boasts an ensemble cast that amplifies its emotional and dramatic weight. Demi Moore, fresh off an Oscar-nominated performance in The Substance, takes a more prominent role as Cami Miller, the widow of Monty Miller. In Season 1, Cami was underutilized, but co-creator Christian Wallace promised Variety in April 2025 that “there’s a lot more story to tell with Cami.” As Tommy’s friend and now a key player in M-TEX, Cami steps into the oil business, navigating a world of tycoons and roughnecks. Moore, who confirmed filming plans at Cannes in May 2024, described the role as “a subculture we haven’t seen before,” praising Sheridan’s ability to unearth hidden worlds. Her expanded arc will explore her grief and ambition, potentially clashing with Tommy’s leadership style.

Ali Larter returns as Angela Norris, Tommy’s ex-wife, whose rekindled relationship with him adds layers of family drama. In Season 1, Angela’s flirtatious and chaotic energy stirred tension, and Larter told Elle in April 2025 that Season 2 will show Angela in “a different place in her life,” with shifting priorities. The Norris family—Tommy, Angela, and their children, Cooper (Jacob Lofland) and Ainsley (Michelle Randolph)—faces new tests, with Cooper pursuing his own path in the oil industry and Ainsley’s rebellious streak causing friction. Larter and Thornton’s chemistry, described as an “unlikely love affair” by The Hollywood Reporter, will delve into sensitive, emotional moments, grounding the high-stakes plot in family dynamics.

The addition of Sam Elliott as a series regular is a major coup. Known for his roles in Tombstone and Sheridan’s 1883, Elliott brings his signature cowboy gravitas to an unspecified role. Thornton, who called Elliott “a mentor and a hero” in a Collider interview, hinted at a character who deepens the season’s moral and generational clashes. Filming locations in Oklahoma, including the Choctaw Casino & Resort, suggest Elliott’s role may tie into new storylines involving politics or business ventures beyond the oil rigs. His presence, alongside Thornton, promises a reunion of Western icons that fans are buzzing about on X, with one user posting, “Sam Elliott in Landman S2? That’s Texas gold!”

Andy Garcia’s Galino, introduced in the Season 1 finale, becomes a series regular, escalating the cartel threat. Garcia, tight-lipped about specifics, told The Hollywood Reporter in June 2025 that the scripts are “beautiful,” hinting at a complex dynamic with Tommy. Galino’s proposal to integrate the cartel into the oil business sets the stage for moral dilemmas and dangerous alliances. Other returning cast members include Jacob Lofland as Cooper, Michelle Randolph as Ainsley, Paulina Chávez as Ariana Medina, Kayla Wallace as Rebecca Falcone, James Jordan as Dale Bradley, Mark Collie as Sheriff Walt Joeberg, and Colm Feore as Nathan. Newcomer Stefania Spampinato joins in a recurring role, adding fresh intrigue, though details remain under wraps.

Taylor Sheridan’s Vision: Grit, Drama, and Controversy

Created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, Landman is adapted from the 2019 Texas Monthly podcast Boomtown, which chronicled the real-life impact of the West Texas oil boom. Sheridan, the mastermind behind Yellowstone, Tulsa King, and 1883, infuses Landman with his trademark blend of rugged authenticity and high-stakes drama. The series explores the upstairs/downstairs dynamics of roughnecks and billionaires, highlighting the oil industry’s impact on climate, economy, and geopolitics. Season 1, which garnered a 78% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, was praised for Thornton’s performance and its gritty portrayal of the Permian Basin, though it faced criticism for one-dimensional female characters and technical inaccuracies in oilfield depictions.

Season 2 aims to address some of these critiques, particularly with expanded roles for Moore and Larter. Wallace, who grew up in Andrews, Texas, and worked on drilling rigs, told Collider in November 2024 that he keeps an “ongoing list” of storylines from oilfield contacts, ensuring the show stays rooted in reality. However, Sheridan’s loose writing process, as Thornton revealed in a Variety interview, allows characters to drive the narrative, often leading to unexpected twists. “Taylor doesn’t always know where it’s going,” Thornton said. “He lets the story take him.” This approach promises a season full of surprises, with filming locations expanding to Oklahoma’s Choctaw Casino & Resort, TCU, and Fort Worth, hinting at broader themes of politics and power.

The show hasn’t shied away from controversy. A Season 1 rant by Tommy about wind turbines’ carbon footprint sparked debate, with fossil fuel advocates on X reposting the clip, including one user who wrote, “Tommy Norris spitting facts about renewables!” Critics, however, called the dialogue misleading, per Newsweek. Season 2 is likely to lean into these environmental themes, with Tommy and Cami navigating M-TEX’s role in a changing industry. The addition of Elliott, a vocal advocate for Western storytelling, may amplify these discussions, potentially introducing a generational perspective on resource exploitation.

Production and Reception: A Global Hit

Filming for Season 2 began in April 2025 and wrapped in August, with production spanning Fort Worth, Midland-Odessa, and Durant, Oklahoma. Casting calls in Jacksboro for funeral scenes and assisted living residents suggest a somber nod to Monty Miller’s death, while police station scenes hint at legal entanglements for Tommy. The move to Oklahoma, reported by Collider in July 2025, introduces casino settings, possibly tied to new business ventures or cartel activities. The season’s ambitious scope, from TCU’s campus to downtown Fort Worth, reflects Sheridan’s vision of a sprawling narrative that transcends the oil rigs.

Landman’s first season reached 14.9 million households in its first four weeks, making it Paramount+’s most-watched original series. Its global premiere and finale set streaming records, and Season 2 is positioned for similar success, with a November 2025 premiere aligning with Sheridan’s fall release strategy. Thornton’s performance, described by Rotten Tomatoes as turning “Texas crude into highly watchable fuel,” continues to anchor the show, while Elliott’s addition has fans buzzing. An X post from @landmanpplus on March 12, 2025, announced the renewal with, “See ya in the patch!” capturing the excitement.

What to Expect: Twists, Betrayal, and Family

Season 2 will delve deeper into Tommy’s leadership struggles, with the exploratory drilling deal hanging over M-TEX like a dark cloud. His dynamic with Galino, described by Garcia as “beautifully written,” will test Tommy’s moral compass, while Rebecca Falcone’s legal maneuvering adds another layer of betrayal. Cami’s rise in the oil business, as teased by Wallace, positions her as a wildcard—will she align with Tommy or challenge him? The Norris family’s drama, particularly Angela’s evolving role and Cooper’s ambitions, will ground the corporate and criminal stakes in personal struggles. Elliott’s mysterious character is set to introduce new conflicts, possibly tied to the Oklahoma casino scenes.

Sheridan’s knack for cliffhangers ensures Season 2 will end with shocks, much like Monty’s death in Season 1. Fans on X are already speculating, with one writing, “Tommy vs. Galino is gonna be epic—betrayal’s coming!” The season’s focus on family, as Larter noted, will balance the high-octane drama with moments of vulnerability, making Landman a must-watch for fans of Sheridan’s storytelling.

A Modern Western Epic

Landman Season 2, streaming exclusively on Paramount+, is a raw, ambitious continuation of a story that captures the wild heart of West Texas. With Thornton’s Tommy Norris at the helm, Moore’s Cami stepping up, Larter’s Angela evolving, Garcia’s Galino scheming, and Elliott’s arrival shaking things up, the series delivers the grit, betrayal, and emotion Sheridan fans crave. As Tommy navigates the oilfields, cartels, and family ties, Landman remains a powerful exploration of ambition and sacrifice. Buckle up for a wild ride—Season 2 is here, and the patch has never been more dangerous.