Taylor Sheridan’s gritty oil drama Landman is back, and Season 2 promises to crank up the stakes with a volatile mix of corporate intrigue, family turmoil, and raw ambition. Premiering on Paramount+ in December 2025, the series welcomes heavyweights Sam Elliott and Demi Moore to an already stellar cast led by Billy Bob Thornton. Set in the sun-scorched boomtowns of West Texas, Landman dives deeper into the oil industry’s cutthroat world, where every deal reshapes economies, climates, and lives. With production underway and buzz building, this article unpacks the anticipated plot, character arcs, and themes of Season 2, exploring how Sheridan’s darkest, most explosive story yet will captivate audiences.
Plot Recap: Season 1’s High Stakes and Unfinished Business
Landman Season 1, inspired by the Boomtown podcast, introduced Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton), a crisis manager for M-Tex Oil navigating the chaos of West Texas oilfields. The story blended high-stakes corporate battles with personal struggles, as Tommy juggled his fractured family and dangerous alliances. Key plot points included the death of M-Tex’s CEO, Monty Miller (Jon Hamm), during heart surgery, thrusting Tommy into the presidency—a role he never wanted. His ex-wife Angela (Ali Larter) rekindled their romance, while their kids, Ainsley (Michelle Randolph) and Cooper (Jacob Lofland), faced their own dramas: Ainsley’s dreams of marrying rich and Cooper’s risky romance with Ariana (Paulina Chávez), a grieving widow.
The season’s tension peaked with the arrival of Gallino (Andy Garcia), a cartel boss pressuring Tommy to let drugs cross M-Tex land, setting up a dangerous partnership. Tommy also clashed with Rebecca Savage (Kayla Wallace), a cunning attorney appointed to co-lead M-Tex. The finale left Tommy facing impossible odds: a high-risk drilling deal that could bankrupt the company, a volatile cartel alliance, and personal responsibilities to his family. With 35 million global viewers and a Golden Globe nomination for Thornton, Season 1 established Landman as Paramount+’s most-watched original, setting a high bar for Season 2.
Season 2 picks up in the aftermath, with Tommy as M-Tex’s reluctant president. The plot will likely center on his efforts to secure the drilling deal while managing Gallino’s influence, which threatens to pull M-Tex into the criminal underworld. Demi Moore’s Cami Miller, Monty’s widow, steps into a larger role, possibly vying for control of M-Tex’s board. Sam Elliott joins as a series regular in an undisclosed role, rumored to be an industry veteran or Tommy’s mentor, adding gravitas to the corporate war. Newcomers like Guy Burnet as oil engineer Charlie Newsom and Miriam Silverman as admissions counselor Greta Stidham suggest fresh perspectives, while Stefania Spampinato’s recurring role hints at legal or business intrigue.
Expect explosive conflicts—literal and figurative—as oil rigs ignite, cartel tensions flare, and family ties strain. The Texas setting, with its dusty plains and sprawling rigs, will ground the drama, while Sheridan’s signature blend of action, betrayal, and moral ambiguity drives the narrative. The season may delve into environmental fallout, as the oil boom’s impact on climate and communities takes center stage, echoing the Boomtown podcast’s themes.
Character Arcs: Power, Loyalty, and Redemption
Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton): Tommy’s arc in Season 2 is a high-wire act of leadership and survival. Thrust into M-Tex’s presidency, he must navigate the drilling deal’s risks while outmaneuvering Gallino’s cartel. Thornton’s weathered charisma will shine as Tommy balances corporate pressure with personal loyalty to Angela and his kids. His arc could explore redemption, as he seeks to repair his family while grappling with moral compromises—helping the cartel to save M-Tex. Expect moments of raw vulnerability, like late-night confessions to Angela, contrasted with fierce confrontations, perhaps with Elliott’s character as a mentor pushing him to rise or fall.
Cami Miller (Demi Moore): Cami, elevated to a leading role, transforms from Monty’s grieving widow to a corporate powerhouse. Moore, riding high from her Oscar-nominated role in The Substance, will likely portray Cami as a strategic mastermind, challenging Tommy for control of M-Tex. Her arc may explore ambition and betrayal—does she honor Monty’s legacy or seize power for herself? Scenes of Cami navigating boardroom showdowns or clashing with Rebecca could showcase Moore’s commanding presence, making Cami a wildcard in the season’s power struggles.
Sam Elliott’s Character (Unnamed): Elliott, a Western legend from Sheridan’s 1883, joins as a series regular, possibly playing a seasoned oilman or Tommy’s father figure. His arc could center on guiding Tommy through the industry’s chaos, offering wisdom but also stirring conflict—perhaps he has his own agenda or past ties to Gallino. Elliott’s gravelly voice and stoic demeanor will add gravitas, with scenes like a tense rig-side standoff or a quiet mentorship moment amplifying the season’s emotional weight.
Angela Norris (Ali Larter): Angela’s rekindled romance with Tommy faces new tests as his presidency pulls him deeper into danger. Her arc will likely explore resilience, balancing her high-maintenance persona with fierce support for Tommy and their kids. Larter’s chemistry with Thornton could yield heartfelt scenes, like Angela confronting Tommy about his cartel ties, grounding the corporate drama in personal stakes.
Cooper and Ainsley Norris (Jacob Lofland, Michelle Randolph): Cooper’s ambition to start his own oil company, coupled with his volatile romance with Ariana, sets up a turbulent arc. He may clash with Tommy over business or risk danger by crossing Gallino. Ainsley, the dreamer, could face reality checks—perhaps a failed romance or career setback—forcing her to mature. Their arcs will keep the Norris family as the emotional core, with Lofland and Randolph delivering youthful energy.
Gallino (Andy Garcia): The cartel boss, introduced in Season 1’s finale, becomes a central threat. Garcia’s charismatic menace will drive his arc, as he manipulates Tommy to integrate the cartel into M-Tex’s operations. His affable yet ruthless demeanor could lead to chilling scenes, like a negotiation turned deadly, making Gallino a formidable foil to Tommy and Cami.
Supporting Cast (Rebecca, Ariana, Dale, etc.): Rebecca Savage’s cunning will clash with Cami and Tommy, her arc probing whether she’s ally or adversary. Ariana’s grief-fueled romance with Cooper may deepen, exploring themes of healing. Dale Bradley (James Jordan), the roughneck manager, will offer a grounded perspective, while new characters like Charlie Newsom and Greta Stidham add technical and community angles, enriching the narrative.
Thematic Depth: Power, Corruption, and Family
Landman Season 2 dives deeper into the oil industry’s moral quagmire, critiquing its environmental and social toll. The drilling deal’s high stakes—potentially bankrupting M-Tex—mirror real-world tensions between profit and sustainability, drawing from the Boomtown podcast’s insights. Gallino’s cartel ties introduce themes of corruption, as Tommy’s compromises blur the line between survival and complicity. Sheridan’s storytelling, known for its anti-establishment edge, will likely frame M-Tex as a microcosm of corporate greed, with Cami and Elliott’s characters embodying competing visions of power.
Family remains the emotional anchor. Tommy’s efforts to protect Angela, Cooper, and Ainsley contrast with his dangerous deals, echoing Sheridan’s Yellowstone in its blend of personal and professional stakes. Cami’s rise could explore gender dynamics in a male-dominated industry, while Cooper’s ambition and Ariana’s grief tackle generational and cultural struggles. The Texas landscape—rugged rigs, endless horizons—will amplify the sense of isolation and high stakes, with Sheridan’s cinematic style delivering visceral action, from rig explosions to cartel ambushes.
Production Buzz and Anticipation
Season 2, co-created by Sheridan and Christian Wallace, began filming in Texas in April 2025, following a swift renewal in March after Season 1’s record-breaking viewership. Paramount+’s Q2 earnings call confirmed a December 2025 premiere, capitalizing on holiday viewership trends, as seen with Sheridan’s 1883 and 1923. The addition of Sam Elliott, alongside Moore’s expanded role, boosts star power, while Burnet, Silverman, and Spampinato broaden the narrative scope. Jon Hamm’s exit as Monty shifts focus to new dynamics, though his absence risks diluting the corporate intrigue he anchored.
Challenges include balancing the sprawling cast—Tommy, Cami, Gallino, and Elliott’s character could strain screen time, potentially sidelining family arcs. Sheridan’s knack for ensemble storytelling, honed in Yellowstone, should mitigate this, but the season must avoid Season 1’s criticism of uneven character focus. The production’s Texas shoot, capturing authentic oilfield grit, will enhance visual impact, with Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch Productions ensuring a polished, high-energy aesthetic.
Legacy and Why It Matters
Landman Season 2, with its 10-episode run, aims to surpass Season 1’s 7/10 IMDb rating and cement Sheridan’s reputation for crafting unflinching American sagas. The addition of Elliott and Moore, paired with Thornton’s Golden Globe-nominated performance, positions the season as a must-watch, blending Western bravado with modern stakes. Fans of Sheridan’s Tulsa King and Lioness will find familiar intensity, while newcomers will be drawn to the clash of titans—Tommy vs. Cami vs. Gallino—in a world where every choice sparks a war.
As oil rigs burn and family ties fray, Landman Season 2 promises to be Sheridan’s darkest, most explosive chapter yet. With Moore’s cunning, Elliott’s gravitas, and Thornton’s grit, this is a battle for power, loyalty, and legacy you won’t see coming.
