Warning: This article contains spoilers for Landman Season 2, Episode 9 – "Plans, Tears and Sirens".
Taylor Sheridan has become synonymous with gritty, intense storytelling, especially through his hit series Yellowstone. However, his latest show, Landman, which is set in the heart of West Texas’ oil industry, has tried to carve out its own unique identity — blending dramatic family narratives with moments of quirky humor. Despite these distinct differences, Sheridan can’t seem to fully resist injecting the hallmark ultraviolence that defined Yellowstone into Landman.
The Violent Turn in Landman Season 2, Episode 9
Season 2 of Landman has developed a steady romantic storyline through Cooper Norris (played by Jacob Lofland) and Ariana Medina (Paulina Chavez). Ariana, who was initially a grieving widow, has recently started to assert more agency in her life by taking a bartending job at The Patch Cafe. This evolution was a welcome change for her character, showing growth and resilience.
But in the ninth episode of season 2, that progress was suddenly undercut in a disturbing and shocking scene: Ariana is sexually assaulted in an alley behind the cafe by Johnny (Mike Harkins), a man seeking revenge for her earlier rejection of his harassment. This moment was jarring – not only because of its brutality but because it felt more like a forced replication of the dark and violent tone Sheridan established in Yellowstone rather than fitting within the established tone of Landman.
Sexual Assault and Its Place in Landman’s Narrative
The sexual assault scene was especially difficult to watch and felt out of place amidst the oil industry drama. While Landman hasn’t shied away from violence—featuring explosive car crashes, physical fights, and even murder in its storylines—it had not delved into this level of graphic personal trauma for its female characters before.
Landman Season 2 has wrestled with how to develop substantial, meaningful storylines for its women, including Ariana, Angela Russo (Ali Larter), and Ainsley Norris (Michelel Randolph). Ariana, in particular, had just started to regain control of her life after the traumatic loss she suffered in season 1. Getting a job was a positive step forward for her character, which made the violent attack feel like a setback and a troubling narrative device that repositions her primarily as a victim in need of rescue.
This assault echoes the severe, often brutal violence endured by Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Monica Dutton (Kelsey Asbille) in Yellowstone. Both characters faced harrowing beatings and assaults, which became defining moments in their stories. However, Landman has generally maintained a different tone—less ruthless and more nuanced—making this violent turn even more unsettling.
Cooper Norris: Continuing the Legacy of Violence in Landman
Cooper Norris, following his father Tommy Norris’s footsteps both as a landman and in violence, once again finds himself embroiled in one of the show’s bloodiest moments. In season 2, episode 9, Cooper steps in as the protector, fiercely defending Ariana by beating Johnny into a bloody pulp.
Thankfully, the show avoids letting Cooper cross the line into murder territory, although he came close. This contrasts with season 1, where Cooper was a victim of violent retaliation himself when relatives of Ariana’s late husband Elvio gang up on him and hospitalize him.
This cycle of ultraviolence is a recurring pattern in Landman, mirroring Yellowstone‘s signature brutal justice system. Yet it raises questions about whether such a level of bloodshed truly fits within the oil industry setting of Midland, Texas, and whether Sheridan might consider dialing back the violence to focus more on character development and narrative depth.
The Impact of Violence on Landman’s Female Characters
The ongoing struggle to craft meaningful arcs for female characters is compounded by their frequent positioning as victims within Sheridan’s violent narratives. For Ariana, this attack is a significant narrative crossroad, but one that may restrict her growth to being defined by trauma rather than strength.
Other female characters like Angela Russo and Ainsley Norris have similarly faced challenges in finding substantial storylines that fully explore their personalities beyond the violence they encounter or represent. This lack of nuanced female narratives is a notable concern as it diminishes the show’s ability to present balanced and empowered characters amidst its sprawling drama.
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Conclusion
Landman continues to grapple with balancing its unique family-centric, oil industry drama with the unmistakably intense violence reminiscent of Taylor Sheridan’s earlier work on Yellowstone. While Landman offers fresh narrative elements and character quirks, the sudden harshness seen in Ariana’s assault marks a tonal shift that many fans found unsettling and out of sync with the show’s initial promise.
Cooper Norris’s involvement in the violent justice sequences, much like his father’s, signals a recurring cycle of brutality that punctuates the series’ storylines. Meanwhile, the struggle to provide meaningful development for female characters remains a significant hurdle that could define the show’s future direction.
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