The Season 2 premiere of Landman opens like a punch to the ribs, reminding us why Taylor Sheridan’s oil-patch drama works best when it’s messy, loud, and deeply human. Episode 1, “Death and a Sunset,” doesn’t waste time easing viewers back into West Texas; it barrels in with volatile family energy, corporate pressure, and the kind of emotional whiplash that Billy Bob Thornton delivers better than almost anyone.
The centerpiece of the episode is an unforgettable dinner scene between Tommy Norris, his ex-wife Angela, and their kids. What starts as an awkward family gathering detonates when Tommy makes a painfully insensitive remark about Angela’s menstrual cycle, sending her into a plate-throwing rage that is as comical as it is brutal. In a way, it feels like a copy of a Beth Dutton dinner scene from Yellowstone. Thornton and Ali Larter lean into the chaos with a chemistry that feels lived-in; the sequence spirals into total destruction before Tommy diffuses it in the only way he can, emotional jiu-jitsu disguised as flattery. They end the scene sitting together on the floor of a wrecked dining room, surrounded by food and shattered dishes, encapsulating the strange tenderness at the heart of their relationship.
But the comedy is short-lived. A late-night phone call brings the news that Tommy’s mother, Dorothy Norris, has died. This moment is foreshadowed with a quiet, poignant scene featuring Sam Elliott as T.L., Tommy’s father. Sitting on a porch in an assisted-living facility, T.L. watches the sunset, refusing to come inside until the day fully ends. When he learns of Dorothy’s death, Elliott delivers a restrained yet powerful performance, expressing grief, bitterness, and loss with a few simple words. The symbolism of the sunset mirrors the episode’s title, underscoring themes of mortality, legacy, and the passage of time. T.L.’s quiet sorrow sets up an emotional anchor for the season, hinting at unresolved family tensions that are likely to intersect with Tommy’s story in significant ways.
Another standout moment comes from Demi Moore as Cami Miller, who asserts her presence with a fiery speech at an M-Tex luncheon. Responding to subtle slights about her age and the challenges of stepping into her late husband Monty’s role, Cami makes it clear she is not to be underestimated. Her speech is a declaration of power, showing that Cami is ready to lead M-Tex on her own terms while honoring Monty’s legacy. It establishes her as a formidable force, unwilling to be sidelined, and immediately sets up a season of corporate and personal tension.
Around the edges, the premiere sets up the season’s broader conflicts. Tommy’s position in the oil world is becoming more precarious, with power players like Cami and cartel figures such as Gallino still in orbit. The introduction of T.L. and the reassertion of Cami’s authority layer the show with emotional and corporate stakes, suggesting that family history and legacy will be as central as business machinations.
What the episode may lack in structural tightness, it makes up for in texture, sweeping visuals, commanding performances, and an undercurrent of danger that keeps Landman humming. Thornton remains magnetic, grounding the show’s grand Texas oil mythos in something raw and surprisingly intimate. The premiere doesn’t just set the stage for Season 2; it reminds us why this world of money, dust, and bad decisions is so compelling in the first place.
Landman airs Sundays on Paramount+.
