Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Landman season 2, episode 4.Tommy Norris’ (Billy Bob Thornton) family problems came to a head in one of the darkest and most emotional episodes of Landman season 2 so far, and it ended in a surprising way. While Tommy has been dealing with M-Tex, Gallino, and a host of professional problems that Landman season 2, episode 3 only made worse, this week’s episode decided to focus more on the Norris family’s portion of the cast of Landman and Sam Elliott’s TL Norris specifically.
There were still some big developments on the M-Tex side of Landman season 2, episode 4. Gallino (via his alter ego Dan Morrell) made a deal with Cami, Rebecca Falcone had a very eventful plane ride and met a mystery man, and even more happened that is worth an explanation. And, of course, Tommy’s massive decision to let TL move in with him and his family is worth taking a closer look at.
Why TL Norris Is Moving In With Tommy’s Family In Landman Season 2
At the end of Landman season 2, episode 4, Tommy went back to TL’s retirement home and offered him a second chance at rebuilding their father/son relationship. He moved TL out of the retirement community and let him move into the house with him, Angela, and Ainsley. Given how troubled Tommy’s childhood was and how there’s clearly no love lost between him and TL, that was a very surprising decision.
Luckily, Landman did a good job of explaining why Tommy gave his father a second chance. Angela did most of the heavy lifting, as she convinced Tommy that forgiving TL would give both of them peace. She also decided that having TL move in with the Norris family was the best way to achieve that peace; it gives Tommy and TL much more time to interact and get to know each other again, and it gives TL some of the love he’s been missing for years.
Angela had a few reasons to convince Tommy: she knew TL wanted to make amends because of her work at the retirement home, and she wanted Tommy to find peace so he could be a better husband and father. She mentioned that Tommy can’t be a father if he can’t be a son to TL, and since they’re making a new effort to actually make their family work again, Angela needs Tommy to be more mentally and emotionally healthy.
Tommy also probably wanted to give TL a second chance on some level, otherwise he wouldn’t have given into Angela’s demands. During his talk with Ainsley, Tommy mentioned that his mother was the real problem in his childhood, and some of the things he said indicated that he empathizes with TL. As for TL, he had no downsides in the deal: he got to move out of the retirement home he hated, and he gets a second chance to make things right with his son.
Who Is Rebecca’s Romantic Interest In Landman Season 2? Guy Burnet’s Charlie Explained
Tommy and TL’s old relationship wasn’t the only focus of Landman season 2, episode 4, though. Rebecca Falcone also made a new connection with a mysterious roughneck she met on a plane. After getting drunk to calm her nerves for the turbulence, Rebecca woke up in his room the next morning after a one-night stand. Landman didn’t give us much information about Rebecca’s new love interest, but we do have some details to analyze.
Landman Season 2 Cast Adds New Crime Series Star In Recurring Role
Taylor Sheridan’s Landman brings on two more cast members for season 2, one of whom appeared in Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning Oppenheimer.
The roughneck, played by Guy Barnet, is credited as Charlie in Landman‘s credits, though he didn’t actually give his name in the episode. Charlie mentioned that he works in the oil fields, though he didn’t say what exactly he does or who he works for. Luckily, thanks to some promo photos of Landman season 2 that showed Charlie in the same room as Cami and Tommy, we can reasonably assume he works for M-Tex.
If that proves true, Rebecca and Charlie could have a very awkward reunion coming up. However, that could also mean that Charlie and Rebecca are going to start dating. Charlie clearly likes Rebecca, and once she got her bearings and saw his very nice apartment, Rebecca seemed interested in Charlie. If they have time to get to know each other better at work, Rebecca and Charlie might be Landman‘s newest couple.
Why Ariana Let Cooper Move Back In Explained
Another big relationship development in Landman season 2, episode 4 saw Ariana let Cooper move back in with her. That came as a bit of a surprise even to Cooper, as Ariana very dramatically kicked him out of the house in episode 2 and seemed to be moving on with her life without him. She even said that Cooper had made some huge mistakes, and she was mad that he didn’t try to fight harder to stay in her life.
There are a couple reasons Ariana changed her mind about her relationship with Cooper. The first is that Cooper actually did something right for once: he listened to Ariana’s complaints, agreed to start respecting her wishes and consider her dreams while thinking about the future, and took a real step towards changing his own behavior. Ariana set a (dramatic) boundary when she kicked Cooper out of the house, and once he proved he would respect that boundary, she let him back into her life.
Ariana’s experiences at the funeral likely also helped with her decision. Seeing how bad the Norris family is and how much infighting there is probably gave Ariana an explanation for why Cooper is so bad at being in a relationship. It also gave her an insight into Cooper that she wasn’t considering, and probably won him some sympathy points. In short, Ariana decided to give Cooper a second chance, and he didn’t disappoint.
Gallino Made A Deal With Cami & M-Tex But Only Wants To Work With Tommy
The last big development of Landman season 2, episode 4 was more focused on business. Cami had a business meeting with Gallino (as Danny Morrell) where she asked for his financial help for M-Tex. Gallino decided to invest in M-Tex and help fund the effort to rebuild the offshore natural gas rig that Cami and Tommy have been trying to fund all season long. While he agreed to help, however, Gallino refused to work with Cami.
To explain his motives, Gallino used a metaphor about snakes eating other snakes. In his mind, he views himself as a snake and Tommy as a hawk that preys on snakes, while he views Cami as a rabbit. Gallino refused to negotiate with Cami because he thinks of himself as a cutthroat businessman, and he thinks Cami doesn’t have the experience necessary to negotiate a difficult deal like this.
| Landman Season 2 Release Schedule | |
|---|---|
| Episode Title | Release Date (Sundays @ Midnight PT) |
| Death and a Sunset | November 16 |
| Sins of the Father | November 23 |
| Almost a Home | November 30 |
| Dancing Rainbows | December 7 |
| The Pirate Dinner | December 14 |
| Dark Night of the Soul | December 21 |
| Forever is an Instant | December 28 |
| Handsome Touched Me | January 4 |
| Plans, Tears, and Sirens | January 11 |
| Tragedy and Flies | January 18 |
Gallino seems to have a sense of honor about his business dealings. He wants to work with Tommy because Tommy can hold his own: he knows the oil industry inside and out, he’ll fight tooth and nail for the best deal ever, and Tommy already knows who Gallino really is. Working with Tommy is a “fair fight” in Gallino’s mind, whereas he would see negotiating with Cami as taking advantage of her inexperience.
Regardless of who Gallino chooses to do business with, there’s one key takeaway from the episode: Gallino is going to help fund the offshore rig’s rebuilding. What his help entails, and whether he’s going to get his tentacles on Cami and M-Tex proper in addition to the ways he’s trying to manipulate Tommy, remain to be seen. It’s still too early to tell how this will all play out, but Gallino certainly has a plan in mind for Landman‘s future.
- Release Date
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November 17, 2024
- Writers
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Taylor Sheridan, Christian Wallace
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Billy Bob Thornton
Tommy Norris
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