Billy Bob Thornton Tried To Warn Us About Landman Season 2

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Honestly, Season 2 of Landman isn’t really hitting the mark for a lot of us. Billy Bob Thornton actually hinted before it dropped that this season would be a slower pace, and he wasn’t wrong. It started on November 16, 2025, and brings back his character, Tommy Norris, dealing with all the drama in the West Texas oil fields – the Permian Basin, specifically. It’s definitely a different feel than the first season.

In the second season of Landman, Tommy Norris has moved up from being Monty Miller’s reliable right-hand man to the president of M-Tex Oil. While big things are coming for Tommy after episode nine, the season as a whole has received mixed reactions from viewers.

Billy Bob Thornton Called Landman Season 2 A “Slow-Burn”

The show has received mixed reactions, with some online viewers saying they’re finding it hard to get into the second season. Before it aired, the creator hinted that Season 2 would be different from the first, specifically mentioning changes to the show’s speed and rhythm.

Thornton recently shared that Season 2 will unfold more gradually, focusing on the connections between characters, since viewers already know them. He explained this approach is thanks to co-creator Taylor Sheridan, who writes the episodes and is also known for creating Yellowstone and the films Sicario, Wind River, and Hell or High Water.

Many viewers online are saying the show feels slow-paced and isn’t working for them. However, others continue to believe it’s one of the best shows on TV. Regardless, comments from one of the show’s creators, Thornton, explain that the slower pace was a deliberate choice when planning the second season.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Thornton explained that the first season of Landman focused on establishing the world of the oil industry and its key components for viewers. He believes this groundwork helps explain the show’s current shift in tone and why it might not be resonating with audiences as expected.

While some viewers have found certain storylines in Landman frustrating, these same stories might actually be meant to help us understand the characters better. Opinions on the show, particularly regarding Tommy’s family – his wife, daughter, son, and Angela (Ali Larter) and Ainsley (Michelle Randolph) – are really mixed.

Landman Season 2 Repeats Taylor Sheridan’s Recent Trend

The series Landman, which premiered on Paramount+ last year, was created by Christian Wallace and Taylor Sheridan. It’s inspired by the Boomtown podcast, which focuses on the oil industry. Sheridan also co-created the popular Yellowstone franchise. Like some of his other shows, Season 2 of Landman has received criticism, with many viewers pointing out problems with the show’s pacing.

Viewers have given feedback on recent seasons of shows like Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2, 1923, and Landman Season 2, saying the initial episodes felt slow and focused too much on side characters and storylines. While many still watch, particularly for Kevin Costner’s performance, some fans are frustrated by the lack of immediate action and changes to his character’s role.

Season 1 of Landman dove into the intense world of oil production, following Tommy Norris as he navigated challenges and managed risks for M-Tex. His interactions with Jimenez (Alex Meraz) and efforts to avoid major problems created compelling, high-quality television. Tommy’s everyday work was key to the show’s exciting and often surprising moments.

Many viewers feel that Season 2 of Landman lacks the dramatic, high-stakes oilfield scenes that made the first season on Paramount+ so engaging. This contributes to the season’s slow pace, which, while understandable, continues a pattern of struggling to balance the story’s speed with emotional impact.

According to Thornton, the second season of the oil drama gets increasingly intense as it progresses. The relationship between Tommy and [character name] will probably give viewers what they anticipate, but Ariana’s storyline in the season finale could be surprisingly disappointing for some.

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2026-01-11 21:08