Billy Bob Thornton Warned ‘Landman’ Fans About Season 2

The second season of Landman is nearing its conclusion, and viewers are expressing disappointment. The season has focused more on the characters’ personal lives than on the land itself, which many fans dislike. Ratings reflect this, with the current season scoring only 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, a significant drop from Season 1’s 68%. IMDb scores have also been consistently lower, generally falling below 8/10. Notably, Billy Bob Thornton, the show’s star, actually anticipated this decline in popularity several months ago.

Noting Cami’s tendency to make questionable choices, Tommy Thornton warned viewers to prepare for a change in tone with the new season. While careful not to outright say the season would be bad – he needs to keep his job, after all – he subtly suggested fans temper their expectations, joking that Taylor Sheridan seems to be taking inspiration from Cami’s decision-making style. Having starred in successful shows like Fargo and Goliath, Thornton feels he can accurately predict a show’s trajectory, and he believes Landman is heading in a different direction.

Thornton Knew Fans Would Yawn a Lot in Season 2

Paramount+

Before Season 2 began, Billy Bob Thornton and Christian Wallace, who co-created the show, spoke with Entertainment Weekly about their experiences. They also gave fans a preview of what’s to come, with Thornton admitting the new season would be less action-packed than the first.

Now that everyone knows who’s who, it’s been amazing to see Taylor really explore the connections between the characters. Last season was all about introductions – explaining the business and everyone’s roles. This season, he could jump right into the heart of things, focusing on how this family and business actually work together. And honestly, it just keeps building from there – the tension and drama really ramp up as the season goes on, and it’s incredibly gripping.

Sheridan is really focusing on her relationships. Rebecca has found a nice guy and is enjoying her personal life as much as her career. Angela is prioritizing in-person visits over video calls, even if things get a little messy. Cooper is trying hard to impress Ariana and will go to great lengths to prove himself, sometimes without thinking things through. And Ainsley is determined to be both the ultimate supportive partner and devoted to her mother.

We’re seeing a lot more of all the characters now, and no one feels mysterious or distant anymore – everyone gets plenty of screen time. But this focus on characters has meant we’ve lost some of what made the show unique. It used to be Landman, deeply involved in the details of the oil industry like thermodynamics and fracking. Now, it feels more like a general Family Man drama, and those fascinating details have been left behind.

‘Landman’ Has Become a Soap Opera

Paramount

Currently, Landman feels less like a show about the oil industry and more like a dramatic soap opera, similar to Dallas. It wouldn’t be shocking if the season ended with a dramatic cliffhanger. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with focusing on personal relationships and drama, if that’s the direction Taylor Sheridan wants to take, he could create a completely new show specifically for that purpose – and he certainly has the means to do so.

The first season really succeeded by showing the gritty, technical details of oil drilling and the unique world of the people who do it. While the storylines involving the companies are interesting, we’ve only seen glimpses of them in the current season. Cami was presented as a strong, experienced leader who would improve M-Tex, but she’s mostly shown up to create conflict with Tommy. And Tommy himself hasn’t really made any significant progress in his career lately.

Subscribe to the newsletter for sharp Landman analysis

Crave sharper takes on Landman’s creative shifts and what they mean for the show’s future? Subscribe to the newsletter for focused analysis, episode breakdowns, and thoughtful perspective on the series and its storytelling choices.

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s

and

. You can unsubscribe anytime.

According to Thornton, the recent episodes have become increasingly dramatic, but not in a satisfying way. The second-to-last episode sparked a lot of debate because of a conflict between Ainsley and her non-binary roommate, which didn’t add anything meaningful to either character’s story. It would have been more compelling if this conflict had been related to their work – for example, if Rebecca or Nathan had to navigate a working relationship with a non-binary executive. Hopefully, the next season will improve upon these issues.

Have you been impressed by the latest season?

2026-01-16 03:40

Thornton Knew Fans Would Yawn a Lot in Season 2

‘Landman’ Has Become a Soap Opera

Subscribe to the newsletter for sharp Landman analysis

Read More