- - Everything That Went Down in the “Landman” Season 2 Finale

Amy MackeldenJanuary 19, 2026 at 2:04 AM

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The Ending of “Landman” Season 2, Explained Emerson Miller - Paramount

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Please note: major spoilers ahead!

The second season of Paramount+’s Landman has been a wild ride. Following the tragic death of oil tycoon Monty Miller (Jon Hamm) at the end of season 1, his wife Cami (Demi Moore) took control of M-Tex Oil. Having been promoted to president of the company, Billy Bob Thorton’s Tommy Norris found himself fired for being too cautious about the oil business in the penultimate episode of season 2.

To make matters worse, Ariana (Paulina Chávez) was viciously attacked by a customer outside of her workplace, local bar The Patch, in episode 9. Luckily, her fiancé Cooper (Jacob Lofland) chose the right moment to pay a visit to the bar, and was able to prevent the sexual assault from going any further by beating Ariana’s attacker unconscious.

Here, we discuss everything that happened in the Landman season 2 finale, and what it means for the show’s future.

Cooper rescues Ariana from her attacker in Landman season 2, episode 9. Emerson Miller - ParamountDid Cooper murder Ariana’s attacker?

In the season 2 finale of Landman, Ariana goes to the police station to report her attempted rape, placing her in a particularly vulnerable position while being questioned by officers. Meanwhile, Cooper is pulled into an interrogation room, where it’s revealed that Ariana’s attacker died in hospital after the violent beating. Two detectives question Cooper, and share their intention to pursue charges against him, despite the fact he was defending his fiancée from a horrifying assault.

When Ariana learns that her attacker has died and that Cooper is a suspect—having been caught on CCTV repeatedly punching the man in the head—she calls M-Tex lawyer Rebecca Falcone (Kayla Wallace). She instructs Ariana to put the phone on speaker and barge into the interrogation room, where Rebecca instructs detectives to stop questioning her client until she’s present.

After a pretty quiet season, Rebecca jumps into action, threatening the detectives with professional ruin if they decide to pursue charges against Cooper. She also suggests that a Midland, Texas jury is unlikely to favor an attempted rapist over a man defending his partner from sexual assault. They begrudgingly let Cooper leave thanks to Rebecca’s cut-throat lawyering (she’d fit right in on All’s Fair).

It’s later revealed that Ariana’s attacker didn’t die from the injuries he sustained from being beaten up by Cooper. Instead, he had a heart attack upon arrival to hospital, making the case less clear-cut. Tommy enlists the help of Sheriff Walt Joeberg (Mark Collie) to convince the police chief to drop all charges against his son. “Is there a man in this room that would’ve done anything different if you’d have come in and caught somebody attacking your wife or your kid?” he asks a group of detectives at the police station. “Well, I’ll tell you what I would’ve done differently. The son of a bitch wouldn’t have seen the inside of the ER with me.”

By the time Tommy leaves the station, it seems likely that Cooper won’t face any further repercussions for his actions defending Ariana.

Does Tommy have a new job after being fired from M-Tex?

Being fired by Cami at the end of episode 9 stokes a fire under Tommy. Thanks to his skills and years in the industry, he’s immediately in demand and invited for a meeting at rival oil conglomerate Chevron. However, Tommy decides this is the moment to strike out on his own and create a brand new operation in partnership with the people he cares about.

Nathan and Tommy in Landman season 2. Emerson Miller - Paramount

M-Tex had originally agreed to buy out Cooper’s drilling commitments on the package of smaller leases he put together at the end of season 1. Crucially, the paperwork hasn’t been signed off, and attorney Nate (Colm Feore) gives Tommy a day before taking the contracts to Cami. Against his better judgment, Tommy agrees to partner with Gallino (Andy Garcia), despite his mob ties, and is able to form a company based around his son’s shrewd work as a landman.

At the end of the episode, Tommy gathers the key members of his team together, and asks them to defect from M-Tex and work for him. He appoints his son, Cooper, as the company’s president, while Tommy will serve as senior vice president, “unless my son decides to fire me.” Meanwhile, Dale (James Jordan) is appointed as head of exploration, with Tommy’s dad, T. L. (Sam Elliott), overseeing the drilling.

Ariana is given the role of office manager, Nate becomes treasurer, Rebecca is made chief operating officer and chief legal council, and Boss (Mustafa Speaks) is designated to run the oil crew on the ground. Viewing M-Tex as a sinking ship following Monty’s death, everyone signs on to work for Tommy’s company, which is pretty unsurprising after he reveals they’ll all share in the lucrative profits.

How Cami will react to the news of Tommy’s betrayal, and his decision to steal so many M-Tex staff members, will presumably be explored in the show’s forthcoming third season.

Does Ainsley find her place at TCU?

Season 2’s penultimate episode was fairly tumultuous for Ainsley. After clashing with her new roommate Paigyn (Bobbi Salvör Menuez) at TCU (Texas Christian University), Ainsley left the dorm in favor of a private suite with her overprotective mom, Angela (Ali Larter). Episode 10 provides a chance for reconciliation between the mismatched pair.

During cheerleading practice, Paigyn—a non-binary sports medicine major—notices that Ainsley’s ankles aren’t strong enough to withstand the challenging cheerleading training. Paigyn wraps Ainsley’s ankles, and provides advice so that she can prevent injury moving forward.

Paigyn and Ainsley in Landman season 2. Emerson Miller - Paramount

When a group of teenage boys start heckling the cheerleaders, hurling insults at Paigyn specifically for their androgynous appearance, Ainsley shuts it down. She approaches the group of boys, berates them for shouting abuse at their teammate, and suggests that they’ll never have the privilege of dating a cheerleader due to their rude behavior.

Paigyn is grateful that Ainsley stood up for them, and apologizes for seeming brash during their first interaction. A discussion about their favorite musicians makes them both realize they aren’t so different after all. Ainsley agrees to give dorm life another shot, so long as they can bathe Paigyn’s pet ferret—a sticking point from episode 9. Although Ainsley’s mom Angela is devastated, she starts to accept that her baby is finally growing up.

Will Tommy and Angela get remarried?

Although Angela has been hinting about getting remarried to Tommy all season, the finale ends without a new ring or any firm wedding plans. But Tommy does tell Angela that he loves everything she stands for, suggesting they’re both in it for the long haul.

“I know what you want out of life,” he tells her in the season 2 finale. “You want every meal to be memorable. You want every moment to be an experience. You want every night to be a honeymoon. And I think it’s beautiful.” Perhaps wedding bells will finally be on the cards in season 3.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”