Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Landman season 1, episode 8!After highlighting character storylines and individual struggles last week, Landman returns with season 1, episode 8, “Clumsy, This Life,” which sees plenty of explosive consequences for various storylines. While Tommy (Billy Bob Thornton) continues to try warding off the drug cartel looking for payment for their lost product, the other characters in Landman from the Norris family keep adjusting to life in the patch. Angela (Ali Larter) and Ainsley (Michelle Randolph) surprise with the continuation of their engaging stories from the last episode, while Cooper (Jacob Lofland) makes a risky play in the name of newfound love.
Cooper’s Relationship With Ariana Is Building Incredibly Fast
Young Love Blooms In The Wake Of Tragedy
The opening sequence picks up right where Landman episode 7 ended, as Cooper butts heads with Rebecca (Kayla Wallace) over the money being offered to Ariana (Paulina Chavez) after her husband’s death. An intense standoff ensues, with Tommy’s son demanding $1 million per family, laying out how he has the upper hand, rightfully identifying the money as a settlement payoff. This gets under Rebecca’s skin, making her start to question if he was directly involved in the deaths of Ariana’s husband and her two other family members (something only we and Cooper know isn’t the case).
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After the dramatic events of last week, Landman season 1, episode 7 pulls back on dramatic tension for a lighter focus on the Norris family.
Regardless, the intense scene manages to set Ariana up for the rest of her life, essentially taking care of her mortgage and giving her enough money to save for her baby’s college fund. However, it doesn’t settle her heart, as the incident makes her realize her love for Cooper. Yet she still questions her feelings, wondering if they stem from grief and aren’t as genuine as she believes. It makes for gripping drama, elevated by how likable the budding couple are thanks to their shared struggles.
While Cooper’s conflict with his family has been a core part of the series since it began, Tommy’s realization of just how genuine his connection to Ariana is might set them on a path of getting close again.
This is compounded by Tommy weaving into their storyline by the end, coming over to test just how close the couple truly is. After making an off-handed remark about the stability of their relationship, Ariana chews him out, revealing not even her late husband looked at her like Cooper does. Realizing their closeness, Tommy departs, even offering rare kind words to her as he leaves. Not only does this reflect his genuine compassion for his son’s situation, but also the real connection the young couple are forming, obvious to any outside observer.
Billy Bob Thornton has been nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor – Television Series Drama for his role as Tommy in Landman.
While Cooper’s conflict with his family has been a core part of the series since it began, Tommy’s realization of just how genuine his connection to Ariana is might set them on a path of getting close again. Although it doesn’t guarantee their bond will be fully repaired, especially now that Cooper has quit his job at the patch, it sets the stage for a healthier relationship between them. But that will also depend on what the single mother decides to do, as her heart continues to painfully wrestle with the idea of moving on from her husband so quickly.
Angela & Ainsley Surprise With Their Lighter Storylines
Some Hope Remains In The Patch
Surprisingly, Ainsley’s Landman episode 7 story with Ryder Simpson (Mitchell Slaggert), alongside her and Angela’s nursing home hijinks, has returned. The pair take the residents bowling, leading to some head-shakingly raunchy dialogue between Angela and one of the women there. It soon becomes Ainsley and Ryder’s destination during their date, as the Norris’ daughter wants to see if the star quarterback truly cares about her or is trying to use her like Dakota (Drake Rodger).
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Landman episode 6 continues to deepen the connection between all members of the Norris family as they face down their darkest hour so far.
While these side stories aren’t as dark or dramatic as those focused on the oil business, they offer some much-needed levity to contrast the heavier storylines the Norris men have to deal with. It also gives the pair independent purposes beyond being part of the family, making them fleshed-out characters instead of generic archetypes. That’s a trap some writers would have fallen into, but, much like Taylor Sheridan’s other shows, Landman manages to make everything that happens onscreen feel purposeful to its overall narrative and themes.
Tommy’s Cartel Conflict Has Horrifying Consequences
Peace Is No Longer An Option
But, when it comes to the dramatic meat of the episode, Tommy manages to steal the show because of all the issues he needs to juggle. Monty (Jon Hamm) follows through with his promise to try sending in the Texas National Guard, who are now using some of the fields for airstrike training to deter the cartel from making future drug runs. Unfortunately, this comes during what’s established as Monty’s fifth heart attack due to stress, a nonchalant development whose scary calmness emphasizes just how stressful the boss’ job really is.
Tommy and Rebecca are also feuding now because of her suspicions that Cooper intentionally killed Ariana’s family members.
But, in episode 8’s final moments, Landman‘s cartel story comes to a head as the National Guard accidentally blows up a van full of drugs and drug dealers. The fiery cliffhanger promises this mistake won’t come without consequences, with peace no longer being an option for the cartel. This may result in some major developments for the Norris family and the criminal group, as hinted at when the cartel was watching Tommy take Ainsley home in episode 7. The accidental deaths paint a morbid picture of how the penultimate episode could turn out.
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Upcoming Episode Of Landman |
Release Date |
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Episode 9: WolfCamp |
01-05-2025 |
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Episode 10: The Crumbs of Hope |
01-12-2025 |
With just two episodes left before Landman season 1 ends, the series is building to a conflict-heavy conclusion that could see the whole Norris family in danger from the cartel. This latest explosive dilemma could be what sends everyone over the edge as the line between personal and professional blurs, catapulting everyone into chaos. The episode’s intense buildup and dramatic tension, coupled with enough downtime to catch some air, makes this a perfect lead-in to whatever major events will happen over the coming weeks.
New episodes of Landman air Sundays on Paramount+.
- Cooper’s story was dramatic and intense, with him and Ariana’s developing relationship a big highlight.
- Angela and Ainsley’s stories offered much-needed levity among the drama-heavy stories this episode.
- Tommy juggled many issues expertly, including his tension with Rebecca.
- The final scene sets up two intense episodes to cap off season 1.
