Warning: SPOILERS For Landman Season 2’s Premiere – “Death and a Sunset”Landman season 2’s premiere makes what happened to Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) in season 1’s finale essentially meaningless. Landman season 2 continues Tommy’s new role as President of M-Tex Oil, and supporting the recently widowed Cami Miller (Demi Moore) as the company’s sole owner.
Tommy’s personal life took center stage over his business dealings in Landman season 2’s premiere. Whether it’s diffusing his ex-wife, Angela’s (Ali Larter), dinner tantrum (which Tommy caused), or learning that his mother died, things keep getting more complicated at home for Landman’s eponymous hero.
However, from Landman season 2 premiere‘s opening scene where Tommy rants about breakfast, to his lighting a smoke and walking into his backyard after getting news of his mother’s death, you’d never know the events of Landman season 1’s finale happened.
Tommy’s Torture In Landman Season 1’s Finale Is Meaningless In Season 2’s Premiere
It’s not clear how long after Landman season 1’s ending that season 2’s premiere takes place, but not that much time has passed. Context clues from Cami Miller’s scenes addressing M-Tex’s investors and business partners indicate that the death of her husband, Monty Miller (Jon Hamm), happened relatively recently.
Since there’s only a relatively short time jump after Landman season 1’s ending, you would never know that Tommy Norris was kidnapped and tortured by Mexican drug dealer Jimenez (Alex Maraz). Norris was beaten badly, tied up at the back of a strip club, and his leg was injured. Tommy emerged a bloody and battered mess from the ordeal.
Tommy also refused to go to the hospital after he was tortured. Unless Angela forced him or Tommy changed his mind about receiving medical care in between Landman seasons, he just toughed it out through his injuries, which fits his tough guy character. But in that case, Tommy should have a limp from what Jimenez did to his leg.
Landman isn’t dealing with the fallout of the physical abuse Tommy went through.
Unfortunately, Tommy looking and acting 100% in Landman season 2’s premiere makes his torture in season 1’s finale meaningless. It might as well not have happened at all, since Landman isn’t dealing with the fallout of the physical abuse Tommy went through.
Landman Season 1 Finale’s Gallino Introduction Is The Only Point Of Tommy’s Torture
With Tommy Norris unscathed from his torture, the only real point of that whole sequence in Landman season 1’s finale was the introduction of Gallino (Andy Garcia). The Mexican drug kingpin personally intervened, killed Jimenez, and rescued Tommy so that they could become “friends,” something Norris wants no part of.
However, Gallino doesn’t appear in Landman season 2’s premiere, so the impact of his arrival in season 1’s finale ends up being diffused. Gallino also isn’t mentioned in “Death and a Sunset.” Instead, the season opener introduces Tommy’s father, T.L. Norris (Sam Elliott).
It’s jarring and disappointing that Landman’s season 2 kickoff essentially acts as if what Tommy endured in season 1’s finale never happened. Fortunately, Gallino will be a major player in Landman season 2 as the new Big Bad of the series. Gallino didn’t spare Tommy’s life out of the kindness of his heart.
Landman season 2 will eventually make what happened to Tommy at the end of Landman season 1 matter even if Norris shows no ill effects of his torture and injuries.
Release Date
November 17, 2024
Writers
Taylor Sheridan, Christian Wallace
Billy Bob Thornton
Tommy Norris
