Landman‘s Ainsley and Ariana stars talk about their hopes for season 2 renewal with the Taylor Sheridan show wrapping up the 10-episode season 1. Michelle Randolph plays Ainsley, the daughter of Billy Bob Thorton’s titular oil coordinator, Tommy Norris, while Paulina Chávez plays Ariana, a young mother who lost her husband in the series-opening accident and becomes friends with Cooper (Jacob Lofland). The first episode aired on November 17, 2024, and episode 7 will release on December 22, while the Landman finale is set to air on January 12.
During recent interviews with ScreenRant, Randolph and Chavez offered optimistic updates on Landman season 2’s chances. While neither has heard any solid news about the renewal, both would like to return for another season, with Randolph expressing her hopes for the show to continue and reprise her role as Ainsley “as long as possible.” Diving a little more into her character, Randolph explains that Ainsley has “so much potential,” and she’d want to see Ainsley “find herself” and “stand up for her herself.” Check out what she said below:
Randolph: I hope that we get to do this show as long as possible, because it’s so fun to film.
What would you like to see come from Ainsley in the future, if a season 2 or beyond were to happen?
Randolph: I want to see her find herself. I want to see her stand up for herself. I want her to have opinions and boundaries and to grow up, and I just think that there is so much potential for her character going forward.
Chávez similarly confirmed that she “[hasn’t] heard anything,” but she’s staying “optimistic” about the show’s potential season 2 renewal, especially now with Thorton’s Golden Globe nomination for his lead performance. For now, the actor has her “fingers crossed” that Landman will be picked up for another season. Check out what she said below:
Chávez: My goodness, I haven’t heard anything, but I want to stay optimistic. Billy Bob Thornton got nominated for a Golden Globe for the show, so, I mean, I don’t know, fingers crossed.
What This Means For Landman Season 2’s Chances
The Show Has Powerful Female Characters
Ainsley and Ariana are family members of those who work in the oil industry. While they don’t work in the field as the men in their family do, their lives are directly impacted by what happens. Ainsley is hopeful of Angela and Tommy’s reconciliation and has not yet grasped the danger and threats around their seemingly peaceful life. However, this season has put Ainsley through some ups and downs with her breakup, sibling feud with Cooper, and her brother’s attack. Randolph’s comment resonates with the fact that there’s still so much more to explore about Ainsley.
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Ariana becomes a single mother after her husband died during the rig explosion in Landman episode 1, with the season exploring her grief and real-life challenges and how the oil company handles her husband’s death. Chávez and Randolph’s eagerness to return for Landman season 2 indicates how successful the Sheridan show is with creating compelling female characters, who are not wallflowers in a male-dominated industry, but an integral part of the story.
Our Take On Landman Season 2
Landman Has Endless Stories To Tell
Landman broke the Sheridan season 1 curse as a rare show from the creator to secure a “Fresh” critical debut score in its debut season on Rotten Tomatoes, having earned a 78% approval rate. The series also shattered the Paramount+ record as the most-watched original show in the network’s history by reaching 14.9 million households in the first four weeks. Since its release, Landman has been praised for portraying nuanced characters and telling authentic, meaningful stories.
The series largely wastes no characters, and both Ainsley and Ariana’s perspectives add to the story that Landman is telling. The series doesn’t need an antagonist to make the stakes higher. The reality of Tommy’s daily life is stressful and intense enough. The show also doesn’t hold back on gruesome deaths and terrible incidents. With Landman being rooted in real-world inspiration, there are many untold stories that the show can tackle.