Landman Season 2 Episode 9 Recap: Shocking Attack and Major Developments
This article discusses sexual assault and racism.
Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Landman season 2, episode 9.The penultimate episode of Landman season 2 ended with a shocking event that should send waves into the finale, and it's worth taking a closer look at. After the ominous reveals about Cami and Gallino's plan for the offshore rig in Landman season 2, episode 8, this week's episode gave us the first bad consequences of wildcatting. More than that, it also showed a completely unexpected and awful consequence of Ariana's new job as a bartender. Landman season 2 is picking up steam as it heads towards what should be a very climatic finale, and this week's episode laid a lot of groundwork. Old problems got new developments, new problems burst onto the scene, and the entire cast of Landman either is or is about to be reeling. It's well worth an explanation and a recap of everything that you need to remember for Landman's season 2 finale.
Who Attacked Ariana & What's Going To Happen To Cooper After Saving Her Explained
Emerson Miller / Paramount+
By far the biggest surprise of Landman season 2, episode 9 was an assault and attempted rape on Ariana. After heading into the alley behind the Patch Cafe during one of her shifts as a bartender, Ariana was accosted by Johnny, the same person who sexually harassed her at the bar in episode 3. Johnny quickly called her two ethnic slurs for hispanic people, accused her of being an undocumented immigrant, and, after Ariana hit him, he began to rape her. Johnny attacked Ariana because she defended herself from his sexual harassment in Landman season 2, episode 3. Evidently, he was holding a grudge against her for hitting him and for getting him banned from the Patch Cafe, and he was also a raging bigot. That made him confront Ariana, and when she defended herself again, Johnny tried to rape her, only to be violently stopped by Cooper.
The only mystery remaining about Johnny's attempted rape of Ariana is what the consequences of the altercation are going to be. Cooper was defending Ariana, but he also continued to hit Johnny long after the fight was done, and he audibly said he intended to kill the man. The entire alley was within the view of a security camera, as well, and since Barney called the police, they're likely going to want to look at that footage. Right now, it looks like Cooper is going to face legal repercussions from defending Ariana. Johnny will go to jail for assault and attempted rape, but Cooper could easily also get assault charges and a personal lawsuit from Johnny. There are, however, two ways he could get out of this: Tommy and Cami could throw their weight and money around to get the police to release Cooper. Alternatively, Barney could "lose" the security tapes to protect Cooper and Ariana.
Cami Fired Tommy: His Role At M-Tex In Landman Season 2 Explained
Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy in Landman episode 4, season 2Emerson Miller / Paramount+
The other big but not as surprising development of Landman season 2, episode 9 was Cami firing Tommy. During a launch party for the offshore natural gas rig, Cami pulled Tommy aside and told him that she didn't want the president of M-Tex to be "averse" to wildcatting and the risks that made Monty a billionaire in the first place. Since he wasn't on board with the gamble of the offshore rig, Cami fired Tommy as president of M-Tex. That decision leaves Tommy in a very precarious place. It's not really clear if he still has a job at M-Tex. Presumably, Cami only fired Tommy as the president, and she intends to keep him on as vice president of operations and landman. She may not like the fact that Tommy doesn't like to gamble, but she can't deny that he's an exceptional landman, problem solver, and fixer, and that he has infinitely more experience than her.
Ainsley's Problem With Her Roommate & Her Future At TCU Explained
Landman Ainsley and Angela
Another big side plot of Landman season 2, episode 9 saw Ainsley finally start college at Texas Christian University. The beginning of her collegiate career had quite a few problems, however, mostly due to Ainsley's roommate, Paigyn. Paigyn is essentially the exact opposite of Ainsley: they're liberal, non-binary, assertive, put together, and wildly annoying in a very different way. Paigyn and Ainsley instantly rubbed each other the wrong way.
Related
Billy Bob Thornton Himself Just Topped Landman’s Weirdest Story
To help his ailing father, T.L. Norris, Tommy takes a page from Angela's playbook and makes one of the weirdest decisions yet in Landman.
The main takeaway of Ainsley's problems with Paigyn is that Ainsley is a spoiled brat who isn't used to not getting her way. Instead of taking her admissions counselor's advice and trying to actually talk to Paigyn, Ainsley called her mother to come help her. She spent a matter of hours in the dorms before Angela whisked her away to a luxurious hotel and away from one of the only people who wasn't charmed by Ainsley's bubbly personality.
Ainsley's future at TCU is also in a precarious place now. Angela stated that the plan is for Ainsley to spend her freshman year in an off-campus apartment instead of the dorms, and for Angela to stay in Fort Worth to be near Ainsley. That should have a few consequences: Ainsley will continue to be a spoiled brat who relies on her mother for everything, and, considering Tommy was just fired, Angela's relocation could put a new strain on her relationship with Tommy, who likely has to stay in Midlands to be a landman again.
Cooper's Role At M-Tex Has Him Stepping On Toes Already
Jacob Lofland as Cooper Norris in Landman episode 2, season 2Emerson Miller / Paramount+
Before his confrontation in the alley behind the Patch Cafe, Cooper had another big development. Tommy put Cooper in charge of a crew of roughnecks to continue drilling wells along the parcels of land he bought last season. When they actually got to the site, however, Boss and his crew doubted Cooper's judgment and questioned his leadership. So, Cooper had to assert himself as a leader and have a bit of an ego match with Boss.
Landman Season 2 Release Schedule
Episode Title
Release Date (Sundays @ Midnight PT)
Death and a Sunset
November 16
Sins of the Father
November 23
Almost a Home
November 30
Dancing Rainbows
December 7
The Pirate Dinner
December 14
Dark Night of the Soul
December 21
Forever is an Instant
December 28
Handsome Touched Me
January 4
Plans, Tears, and Sirens
January 11
Tragedy and Flies
January 18
Assuming Cooper doesn't go to prison, that ego match has a few implications for his career at M-Tex. As Cooper himself admitted, they're gambling big by continuing to drill according to his plan. If even one of their wells fails, everyone on the crew is going to be in big trouble and possibly fired, and M-Tex will lose millions of dollars. Suffice to say, Cooper is in a very uncertain position heading into the finale of Landman season 2.
