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The sophomore season of the hit drama series finds Cooper Norris grappling with high-stakes oil deals and a complex romantic life.
The second season of Landman continues to test the resolve of Jacob Lofland’s character, Cooper Norris, as he strives to establish himself in the competitive world of oil drilling. Simultaneously, he faces scrutiny from his father, Tommy (Billy Bob Thornton), and a precarious entanglement with a dangerous cartel boss, Danny “Gallino” Morrell, portrayed by Academy Award nominee Andy Garcia. Beyond the professional challenges, Cooper’s personal life is undergoing a significant shift, highlighted by a recent reconciliation with his ex-girlfriend, Ariana Medina (Paulina Chavez), and the looming prospect of marriage.
A Balancing Act: Business vs. Romance
According to Lofland, Cooper is struggling to navigate both spheres of his life, but the personal appears to be the more challenging. “I don’t know if he’s got an idea of either one, really,” Lofland explained. “He probably understands the professional better than he does the personal. There’s learning on both, probably. I’m going to say the personal is probably more tricky for him right now.”
The rekindled romance with Ariana has quickly escalated, with marriage now on the table. However, Lofland cautions against assuming a smooth path forward. “I don’t know if it is the best step at all, but I know that’s what they seem to be heading towards,” he said. “Time will tell. I’ve seen people date for six weeks and be married for 30 years, and then I’ve seen people date 20 years and be married for three months! It’s all up in the air and up to interpretation — we’ll see how it goes.”
The Dynamic with Thornton and Elliott
Lofland praised the collaborative and naturalistic approach to scenes with his seasoned co-stars, Billy Bob Thornton and Sam Elliott. “We never do rehearsal; we just go straight into shooting and a lot of times that first take is the one that we use,” he revealed. “We’re always prepared when we show up, and we know at this point that we’re working off each other. It’s very natural, just being there and reacting to each other.” He described working with Thornton as “one of the easiest things.”
The actor acknowledged the long road ahead for Cooper in terms of mastering the oil business. “It’ll take years. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and I don’t think you can just transplant that knowledge over. It’s going to take a lot more mistakes and a lot of back and forth for Cooper to get to that point for sure.”
Family Matters and Unexpected Encounters
A pivotal moment this season involves Cooper’s attempt to gain the approval of Ariana’s father, Gabriel “G-Rod” Rodriguez, before proposing. Lofland described the experience as daunting, noting that Rodriguez was “probably more intimidating than the pit bull!” He added that the scene effectively showcases Cooper’s commitment, as Ariana’s father recognizes his genuine intentions.
The contrast between Ariana’s close-knit family and the more distant dynamic between Cooper and Tommy is also a key theme. “Ariana’s family is super close and super tight-knit, while Cooper and Tommy’s family aren’t necessarily that close,” Lofland explained. “There are a lot of decisions that get made that they don’t know about until a day or two later. Cooper’s not running things by everybody — he’s just making decisions and going.” This difference is particularly evident during a dinner scene in Episode 4, where Ariana realizes the importance of family for Cooper.
Lofland also shared anecdotes about his interactions with Sam Elliott, describing him as a captivating storyteller. “Man, you just listen to every story he’s got from Tombstone. There are so many stories that man has. He’s such a sweet man. You get him and Billy together talking about the good old days, as they call it. You can hear their stories for two weeks straight and still not scratch the surface.”
What Lies Ahead
Looking ahead, Lofland hinted at a season filled with unexpected twists and turns. “Interesting” is one word, but I will say there are some twists and turns coming that I don’t think anyone can predict. There’s still a lot to look forward to in the second half of this thing. It only gets more interesting and more crazy.”
