At a Glance
- Cooper faces murder charges after beating Johnny, who dies of a heart attack
- Tommy pressures sheriff to drop case, calling Johnny a “rapist”
- Season 2 finale now streaming on Paramount+
Why it matters: The explosive episode tests loyalties and justice in a small-town oil boom.
The season 2 finale of Landman delivers a deadly twist when Cooper’s attempt to defend Ariana ends with Johnny dead and the sheriff’s department in Tommy’s crosshairs.
A Deadly Turn Behind the Bar
Ariana, bartending at The Patch, was assaulted in the alley by former patron Johnny. Cooper arrived mid-attack, punched Johnny 17 times, and left him unconscious.
Johnny later died in the hospital from a heart attack, authorities revealed. The death escalated the assault case into a potential murder charge against Cooper.
Rebecca Rushes to Defend Cooper
Ariana had already looped in Rebecca, who stormed the sheriff’s station and branded herself a “life ruiner” ready for court. Rebecca also tipped off Tommy, urging him to lean on law-enforcement contacts.
Tommy called Sheriff Walt, then arrived at the office to confront officials he accused of “siding with a rapist.”
Tommy’s Public Threat
Inside the station, Tommy warned that media outlets like CBS and ABC would swarm if charges stuck. He painted Cooper as a protector and Johnny as a predator.
“Maybe he would’ve died from a heart attack raping my future daughter-in-law,” Tommy said. “A widow with a 7-month-old.”
He vowed that if he had walked in on the assault, “the son of a bitch wouldn’t have seen the inside of the ER … it would’ve been straight to the f—ing morgue.”
Sheriff Sides With Tommy
Sheriff Walt told deputies to “just go with the heart attack” and close the file. The police chief confirmed no charges had been filed, so the county dropped the case against Cooper.
With the threat gone, Tommy visited Ariana and Cooper. He assured Ariana the murder charge was squashed, then told Cooper never to apologize for defending her.
“Don’t ever say that again,” Tommy ordered when Cooper admitted he went too far. “Don’t say it to Ariana, don’t say it to anybody.”
Key Takeaways
- Cooper’s 17-punch defense killed Johnny, but the sheriff blames the heart attack
- Tommy’s media threat and loyalty to family overrule potential prosecution
- Ariana survives with broken ribs, a concussion, and a cleared conscience
- All episodes of Landman season 2 are streaming now on Paramount+
