At a Glance
- Billy Bob Thornton’s Tommy Norris is fired as M-Tex president and scrambles to build a new company
- His son Cooper faces a murder charge after killing his fiancée’s attacker
- Tommy secures $44 million from cartel boss Gallino to launch CTT Oil
- Why it matters: The finale sets up a power struggle between Tommy’s new venture and his former employer while his family faces legal jeopardy
Tommy Norris has lost everything-his job, his company’s leases, and nearly his son’s freedom. In the explosive season 2 finale of Landman, the oil tycoon played by Billy Bob Thornton rebuilds from rock bottom while his family fights a murder rap.
Cooper’s Deadly Rescue
Episode 9 ended with Ariana assaulted outside The Patch Cafe. Cooper arrives, puts the attacker in a chokehold, and punches him 17 times. The man dies of a heart attack.
At the police station, detectives accuse Cooper of excessive force.
“Think real hard before you charge the man who saved the 22-year-old widow from rape in a back alley with murder, cause I have a pretty good feeling a jury in this county will find the man got exactly what he deserved,” Rebecca warns. “But if you do, I am a life ruiner. You go after that kid for saving his fiancée’s life, ruin lives is exactly what I’m going to do.”
Tommy meets the chief of police and county attorney, refusing to leave until they drop the murder charge.
Ainsley’s Dorm Drama
Ainsley and roommate Paigyn clash over ferrets and meat bans. With mom Angela’s help, Ainsley gets permission to live off-campus.
At cheer camp, Ainsley defends Paigyn from heckling high schoolers. Paigyn apologizes: “I didn’t mean to run you off. I just thought we should have some ground rules.”
Ainsley agrees to return to dorm life with shared rule-making.
M-Tex Leadership Void
Cami fires Tommy and offers the presidency to loyal attorney Nathan. He refuses immediately.
“Tommy said you might try to make me interim president. I came here to offer my resignation,” Nathan says. He warns Cami to sell M-Tex now or risk losing everything.
The company ends the episode without a clear successor.
Tommy’s $44 Million Gamble
Tommy decides to launch an independent oil company using Cooper’s secured land leases. The catch: M-Tex owns the leases and drilled the wells.
He needs a financier to pay M-Tex $44 million for the leases plus additional drilling costs. The investor recoups 70% before profits split 50-50 permanently.
Oil executive Bob Knowles passes. Tommy turns to cartel boss Gallino, who writes two checks-one to M-Tex, one to Tommy’s new company CTT Oil Exploration and Cattle.
Tommy assembles his team:
- Cooper – president
- Nate – treasurer
- Rebecca – COO and chief counsel
- Dale – exploration head
- T.L. – drilling operations
CTT stands for Cooper, Tommy and Thomas.
Tommy’s Dark Warning
As the family celebrates their new venture, Tommy voices his fears to Angela.
“You know, honey, the time is coming when tragedy is going to dominate our days,” he says. “Maybe it’s me – maybe it’s cancer, maybe my mind goes, and I’ll wake up one morning, and I won’t have a clue who you are, or God forbid, maybe it’s you, car wreck or whatever, but not today. Today, we win.”
Angela responds: “Baby, I win every day. You do too, you just don’t see it, but it’s there, it’s all around you. Just gotta take the time to notice.”
Key Takeaways
- Tommy’s firing from M-Tex pushes him to create his own oil company with cartel funding
- Cooper escapes murder charges after Rebecca’s fierce legal defense
- The Norris family ends season 2 united but facing uncertain future threats
- M-Tex remains leaderless after Nathan’s refusal to betray Tommy
