The second season of Taylor Sheridan’s oil drama Landman is now streaming, and Paulina Chávez, who plays the young widow Ariana, is opening up about the scene that challenged her most and what audiences can expect from her character’s journey this season. The actress shared details about a powerful confrontation with Billy Bob Thornton’s character and teased Ariana’s new-found strength.
The Most Demanding Scene
In a recent interview, Paulina Chávez revealed that her favorite scene to film was a tense dinner sequence from Season 1 where her character, Ariana, confronts Tommy Norris, played by Billy Bob Thornton, and ultimately kicks him out of her house. Chávez described the moment as emotionally risky and one of the most demanding she has ever performed.
She explained that Ariana is not merely reacting in the scene but is simultaneously thinking, hurting, questioning, and attempting to remain brave. Chávez said she felt a strong connection to the combination of emotions Ariana was experiencing.
“I love everything that my character stands for and how she’s really just thinking out loud in that scene,” Chávez said. “Billy made it so easy to just work with him. He’s such a humble person and just so fun to work off of.”
The actress admitted that actually having to yell at a screen legend like Thornton was intimidating. She recalled reading the scene and cheering for Ariana, only to realize, “Oh, my God, I actually have to do this and yell at Billy Bob.”
The experience was made memorable when Thornton paid her a compliment after one of the takes. Chávez described it as the biggest compliment when he told her, “Your reactions are just so beautiful.”
Ariana’s Journey in Season 2
Chávez also teased Ariana’s character development in the new season, which premiered on November 16 on Paramount+. She described Ariana’s story in Season 2 as one of growth and self-discovery beyond her grief.
“She is resilient, strong, and bold. This next season, you get to really see that side of her,” Chávez stated. “She is just such a badass this next season, and I can’t wait for y’all to see it.”
The actress revealed that in the first season, Ariana was “not even touching the tip of the iceberg of her grief.” Her character is now figuring out her wants and needs aside from being in a relationship. A major story line involves Ariana’s growing relationship with Cooper Norris, played by Jacob Lofland. Chávez described their bond as starting with a friendship founded on common trauma.
“Cooper kind of allows her to grieve and walk through every moment with the memory of her husband who passed away. That was so beautiful,” she said.
Ariana is seeking her place in the complex, oil-driven world around her while raising a young child and facing financial pressures. Her narrative in Landman Season 2, developed with Taylor Sheridan, is about resilience as she navigates grief, responsibility, and uncertainty.
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A Deeper Look for Returning Viewers
The second season, which consists of 10 episodes released weekly on Sundays, allows the show to explore its characters more deeply. Billy Bob Thornton hinted that with the audience now familiar with the characters and the oil business, the new season is able to really dive into relationships.
“This season, he was able to really focus in the first few episodes on the family dynamic and the business dynamic,” Thornton explained. “But this one really ramps up as it goes on, and there’s more and more intensity.”
The season also introduces new dynamics, such as Sam Elliott joining the cast as T.L., Tommy Norris’s father. Elliott described his character as a “broken man” who failed himself and his family, setting up an emotional father-and-son tale. Co-creator Christian Wallace expressed excitement about the new pairing, noting that any time you have actors of the caliber of Billy Bob Thornton and Sam Elliott together, “that’s when magic happens.”
New episodes of Landman Season 2 are released every Sunday on Paramount+.
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