The second season of Paramount+‘s oil drama Landman concluded with a game-changing finale that reshaped the entire series. In the final episode, titled Tragedy and Flies, which aired on Sunday, January 18, 2026, Billy Bob Thornton‘s Tommy Norris transforms a sudden firing into a bold new venture, directly challenging the company he once led . The episode resolves major conflicts for the Norris family while definitively answering a burning question: M-Tex Oil is not ending, but it now faces a formidable new competitor founded by its former president.
How Tommy Norris Was Fired and What Happened Next
The season’s penultimate episode ended with a major shock. Cami Miller, played by Demi Moore, fired Tommy from his position as president of M-Tex Oil. Cami, who took control of the company after her husband Monty’s death, made the decision because Tommy refused to support her high-risk plan to drill an outdated offshore rig . She chose to gamble the company’s future, backed financially by the mysterious investor Danny “Gallino” Morrell (Andy Garcia), despite Tommy’s warnings .
Fans reacted strongly to Cami’s decision on social media, with many calling it a disastrous mistake that would leave the company vulnerable . One viewer stated it was her “biggest mistake”, while others predicted she would soon regret losing Tommy’s expertise .
Tommy did not stay unemployed for long. Using his deep industry knowledge, he discovered a critical opportunity: the legal buyout of the oil wells secured by his son, Cooper (Jacob Lofland), was not yet finalized with Cami’s signature . With the help of M-Tex attorney Nate (Colm Feore), who delayed the paperwork, Tommy gained a brief window to act .
The Creation of CTT Oil Exploration and Cattle
To finance his new venture, Tommy was forced to make a dangerous alliance. He partnered with Gallino, the very investor backing Cami’s risky projects . Gallino agreed to fund Tommy and Cooper’s new company but issued a stark warning about the consequences of failure.
“If you lose this, and then you try to mess with me in any way, the thing you love the most is the first thing Iโll take,” Gallino told Tommy .
With financing secured, Tommy gathered his closest allies and family to announce the new company. He named it CTT Oil Exploration and Cattle, standing for Cooper, Tommy, and his father Thomas (Sam Elliott) . Tommy explained the “cattle” part was just “legal nonsense” added to secure a unique company name quickly . He unveiled a revolutionary profit-sharing model, stating, “Twenty-five percent of all profits will be put in a pool and reattributed to all the employees”.
He assigned key roles to his inner circle:
- Cooper Norris as Company President
- Tommy Norris as Senior Vice President
- Thomas “T.L.” Norris overseeing drilling operations
- Nate as Treasurer
- Rebecca Falcone (Kayla Wallace) as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Counsel
- Dale (James Jordan) as Head of Exploration
- Boss (Mustafa Speaks) running the field crews
- Ariana (Paulina Chรกvez) as Office Manager
Everyone accepted their positions, effectively leaving M-Tex to join Tommy’s rival startup .
The Legal Battle Over Cooper’s Defense of Ariana
A major subplot of the finale involved Cooper and Ariana dealing with the aftermath of a violent attack. In the previous episode, a man who had previously harassed Ariana attempted to assault her outside The Patch Cafe . Cooper intervened, beating the man unconscious .
At the police station, Cooper and Ariana learned the attacker had died. Police detectives focused on Cooper, arguing his use of force was excessive, citing that he punched the man 17 times. They moved to charge Cooper with murder, creating a tense legal crisis.
Ariana called M-Tex lawyer Rebecca for help. Rebecca intervened forcefully, threatening the detectives with professional ruin and lawsuits if they pursued charges . She argued that a Texas jury would never convict a man for defending his partner from a violent assault .
Tommy later discovered the attacker did not die from the beating but from a heart attack upon arrival at the hospital . He confronted the local police chief, sheriff, and county attorney, appealing to their sense of justice.
“Is there a man in this room that wouldโve done anything different if youโd have come in and caught somebody attacking your wife or your kid?” Tommy demanded. “Well, Iโll tell you what I wouldโve done differently. The son of a b** wouldnโt have seen the inside of the ER with me”**.
Facing pressure from Tommy and Rebecca, the authorities agreed to drop all charges against Cooper .
Billy Bob Thornton Confirms His Future on Landman
Following Tommy’s firing, rumors circulated online, fueled by AI-generated content, that Billy Bob Thornton might be leaving the series . Thornton directly addressed and dismissed these claims.
“Thereโs an AI report that Demi and I are a couple now, and thereโs one that Iโm leaving the show. They have nothing to do with reality,” Thornton stated. He confirmed, “Iโll be there” for the already-renewed third season .
Thornton also shared his thoughts on the season’s conclusion and his character’s rare moment of victory. He described Tommy as “wearily happy” in the finale, finally allowing himself to enjoy a win with his family . The final scene shows Tommy staring down a coyote on his propertyโa recurring symbol in the seriesโsuggesting his unease about future dangers .
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Other Key Storyline Resolutions
- Ainsley and Paigyn: Ainsley (Michelle Randolph) and her new acquaintance Paigyn (Bobbi Salvรถr Menuez) reconciled at cheerleading camp. After a rocky start, Paigyn used their sports medicine knowledge to help Ainsley prevent an injury, and Ainsley defended Paigyn from bullies. They decided to become roommates at Texas Christian University.
- Cami’s Fate: After firing Tommy, Cami offered the company presidency to attorney Nate. Instead of accepting, Nate resigned, telling Cami that her late husband Monty never meant for the company to outlive him but to be sold. He urged her to let him and Tommy help sell it “before itโs the end of you”. Her future with the company is now a major question for season three.
- Tommy and Angela: While there was no wedding, Tommy and his ex-wife Angela (Ali Larter) shared a moment of understanding. Tommy told Angela he loved her desire to make every moment in life memorable, hinting at a stable future together .
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