The second season of Taylor Sheridan‘s oil drama Landman has cemented its place as a major hit. The Season 2 finale broke records for Paramount+, drawing the largest audience the streaming service has ever seen for a season finale. The finale episode, which premiered on January 18, reached 14.8 million global views in its first two days. This number represents a massive 70% increase from the viewership of the Season 1 finale.
This record-breaking finish capped off a hugely successful season. The show’s second season premiere in November also saw a dramatic jump, earning 9.2 million views in two days, a 262% increase from its Season 1 debut. Overall, the first nine episodes of Season 2 averaged 14.9 million global views in their first week, making Landman the most popular series on Paramount+.
The Finale’s Record-Breaking Ratings Details
The impressive 14.8 million view milestone for the finale was part of a larger trend of growth for the Billy Bob Thornton-led series. Data from Nielsen, which tracks streaming minutes, confirms the show’s dominant performance. For the week of December 15-21, Landman was the second most-streamed show across all platforms in the United States, behind only Netflix’s Stranger Things. That week, audiences spent over 1.6 billion minutes watching the show’s available episodes.
The show’s strong performance throughout December led to a very early renewal. Paramount+ announced that Landman was renewed for Season 3 in December, just 19 days after Season 2 began. Domenic DiMeglio, Paramount’s Chief Marketing and Data Officer, stated that the team knew they had a “very special opportunity” with Season 2 to take the show to another level after seeing its growth.
“We knew what the size of the opportunity was for Season 2, and we… really wanted to make sure… [we were] putting together a campaign that would really break through,” DiMeglio said.
What Happened in the Landman Season 2 Finale
The finale episode, titled “Tragedy and Flies,” provided major turning points for the characters, setting the stage for the already-confirmed third season. The episode dealt with the fallout from two major events in the previous episode: Tommy Norris being fired by M-Tex Oil’s new owner, Cami Miller (Demi Moore), and a violent attack on Ariana (Paulina Chávez).
Much of the episode focused on legal trouble for Tommy’s son, Cooper (Jacob Lofland). After Cooper intervened to stop Ariana’s assault, the attacker later died. Local police investigated Cooper for potential murder charges, creating a tense storyline about self-defense and justice. The situation was resolved after lawyer Rebecca (Kayla Wallace) intervened and Tommy confronted local officials, arguing the case would not sit well with the public.
With his job at M-Tex gone, Tommy made his boldest move yet. He partnered with the powerful and dangerous financier Danny “Gallino” Morrell (Andy Garcia) to start his own company. In a gathering with his closest allies and family, Tommy announced the formation of “CTT Oil Exploration & Cattle.” The name stands for Cooper, Tommy, and Thomas—his father, played by Sam Elliott.
Tommy laid out a new profit-sharing model for the company and assigned roles to his inner circle. Cooper will be President, Tommy will be Senior Vice President, and his father TL will oversee drilling. Other characters like Nate, Rebecca, Dale, Boss, and Ariana were all given key positions in the new venture. The finale ended on a note of hopeful victory for Tommy’s team, though Gallino’s threat to destroy what Tommy loves most if he is betrayed hints at future conflict.
Fan Reactions to the Season 2 Finale
The response from viewers to the finale has been overwhelmingly positive. In one survey cited in a fan review, over 90 percent of voters had a positive opinion of the Season 2 finale episode. Comments from fans collected online praised the exciting conclusion.
“The Landman finale was awesome,” one fan said. Another viewer commented, “Freaking EPIC! I almost cried because I thought the complete opposite was going to happen. Thank goodness it all turned out good”.
Many fans expressed how the finale successfully set up future storylines. One noted, “I did like the ending and how it shapes the future for most of the cast”. The strong finish left audiences eager for more, with one viewer stating they were “obsessed” with the show after binging both seasons. This fan-focused enjoyment appears to be by design. One review argued that Landman is “fan-first TV built for a multi-season run,” suggesting its success is measured more by audience loyalty than critical acclaim.
How Paramount+ Boosted Landman to Success
Paramount’s strategy for making Landman its top show involved a coordinated, company-wide marketing campaign that began even before Season 2 started. Executives noted that the show found a devoted fan base between seasons, and the marketing team worked to “feed that fandom” with content. This effort paid off, as Season 2 generated 11.5 million social media engagements, a 46% increase from Season 1.
The company also leveraged its other properties to boost awareness. Billy Bob Thornton appeared on popular podcasts like Smartless and The Joe Rogan Experience, and the show was promoted during NFL broadcasts. Cross-promotional videos were created, such as one featuring Thornton and Glen Powell from The Running Man, and themes from the show were integrated into programs like The Price Is Right.
The data shows this broad strategy worked to attract a wide audience. While Taylor Sheridan’s shows often attract a core demographic, Landman was noted for resonating “across borders and through different demographics,” with particularly strong performance among Hispanic audiences in its second season. This expanded appeal, combined with a dedicated fan base, propelled the series to its record-breaking finale numbers.
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