Landman Season 1 Episode 6 Review: Beware the Second Beating

Landman Season 1 Episode 6, “Beware the Second Beating,” takes a deep dive into the Norris family’s toughest time yet. It’s packed with corporate drama, personal betrayals, and some serious payback. The episode really shows how far Tommy is willing to go to protect his family, even when everything around him feels like it’s about to fall apart.

The episode opens with Tommy and Angela visiting Monty to address the escalating cartel threats. Their face-to-face interaction reveals stark contrasts between Monty’s corporate privilege and Tommy’s grueling reality in the oilfields. In her first substantial scene as Monty’s wife, Demi Moore subtly amplifies this disparity, providing a sharp social commentary on wealth and labor.

Lawyers Nate and Rebecca are hammering out settlements for families impacted by past oilfield disasters. Rebecca’s tough and straightforward approach really contrasts with Nate’s more compassionate style, showing the tricky balance between getting justice and dealing with corporate interests.

Meanwhile, Ariana is still trying to figure out her complicated relationship with Cooper. She reaches out to him, only to find out he’s in the hospital after a brutal attack.

Angela faces her own reckoning when she visits her estranged husband, Victor, only to find an attorney waiting to finalize their annulment. Her encounter with Victor’s younger replacement hits hard, stripping Angela of the last shred of her past status and leaving her visibly shaken.

The narrative takes a somber turn as Tommy learns of Cooper’s condition. Found unconscious with a collapsed lung and head injuries, Cooper becomes the heart of the episode.

Ariana’s guilt for inadvertently pulling Cooper into dangerous situations adds emotional weight, but her resolve to support him deepens her character. At the hospital, Tommy’s private moment with his son teeters between fatherly concern and his role as the company’s GM.

What follows is a chilling descent into revenge. Learning that Manuel and Antonio orchestrated Cooper’s beating with Sheriff Walt Joeberg’s involvement, Tommy abandons the law’s boundaries.

Enlisting Dale and his crew, Tommy confronts the culprits and delivers savage retribution. The violence, though graphic, underscores the darkness within Tommy—his calm, calculated demeanor reveals just how far he’s willing to go for his family.

“Beware the Second Beating” takes a deep dive into the complexities of the show’s characters. Tommy is both a protector and a punisher, showing how tricky his role can be as he faces tough decisions in his relationships.

Angela’s mix of strength and vulnerability reveals the inner battles she deals with in her struggles. Meanwhile, Cooper is depicted grappling with deep-seated guilt and vulnerability, which drives his character arc and influences his interactions with others.

The supporting cast further enriches the narrative, especially when they have Tommy’s back and do what is asked of them despite their morality. Paulina Chávez gives a really genuine and heartfelt performance as Ariana, making her character feel real and relatable.

This episode really nails it for Landman. It highlights that the show isn’t afraid to explore its characters’ complicated morals, even when things get a bit murky. It’s definitely the best hour of the series so far, as it is super dark, intense, and packed with emotions.

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Landman airs Sundays on Paramount+.

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