Landman’s Controversial New Episode & Non-Binary Character Isn’t Landing With Fans

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The series Landman quickly gained popularity, drawing comparisons to Yellowstone. However, its second season has been met with criticism, even from longtime fans. The episode “Plans, Tears and Sirens,” which premiered on January 11th, received a 6.8 rating on IMDb – the lowest score any episode of the show has ever received.

With the second season of Landman ending, viewers are hoping to see its main characters develop more fully. While “Plans, Tears and Sirens” could have explored character growth, it instead relied on simplistic portrayals and surprisingly harsh violence. This raises the question: is the show declining in quality, or has it been heading this way all along, as some fans believe?

Paigyn’s Storyline Feels Like a Cheap Shot

Image via Paramount+

A major storyline in this episode involves Tommy’s daughter, Ainsley, attending a cheerleading camp at TCU. After a lengthy and emotional goodbye with her mother, Angela, Ainsley meets her roommate, Paigyn, who is non-binary. The show quickly establishes Paigyn as a deliberately unlikable character – portrayed as a vegan who meditates and dislikes music. Many viewers felt this character was one-dimensional, serving only as a target for negativity, and were disappointed by the lack of depth.

Ainsley is still gaining experience as one of the newer, less worldly members of the Landman cast, and this situation could have been a great learning moment for her. Paigyn directly challenges Ainsley’s (and many viewers’) viewpoints, but instead of avoiding the issue, Ainsley could have tried to find some common ground.

To be fair, the storyline also missed a chance to portray Paigyn as a fully developed character, instead relying on stereotypes that appeal to viewers who dislike queer and left-leaning people. It felt like a manipulative attempt to please the audience, rather than a genuine exploration of different perspectives where both characters could have learned and grown. This was a missed opportunity – not just for a minor character’s single appearance, but for Ainsley, a main character, to develop further. It’s another sign that the show is losing its direction.

Cooper’s Violent Outburst Felt Out of Character

Image via Paramount+

Up until now, Tommy and Angela’s son, Cooper, has been portrayed as a well-behaved kid. This episode, though, gave the writers a chance to show a different side of him. Ariana is attacked outside the bar by a man she previously rejected, and Cooper happens to arrive just in time to intervene. He manages to save her from the assault, but then goes on to severely beat the attacker, only stopping when Ariana pleads with him to.

I have to admit, this scene didn’t quite hit the mark for me, and a lot of other fans felt the same way. I mean, I’d expect Cooper to stand up for Ariana, or anyone being attacked, but the way it happened just felt…off. It felt like he suddenly became this completely different, angry person, which didn’t fit with who he’s been so far. It almost felt like the writers took a shortcut to give him some kind of development, but it didn’t feel genuine or deserved. It would have been so much better if they’d let his reaction unfold more naturally.

Honestly, I was really invested in Cooper and Ariana’s connection, and I felt like their developing relationship deserved a more thoughtful exploration. It just didn’t feel right that it escalated with Cooper acting out violently. I’m really hoping the show doesn’t just brush past that and pretends it didn’t happen, and instead lets both characters deal with how much Cooper has changed. It’ll be much more satisfying if they actually address it instead of using it just for a quick shock moment.

A Lot is Riding on the Upcoming Finale, “Tragedy and Flies”

As the second season of Landman nears its end on January 18th, viewers are eager for a satisfying conclusion. However, some are worried about recent missteps in the show. While Landman has been renewed for a third season, the creators know they need to regain the trust of their audience.

Look, I really want Landman to succeed. It started strong, and right now, it’s one of the most gripping dramas on television. This neo-Western feels like it has staying power, but honestly, if the show doesn’t course-correct soon, I’m worried its run might be significantly shorter than other shows in the Yellowstone world. The potential is there, but they need to get things back on track.

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2026-01-14 23:39