Despite being one of the most divisiveLandmancharacters, this controversial cast member is my favorite, promising to be even better in season 2. InLandmanseason 1, Billy Bob Thornton helmed the cast of Taylor Sheridan’s neo-Western oil drama as Tommy Norris. Tommy was a fixer for M-TEX Oil in the show’s first season, managing operations for Jon Hamm’s Monty Miller. InLandmanseason 2, Tommy takes over as M-TEX president afterMonty’s death inLandmanseason 1’s finale, permanently altering the series.
Tommy’s family will return for the show’s sophomore run.Landman’s cast includes Tommy’s estranged wife and daughter, Angela (Ali Larter) and Ainsley Norris (Michelle Randolph), who moved to Midland, Texas, to live with the Norris patriarch in season 1. Tommy’s son is another standoutLandmancharacter, with Cooper Norris (Jacob Lofland) joining his father in the oil patch, leading to some ofLandman’s most shocking moments. Cooper contrasts Ainsley and Angela’s divisive qualities. That said, I thinkAngela is one ofLandman’s best characters.
Why Tommy’s Ex-Wife Angela Is A Controversial Character In Landman Season 1
Angela’s Behavior Is Proudly Unhinged
Tommy’s ex-wife,Angela Norris, was one ofLandmanseason 1’s most controversial personalities. The only other character who competes incontroversy is Michelle Randolph’s Ainsley. Tommy and Angela’s roller coaster romance has explosive qualities to match Taylor Sheridan’s oil drama. We first meet Angela on FaceTime, where she spews insults and contemptuous remarks at her former partner. We learn that Angela remarried a wealthy man, and she’s quick to admit that she joined her second partner for the security he offered.
After Angela returns to Midland, she and Tommy rekindle their flame. As she settles back into Tommy’s home,Angela creates controversy as she readjusts to life in Midland. The rocky basis for her and Tommy’s relationship is reason enough to be wary of Angela. In addition, the mother gets drunk with her teenage daughter, encourages Ainsley to act promiscuously and manipulate her ex-boyfriend, and falls asleep at the country club. Angela acts uncontrollably until she finds her niche, taking care of a group of older adults at an“old folks' home.”
Why Angela Norris Was One Of Landman Season 1’s Best Characters
Angela Is The Most Dynamic Landman Character
My hot take is that Angela’s controversial nature actually made her one of the best characters ofLandmanseason 1. More than any other member ofLandman’s cast,Angela has dynamic character growth, and we witness her evolve and change more than anyone else. As Tommy and Angela properly rekindle their romance, after Angela divorces her second husband, we see Tommy’s wife rise to the challenge of communicating differently, taking more agency over her time and desires as she settles back into life in Midland.
Angela offers to make her partner blueberry pancakes rather than starting the day on a sour note.
Angela isn’t the mostlikable character inLandmanseason 1, but it’s satisfying to watch people change for the better, and Angela does just that. InLandmanepisode 5, when a stack of pipes crushes one of M-TEX’s crew members, we see Angela’s more serious side.She watches her former husband navigate a shocking and brutal death, finally understanding the severity of Tommy’s daily operations. The event changes Angela’s behavior in the finale, when she sees his wounds from the cartel, and Angela offers to make her partner blueberry pancakes rather than starting the day on a sour note.
What’s Next For Angela In Landman Season 2
Many Characters Will Experience Changes
InLandmanseason 2, it’s likely that Angela will continue to grow. Ali Larter has played complex roles before, so it makes sense that her gig asAngela will evolve with the series, like other criticalLandmancharacters. Tommy will act as M-Tex president in season 2, and the higher leadership role will bring out new aspects of Thornton’s character. Similarly, Cami Miller (Demi Moore) will step up in the show’s sophomore run after her husband’s death, withLandmanseason 2 promising to make Cami more prominent.
InLandmanseason 2, Tommy and Angela’s relationship will continue to bring out the best in the couple as they consciously rekindle their connection. Angela will undoubtedly be busy with her nursing home crew, which allowed her to hit her stride by giving back to a deserving part of her community. Angela will also team up with Ainsley to look at colleges, so the mother will have her hands full when the secondLandmanouting premieres in November. With that, I’m certain we haven’t seen the last of Ali Larter’s evolution as Angela Norris.
Landman
Cast
Set in West Texas, this series explores the world of oil rigs and the fortunes they create. It portrays a modern upstairs/downstairs narrative of roughnecks and billionaires, highlighting the profound impact on the climate, economy, and geopolitics in these boomtowns.
