Landman Season 2 Redeems Itself: How Fixing Jon Hamm’s Mistake Gives Demi Moore the Spotlight She Deserves

When Landman premiered, fans were instantly drawn to Taylor Sheridan’s signature storytelling — a gritty, emotionally charged exploration of the oil industry’s power, corruption, and human cost. Yet even with the high production value and an all-star cast, the first season had one glaring misstep: the underuse of Jon Hamm. His character, a morally ambiguous oil tycoon, had all the makings of a complex antihero, but the writing never fully explored his potential. Now, as Landman gears up for Season 2, the show seems determined to correct that mistake — not by doubling down on Hamm’s presence, but by shifting the focus to Demi Moore’s character, elevating her from a supporting figure to a driving force in the story’s evolution.

Season 1 of Landman struggled with balance. The world of Texas oil fields, backroom deals, and family loyalty was vividly drawn, but Hamm’s storyline often felt disconnected from the central emotional thread. His charisma and gravitas were undeniable, but the writing boxed him into a corporate cliché — a man of influence without enough vulnerability or personal depth. It was a surprising oversight for Sheridan, known for crafting layered, morally conflicted men like John Dutton in Yellowstone or Jacob Dutton in 1923. Hamm’s performance hinted at untapped potential — you could sense the pain, the ego, and the desperation beneath his polished exterior — but the season never let him breathe.

Season 2, however, is rewriting the narrative. Rather than trying to retroactively fix Hamm’s underdeveloped arc, Sheridan and his team have made a bold creative choice: pivoting toward Demi Moore’s character, whose role in the first season felt intriguing but secondary. Early reports and behind-the-scenes insights suggest that Moore’s character — a shrewd energy executive with personal ties to both the land and the men exploiting it — will emerge as the moral and emotional center of the new season. It’s a shift that promises to add a deeper, more nuanced perspective to Landman’s world of power struggles and environmental tension.

Moore’s presence on screen has always been electric. She carries a unique blend of vulnerability and control, and Landman gives her a role perfectly suited to that dynamic. In Season 1, she was often overshadowed by the male-driven narrative — another symptom of the show’s early imbalance — but now, the story seems to recognize that its greatest strength lies in complexity, not dominance. Her arc in Season 2 reportedly explores the cost of ambition, the guilt of complicity, and the difficult balance between survival and morality in a world where oil money fuels everything. Moore’s character will reportedly take a central role in the corporate conflicts, bridging the emotional distance between the field workers and the boardroom decision-makers.

By centering Moore, Landman isn’t just fixing a character issue — it’s rebalancing the entire tone of the show. Sheridan’s worldbuilding has always thrived when strong, intelligent women share the stage with flawed men. Just as Beth Dutton became the emotional linchpin of Yellowstone, Moore’s character could do the same for Landman. She adds emotional texture, strategic intelligence, and a different kind of toughness — one that isn’t about brute strength but about survival through insight and control. In a universe dominated by men trying to prove themselves, her quiet power becomes revolutionary.

Meanwhile, Jon Hamm’s reduced screen time doesn’t mean his presence is diminished — it’s refined. Season 2 gives his character sharper edges and clearer purpose, transforming him from a one-note tycoon into a man grappling with the consequences of his ambition. Instead of dominating the screen, he looms over it — an ever-present shadow in Moore’s storyline, a reminder of the corruption and compromise that define their world. This narrative adjustment not only repairs the pacing issues of Season 1 but also gives Hamm’s role more meaning. When he appears, it matters. His absence speaks volumes.

Another reason this shift works is the growing chemistry between Hamm and Moore. In Season 1, their shared scenes hinted at a charged, complicated history — professional, romantic, and deeply personal. Season 2 leans into that tension, turning their dynamic into the show’s emotional core. Their relationship mirrors the larger conflict of Landman: desire versus duty, loyalty versus self-interest, love versus greed. Through them, Sheridan explores how human emotion intersects with the ruthless machinery of the energy industry. Moore’s ability to project both empathy and calculation makes her the perfect foil to Hamm’s charismatic arrogance.

Thematically, Landman Season 2 seems poised to deepen its exploration of modern America’s relationship with power. While the first season focused on the mechanics of oil production and corporate corruption, the new chapter reportedly widens its lens to examine personal accountability. It’s not just about who controls the land or the money — it’s about who lives with the consequences. Moore’s character embodies that theme. She’s a woman who has thrived in a man’s world but is now forced to reckon with the moral weight of her choices. That kind of inner conflict is the essence of Sheridan’s best work, and Moore’s performance promises to make it unforgettable.

Critics have already noted that giving Demi Moore a more central role is a masterstroke. After years of selective appearances, she’s returned to television with a renewed sense of purpose and artistic freedom. Her portrayal in Landman is expected to be one of her most compelling in decades — not because it reinvents her, but because it embraces everything that has always made her fascinating: intelligence, sensuality, and emotional precision. In a show built around the idea of extraction — of oil, of profit, of human will — Moore brings something vital back into the equation: empathy.