Taylor Sheridan, the creator of the Paramount+ drama Landman, has once again used his platform to respond directly to critics, this time addressing commentary about the costumes worn by two of the show's leading actresses.
Dialogue as a Defence
In the episode that aired on Sunday, Sheridan crafted a scene that appeared to be a direct rebuttal to sentiments that stars Ali Larter and Michelle Randolph were showing too much flesh with their outfits. The sequence featured Billy Bob Thornton's character, Tommy Norris, confronting his ex-wife Angela, played by Larter, about her attire.
Angela was seen walking around their shared home in a small shirt, with her yellow bra visibly protruding. Tommy, visibly tense, asked her, 'Could you please put on all your clothes?' In a sharp retort, Angela questioned, 'Oh it bothers you to see my body?' Tommy claimed it did not, but added, 'but there’s other people around here.'
The exchange continued with Angela asking if Tommy's father, T.L. (played by Sam Elliott), was offended. Tommy confirmed he was not. The scene reached its climax when Randolph's character, Ainsley Norris, entered wearing a similarly revealing ensemble, prompting Tommy to declare his utter defeat in the fashion wars under his roof.
'I give up - I love you both and there's nothing I can do about that. I f***ing surrender,' Thornton's character stated, effectively closing the argument on the matter.
Actress Preparation and Character Portrayal
Michelle Randolph, who plays teenager Ainsley Norris, previously spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about her intensive preparation for the role. The 28-year-old actress explained she worked with a dialect coach, a movement coach, and an acting coach for nearly a year before filming.
'I worked really hard to find ways to justify her behavior and make a full human out of something that doesn’t always seem like what a 17-year-old would say, but people like that exist,' Randolph said. She added that being on location in Texas and working alongside co-stars like Ali Larter and Billy Bob Thornton helped her create a fully realised character with a 'free essence' who is 'wild.'
A History of On-Screen Commentary
This is not the first time Sheridan has used Landman and its characters to make a pointed statement. In an episode broadcast on December 14, Thornton's character Tommy took a clear jab at daytime talk show The View and what many perceive as 'woke culture.'
In a phone call with his father, Tommy suggested T.L. watch the show, describing it as a 'bunch of pissed off millionaires b****ing about how much they hate millionaires - and [President Donald] Trump and men and you and me.' He called the show 'fart in church funny,' a description his father did not find amusing.
The series, now in its second season, boasts an ensemble cast that includes Demi Moore, Jon Hamm, and Jacob Lofland, alongside Thornton, Larter, Randolph, and the legendary Sam Elliott, who is in his first season. Landman continues to be a vehicle for Sheridan's distinctive brand of storytelling, airing Sundays on Paramount+.
