Landman's Most Controversial Character Will Officially Be Very Different In Season 3

Published Oct 30, 2026, 5:31 PM EDT As Classic TV Editor at Screen Rant, Guy specializes in leading features content about shows from decades gone by. Having written for and edited several TV, film and music publications, his areas of expertise include comedy, crime, historical drama, Westerns, and political thrillers. Landman season 3 is taking a little longer to produce than the two installments of Tommy Norris’ story that have preceded it. But when it arrives, at least one of the show’s characters is going to be much changed from their previous appearances. Having acquired a new position at the end of Landman season 2, they’re going to be inside the oil business for the first time, and in the line of fire if Tommy and his son Cooper decide to make some fresh enemies. It isn’t an easy place to be, especially with a family to take care of, yet this character has the resilience to get through the toughest of experiences. When it comes to Landman’s main characters, Ariana Medina comes in for a lot of flak from fans of the series. How quickly Ariana seemingly threw herself into the arms of Cooper Norris following her husband’s death understandably polarized viewers, many of whom also complain that she’s too demanding of Cooper. His father Tommy was wary of Ariana, too, in the early stages of her relationship with his son. However, she’s come to earn first his respect, then his trust, and looks set to play a very different role in the show during season 3. After all, she’s now a key member of Tommy’s inner circle, as the office manager of his new oil company. Ariana Is Going To Be Very Different In Landman Season 3 Emerson Miller/Paramount+ The reception of Ariana by Landman fans is highly reminiscent of how Monica Dutton was received by viewers of Yellowstone. Unlike Monica, though, Ariana has now joined the family business of her future husband, and appears open to taking on the responsibilities that co-managing an oil business involves. Landman season 3 sees Tommy Norris launch CTT Oil with both his father and his son. At the same time, he’s entrusting his son’s fiancée with the keys to the company office. Alongside bringing up her widow Elvio’s baby, Ariana will have to play a major part in the development of CTT. While Tommy provides the expertise and business acumen, we can expect his son Cooper to raise the company’s sights with the audacity of youth, which already got him into a spot of bother during season 2. Meanwhile, Ariana will serve as Cooper’s backbone, ensuring that he stands tall when the going gets tough during the company’s early stages. There’ll be enormous pressure on her, and little time for the melodrama that’s characterized punctuated her relationship with Cooper in Landman’s first two seasons. What’s more, as actor Paulina Chávez recently explained to Us magazine, Ariana is now coming out of her period of grief following Elvio’s tragic death, and she’ll be more ready to experience the joys of life again in season 3. Working For Tommy's Oil Company Puts Ariana In Serious Danger Even the most obstinate of Landman viewers will struggle to hold a grudge against Ariana once she’s on the inside of Tommy’s operation, managing both an office and a household simultaneously. She’s come through so much already in the show’s first two seasons. For instance, the sexual assault she survived in Landman season 2 ought to have been enough to cut her some slack. Sadly, it’s unlikely to be the last physical danger that Ariana faces in the series. In fact, her role in CTT Oil is going to put her in grave danger if Tommy and Cooper run afoul of any cartels, ranchers, or rival prospectors claiming territorial control of the land they’re exploring. That’s before we even come onto Danny "Gallino" Morrell, the international cartel boss serving as the chief investor behind CTT, and expecting a major return on his investment sooner rather than later. Given the history Taylor Sheridan has with female characters in his Western shows, it does feel like Ariana is going to have to keep looking over her shoulder for a while. When Gallino threatens to “take” the thing Tommy loves the most, he’s talking about his family, which now includes his future daughter-in-law. If Cooper is going to be the first one to make a rash mistake in Landman season 3, then unfortunately Ariana will be in prime position to pay for that mistake. Release Date November 17, 2024 Network Paramount Showrunner Taylor Sheridan Cast Billy Bob Thornton Tommy Norris Set in West Texas, Landman explores the world of oil rigs and the fortunes they create, with a modern upstairs/downstairs narrative of roughnecks and billionaires, highlighting the profound impact on the climate, economy, and geopolitics in these boomtowns.