A father-son scene between Tommy and Cooper Norris was featured in the second “Landman” season 2 episode — and it had special meaning for actors Billy Bob Thornton and Jacob Lofland.
“I think having it is really crucial,” Lofland, 29, told Us Weekly in an exclusive interview discussing the episode. “We’ve been discussing the father-son dynamic all morning, but it’s one of the times when you actually get to be real.”
Lofland shared that it’s “usually” dialogue about “business” between Thornton’s Tommy and his character, Cooper, but this scene showcased an additional dimension of their bond.
“Both Billy and I drew [from] our real-life experiences for it,” Lofland shared. “Being able to translate that onto the screen meant a lot to both of us.”
The episode airing on Sunday, November 23, titled “Sins of the Father,” showed Tommy taking his son, Cooper, to see his grandfather, TL (Sam Elliott). After the interaction between the three generations of Norris men, Tommy and Cooper have a sincere conversation in the car.
“You know, maybe it’s for the best that I only had you on the weekends. I wasn’t raised to be a father,” Tommy starts. “All your grandfather did was work until he was a cripple on the rigs, come home and drink enough to deal with my coked-up tornado of a mother, then come into my room and try to beat his failures out of me.”
Cooper told Tommy that he “broke” the generational pattern. “I love you, Dad,” he added. “You did your best, and your best is good enough.”
Both actors become visibly emotional but cease discussing the subject.
Elliott, 81, became a member of the Paramount+ series’ cast for season two as Tommy’s father.
We have not seen much of the hardened, retired oilman, but as the Norris family continues to come together on screen, it appears there’s a lot to come.
“He truly is the most wonderful man. I was so fortunate to work alongside him,” Michelle Randolph, who portrays Tommy’s daughter, Ainsley, shared with Us. “It’s interesting for Ainsley to learn more about her father, as he is a mystery to her in many ways. With [TL] joining the family, I think this season she gets a little more insight [into] why he is the way he is.”
Elliott didn’t necessarily give his young costars advice while filming, but they couldn’t help but observe his work.
“They prove it by just showing up. You witness it and think, ‘That’s what I aspire to.’ That’s where the lesson lies,” Lofland stated. “I believe it’s the greatest lesson you can get.”
Randolph said working with Thornton, Elliott, Demi Moore (Cami Miller), and Ali Larter (Angela Norris) “empowers” her as an actor.
“I don’t think any of them realize how amazing they are. They’re so down-to-earth,” she explained. “They’ve been doing this for so long and give you confidence, which is what you need to perform against a legend you’ve watched your entire life. That’s why they’re so great.”
Every Sunday, new episodes of Landman season 2 premiere on Paramount+.
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