Landman Season 2's fourth episode, 'Dancing Rainbows,' centers on the funeral of Tommy Norris's mother, revealing deep-seated family pain through stark contrasting memories shared by Tommy and his father, T.L. Billy Bob Thornton and Sam Elliott deliver standout performances in a pivotal restaurant scene that highlights their characters' fractured bond. The episode also advances subplots involving reconciliation, business risks, and personal vulnerabilities among the ensemble.
Episode Overview
Season 2 of Taylor Sheridan's Landman on Paramount+ shifts focus to protagonist Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) and his dysfunctional family. Episode 4, titled 'Dancing Rainbows' and premiered on December 7, 2025, unfolds during the funeral of Tommy's mother, Dottie, attended by his wife Angela (Ali Larter), children Ainsley (Michelle Randolph) and Cooper (Jacob Lofland), and his estranged father, T.L. (Sam Elliott), a disabled widower living in a retirement home.
The graveside service is somber, but tension builds at a post-funeral luncheon at a roadside spot called The Bucket. Ariana (Paulina Chávez), Cooper's ex-girlfriend who joins the trip, prompts discussion about Dottie. Tommy initially refuses to share memories, but relents with a harrowing account: At age 14, he found his naked, intoxicated mother face-down and drowning in a bathtub. Guided by a 9-1-1 operator, young Tommy performed CPR, only for Dottie to kick him violently and pour another drink. This incident prompted Tommy to leave home forever. 'There is no miracle involving my mother, other than her managing to die of old age,' Tommy concludes bitterly.
Contrasting Perspectives
In response, T.L. offers a poignant counter-memory of Dottie's vibrant youth. He recalls a 17-year-old Dottie stopping their car to dance joyfully in rainbows formed by sprinklers on a sunny day. 'I ain't never seen someone more alive,' T.L. says, adding ruefully, 'But demons run faster than rainbows, and hers caught up to her.' Later revelations deepen the tragedy: Tommy discloses that Dottie spiraled after their infant daughter's death from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, turning to alcohol and drugs while T.L. avoided home by working offshore rigs.
The episode ends on a note of tentative healing as Tommy invites T.L. to live with the family, retrieving his belongings from the nursing home. 'You ain't never setting another foot in that f**king place,' Tommy tells him.
Other Key Developments
Subplots include Ariana and Cooper reconciling after she demands he fight for their relationship post-funeral. High-powered lawyer Rebecca Falcone (Kayla Wallace) faces turbulence—literal and emotional—on a private jet, leading to a drunken hookup with oil executive Charlie (Guy Burnet). Meanwhile, Cami (Demi Moore) visits her late husband Monty's grave and secures financing from Gallino (Andy Garcia) for a risky offshore drilling project. Worker Jerrell (Elijah Collins) awakens from a gas leak incident but faces vision loss and potential long-term damage.
Critics praise Thornton and Elliott's chemistry, calling their monologues a 'masterclass' that elevates the series' exploration of wounded masculinity and redemption.
