Warning: the following contains SPOILERS for Landman episodes 1-7.Landman‘s Ariana actor, Paulina Chávez, breaks down the character’s heartfelt conversation with Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) at Cooper’s (Jacob Lofland) bedside in episode 6. In the scene, Tommy has a brief chat with Ariana while Cooper is asleep, inquiring about her son and her well-being after the incident that killed Ariana’s husband and most of his crew. Though not a lot of words are exchanged, the two share a genuine bonding moment before Angela (Ali Larter) comes in.
Chávez talked to ScreenRant about the hospital scenes, explaining the nuanced emotions between Tommy and Ariana. The star explained that Ariana has not only suffered a great loss, but she’s also a mother, who relates to Tommy’s fear as a parent and someone who knows the danger and unpredictability of life in the oil industry. Though the scene is brief, it shows “all the emotions” Ariana is having, what she’s going through, and “how Tommy sympathizes with her.” Check out what she said below:
My goodness, I think I obviously know what I know as an actor, that Ariana is a widow, has a baby, and all the emotions that come with it, and just kind of throwing it all away and just being in the moment. I also think because she is a mother, and she has a baby boy, imagine a mother’s fear of, “Oh my gosh, my kid’s gonna grow up, and what if this happens to him?” I would be terrified.
So, I think there is that bond that Tommy and Ariana have. That understanding, as a new parent and now widow, that, yeah, life is very short, and you never know what’s going to happen. I think that scene, though very brief, shows you all the emotions that are are needed to see what Ariana is going through, and how Tommy sympathizes with her.
What This Means For Tommy & Ariana In Landman
A Real Bonding Moment
In another interview, Chávez talked more about the emotional journey Ariana went through seeing Cooper being hospitalized in Landman episode 6. She explained that she believed Ariana truly blamed herself for what happened to Cooper while being scared and angry about her in-laws being the ones who were behind the assault. Meeting Cooper’s family at the hospital and seeing Cooper covered in bruises has a great emotional impact on Ariana that pushes her into a different direction in episode 7.
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Chávez’s comment highlights how Cooper’s fate at the end of episode 5 bands Tommy and Ariana together. Tommy knew Ariana was the one Cooper went into the hospital for, but at that moment, he sympathized with Ariana’s loss. The scene not only sheds light on the nuanced emotions that are exchanged beyond words, but it also offers a fresh angle on Tommy’s ability to get past his own feelings to see every perspective in a difficult situation, which makes him the perfect man for a challenging job as a coordinator.
Our Take On Ariana & Cooper’s Relationship In Landman
Ariana & Cooper’s Relationship Advances, But It’s Not What It Seems
Landman episode 7 sees an interesting development after Cooper’s hospitalization, in which he goes home with Ariana instead of Tommy. Chávez’s comment about how Tommy understands their bond explains why he doesn’t try to force Cooper to come home with him. At the same time, Ariana’s position as a mother and her guilt about what happened plays a huge part in her decision to take care of Cooper.
In the latest episode, Cooper and Ariana share their second on-screen kiss in Landman. However, given the fact that Ariana still has her late husband’s photo on the nightstand, it’s clear that she’s still deep in her grief and not yet ready for a new relationship. Chávez’s comment, in a way, helps explain why she rushes to jump into making things romantic with Cooper, indicating that it may have more to do with her guilt. Landman episode 7 ending leaves on a more ambiguous note as Rebecca faces Cooper, who’s helping Ariana with the settlement document.