Why Ariana Ended Things With Cooper In Landman Season 2 Episode 2

Cooper Norris (Jacob Lofland) got his heart broken, but it’s a great move that will benefit Landman. Since Landman season 1, Cooper has been in a romantic relationship with a widowed single mother, Ariana Medina (Paulina Chavez), but that is now kaput. The prodigal son of Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) and Angela (Ali Larter), Cooper is intent on making his own future away from M-Tex, which his father is now President of. Cooper identified a business opportunity to buy up dry wells that M-Tex and other oil companies don’t want.

To Cooper’s shock, his gambit paid off. A handful of Cooper’s wells hit pay dirt and are gushing oil. By Cooper’s estimate, he could potentially earn $10 million a year, which would buy a new life for himself, Ariana, and her baby. However, Ariana had other ideas and shut down Cooper’s dream about them.

Why Ariana Kicked Cooper Out In Landman Season 2 Episode 2

Ariana Medina ended her relationship with Cooper Norris and kicked him out of her house in Landman season 2, episode 2. While Ariana’s decision came out of left field for Cooper, it makes perfect sense because she had already lived through losing her husband, Elvio (Alejandro Akara), to an oil accident.

While Cooper was overjoyed at his wells gushing oil, Ariana feared the worst when she called Cooper for hours with no response. Ariana’s fears of losing the next man she loved in a tragedy in the oil fields are understandable. And while Ariana does love Cooper, in truth, they barely know each other. Cooper learned that Ariana doesn’t want a life or a man whose life depends on and revolves around the oil business.

Cooper’s grand dreams of becoming rich and taking care of Ariana didn’t factor in what she thought or wanted, and now Cooper learned that Ariana doesn’t want a life or a man whose life depends on and revolves around the oil business. There is also a part of Ariana that felt that Cooper moving in so quickly and replacing Elvio happened too fast. She is still grieving her husband. Cooper is by no means a bad person, but he conveniently found himself an instant family, and his relationship with Ariana didn’t feel like it was earned.

Cooper’s Heartbreak Is Great For Ariana & Landman

Landman has a few questionable storylines and directions for its characters, but Ariana calling it quits with Cooper is a step in the right direction for both characters and for season 2 of Paramount+’s hit series. Since her introduction in Landman season 1, Ariana’s entire story has been mourning Elvio and trying to reconcile what her sudden fling with Cooper means to her. Except for visiting Cooper in the hospital, nearly all of Ariana’s scenes in Landman have been set in her home.

Without Cooper, Ariana now has the opportunity to reclaim her agency and find a new direction in Landman season 2. Ariana said no to Cooper as a gravy train, so Ariana will likely have to find work, or at least, get out of her house. Landman seems poised to break Ariana free of her limited role thus far.

Meanwhile, Cooper’s love story with Ariana was not as compelling as his pursuit of riches in the oil business. Landman season 2, episode 2’s revelation that Gallino (Andy Garcia) is Cooper’s secret business partner and financier is a great twist that complicates his and Tommy’s lives even further. Landman breaking up Cooper and Ariana spins both of them off in fresh and potentially better directions. Hopefully, Landman‘s next step is to give Angela and Ainsley Norris (Michelle Randolph) stories worthy of their endearing characters, as well.