Warning: The following contains SPOILERS for Landman episode 1-6.Michelle Randolph, who plays Ainsley in Landman, breaks down her character’s reaction to seeing her brother Cooper (Jacob Lofland) being hospitalized in episode 6. As siblings, Ainlsey and Cooper’s relationship is strained. While Cooper follows his father Tommy Norris’ (Billy Bob Thornton) footsteps to be a landman, Ainsley is raised by her mother’s value to marry someone rich and never have to work a day. Episode 6 picks up from the aftermath of Manuel and Antonio’s assault at the end of episode 5 and sees Cooper wake up after nearly dying in surgery.
Randolph talked to ScreenRant about Ainsley’s hospital scenes. The actor explained that it’s a moment of expansion for Ainsley to see how “small” her world has been. Ainsley is “starting to learn more about her brother,” especially through her encounter with Ariana, who’s breastfeeding at the hospital, which opens her perspective to see what Cooper and her father are dealing with. Check out what she said below:
I think that it’s just a moment of realizing that the world that she lives in is quite small, and it kind of opens her perspective to see the things that her dad’s dealing with, and that there’s more than just kind of being in her bubble and Aledo with Angela and Victor. I also think that she’s starting to learn more about her brother in that [moment], especially when she sees Ariana, and Ariana is breastfeeding, and she’s like, “Hey, does my brother have a child? Is this his girlfriend? What’s happening?” So, her world is expanding in episode 6.
The two times Ainsley and Cooper interact on-screen have been hostile. Randolph defended Ainsley’s position in the sibling rivalry, reasoning that Lofland’s character is “the older brother” who “should be the one who’s nice” and approaches things with “more maturity.” Yet, Cooper takes a dig at Ainsley first both times, who’s only “responding to him.” Check out what she said below:
You know, look, I’m gonna defending Ainsley for a second. Both times that Cooper and her have interacted thus far in the show, he starts it, because he says that she smells like a beach, which is a dig. And so, she comes back at him, and then when he’s like, “What are you doing here?,” instead of being kind, she goes right back at him. So, she is just responding to him. I’m gonna blame it on him, sorry, Jacob. [Laughs] He’s the older brother. He should be the one who’s nice. He has more maturity than she does, but clearly not.
Ainsley Has So Much Potential In Landman
In a previous interview about Landman season 2, Randolph shared that Ainlsey has “so much potential,” and she would like to see her character “find herself” and “stand up for herself.” Randolph’s comment further echoes her past season and sheds some light on Ainsley’s character arc in season 1, which has been about expanding and growth. In the season, Ainsley moves to Fort Worth to spend time with Tommy during the summer. The season has seen her confronting many illusions that she has, including her relationship with men and her lifestyle.
Related
Landman’s Controversial Ainsley Storyline Defended By Taylor Sheridan Show Star: “Not My Job To Tell People How To Interpret My Character”
EXCLUSIVE: Landman star Michelle Randolph defends the Ainsley storyline in the Paramount+ drama, explaining how she approaches the character.
Previously, Lofman talked about the rivalry that Ainsley and Cooper have, admitting that he doesn’t know why they “dislike” each other because that part “has not been written.” The actor revealed that season 1 never got to their backstory and hoped that it’s “going to come out as we go,” so viewers can find out what really started the sibling rivalry. Randolph’s comment about Cooper being the one who starts the sibling rivalry with Ainsley offers a fresh look at the dispute, and at the same time, points out the missing piece in their story.
Our Take On Ainsley’s Path In Landman
Ainsley Is More Than What She Shows
Ainsley’s summer vacation has been a massive learning experience for her. With all four Norrises present, Landman dives into Cooper and Ainsley’s sibling rivalry and their family dynamics. Having grown up mainly around her mother, Tommy’s intervention, in a way, reveals the lack of a real father figure in Ainsley’s life. On the other hand, Ainsley isn’t interested in learning about Cooper and Tommy’s life. Despite them being her family, she disassociates herself from their life the same way Angela tries to separate herself from the harsh reality.
Ainsley has no idea about Cooper’s life in Landman. Meeting Ariana is a shock and seeing her using the breast pump also opens so many questions for Ainsley about Cooper’s life. It seems that while Cooper is the older sibling, Ainsley might have to be the one to take a leap of faith to re-establish their bond. The fact that Ainsley gives up a party to be in the hospital for Cooper also shows how much she cares about her brother. Just like Randolph suggests, there are so many aspects that Landman season 2 could further explore.
Set in West Texas, this series explores the world of oil rigs and the fortunes they create. It portrays a modern upstairs/downstairs narrative of roughnecks and billionaires, highlighting the profound impact on the climate, economy, and geopolitics in these boomtowns.
- Release Date
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November 17, 2024
- Cast
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Billy Bob Thornton
, Ali Larter
, Jacob Lofland
, Kayla Wallace
, Mark Collie
, James Jordan
, Demi Moore
, Jon Hamm
, Colm Feore
, Robyn Lively
, Drake Rodger
, Brook Sill
, K.C. Clyde
, Rosemary Dominguez
, Mustafa Speaks
, J.R. Villarreal
, Octavio Rodriguez
, Michael Pena
, Emilio Rivera
, Alex Meraz
, Alejandro Akara - Character(s)
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Tommy Norris
, Angela Norris
, Cooper Norris
, Rebecca Falcone
, Sheriff Walt Joeberg
, Dale Bradley
, Cami Miller
, Monty Miller
, Nathan
, Ellie
, Dakota Loving
, Abilene
, Barney
, Isabel
, Boss
, Manuel
, Antonio
, Armando
, Luis Medina
, Jimenez
, Elvio Medina - Creator(s)
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Taylor Sheridan
, Christian Wallace - Seasons
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1
- Writers
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Taylor Sheridan
, Christian Wallace
