Why Killing Monty Miller Was the Best Move for Landman Season 2

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Be warned, this article reveals details from the first episode of Landman season 2! While Jon Hamm’s character, Monty Miller, was already known to have passed away, the show made the right choice in confirming his death and moving forward. Monty died of a heart attack in season 1, but the season 2 premiere is the first time the series has addressed life without him, and it handled the transition effectively.

Everyone was shocked by Monty’s death, and at first, people wondered if there had been a mix-up. John Hamm is a talented actor, and many thought the show, Landman, would give him a similar leading role to his famous character, Don Draper, from Mad Men. However, Monty only appeared in a few scenes before he passed away, and the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan, didn’t fully develop his character. But that wasn’t a failing – it was actually the most effective decision Sheridan could have made.

Cami Is A Much Better View Into Landman’s Oil Business Than Monty Was

Emerson Miller/ ©Paramount+/Viacom Intl. / Courtesy Everett Collection

With Monty’s passing, his wife, Cami Miller (Demi Moore), has become the owner of M-Tex, and Tommy is now president. Tommy manages the daily operations, but Cami serves as the public face of the company despite her limited business knowledge. As demonstrated in the second season of Landman, this lack of experience actually makes Cami a more insightful perspective on the oil industry than Monty ever was.

When Landman first featured Monty, he’d been running M-Tex for a long time and was a true expert in the oil industry. He was a seasoned negotiator and knew the business inside and out. While Monty’s experience was impressive, it sometimes lost viewers because most Landman watchers aren’t familiar with the details of the oil business, and Monty didn’t need to explain things from the beginning.

Cooper began working on an oil rig in the first season of Landman because the show recognized most viewers weren’t familiar with the oil industry. He served as a way to introduce these complex topics, allowing the show to explain how drilling, pumping, and oil fields actually work. Now, Cami is fulfilling a similar role, but focusing on the financial and business aspects of the industry.

With Cami, who’s brand new to the oil business, Landman has a great way to walk viewers through how the industry works. Instead of just being told what’s a good or bad deal, we can now learn to recognize those deals ourselves, alongside Cami. Previously, Monty had to explain everything directly, but Cami allows us to figure things out as we go.

Demi Moore Is Just As Good At Playing A Business Tycoon As Jon Hamm Is

Monty was much more than just a tool for exploring the business of oil in Landman. He was a compelling character in his own right, made fascinating by his health issues, cutthroat tactics, and complex connection with Tommy. Plus, the chance to watch Jon Hamm deliver another strong performance as a powerful businessman was a major highlight, making Monty one of the show’s best characters.

It’s usually disappointing when a great actor like Jon Hamm takes on an interesting new role, only for their character to be killed off too soon. But that’s not happening with season 2 of Landman. Demi Moore is delivering a performance that’s just as captivating as Hamm’s, and she’s fully capable of carrying the story as a powerful and formidable oil executive. We might not be getting another Don Draper, but Moore is more than up to the task of creating a compelling character of her own.

The first episode of Landman season 2 demonstrates this perfectly. Cami’s speech at the oil industry event was excellent, and Moore had a chance to really shine as an actress. The speech made it clear that Moore will convincingly portray a powerful and calculating businesswoman throughout the rest of season 2.

Tommy Taking On A Business Role In Landman Season 2 Gives It Higher Stakes

Season two of Landman continues to feature Demi Moore as a compelling and cutthroat businesswoman, and this season gives us a closer look at the inner workings of M-Tex through Cami’s perspective. While the show didn’t suffer from Monty’s death, it actually raised the stakes for Tommy. Now that he’s running M-Tex, Tommy is facing much bigger and more complex challenges.

Landman Season 2 Release Schedule
Episode Title Release Date (Sundays @ Midnight PT)
Death and a Sunset November 16
Sins of the Father November 23
Almost a Home November 30
Dancing Rainbows December 7
The Pirate Dinner December 14
Dark Night of the Soul December 21
Forever is an Instant December 28
Handsome Touched Me January 4
Plans, Tears, and Sirens January 11
Tragedy and Flies January 18

During the first season of Landman, Tommy mostly handled day-to-day issues – things like equipment failures, worker accidents, and conflicts with both employees and a local cartel. Now, as president of M-Tex, his responsibilities have drastically changed. He’s now in charge of massive financial deals, complex contract negotiations, and all of the company’s biggest challenges.

When Monty died, Landman shifted Tommy’s central struggle from dealing with challenging employees to navigating the treacherous world of corporate betrayal. This change dramatically raised the stakes and suspense, which is exactly what a second season needs to surpass the first. Without the death of Jon Hamm’s character, Landman season 2 wouldn’t have felt as expansive or impactful as its initial season.

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2025-11-18 00:02