In the Sunday, December 21 episode, the series openly acknowledged complaints about its female characters being frequently shown in revealing outfits. The moment unfolds when Tommy Norris, played by Billy Bob Thornton, asks his ex-wife Angela to put on more clothes before coming downstairs. Angela, played by Ali Larter, pushes back, asking if her body bothers him. Tommy says it doesn’t — but admits other people are around. The scene ends with him giving up entirely when his teenage daughter Ainsley, played by Michelle Randolph, appears dressed in a similarly skimpy outfit.
“I f***ing surrender,” Tommy mutters — a line that felt like a wink to viewers who have been debating the show’s creative choices online.
Landman, which premiered in November 2024, follows the high-stakes world of West Texas oil operations, with Thornton starring as a corporate fixer. While the show deals with danger, power, and money, much of the online conversation has focused on Ainsley’s scenes — especially moments where the 17-year-old character casually discusses sex while walking around the house in bikinis or underwear, despite living with adult men.
Those scenes quickly went viral, drawing both criticism and confusion from viewers.
Michelle Randolph has been open about the backlash — and about the work she put into the role. In a December interview, she explained that she spent nearly a year preparing for Ainsley, working with multiple coaches and deeply studying the character.
Randolph admitted that some of Ainsley’s dialogue and behavior felt shocking even to her at first. There were moments, she said, when she wondered how she would make the character believable. Still, her goal was always to find the most human version of Ainsley possible.
She emphasized that Ainsley isn’t meant to be a stereotype or just a “bratty” teenager. Instead, Randolph sees her as a young person who understands how to work the people around her, especially her parents, while still trying to figure out who she is.
“She’s 17 and she’s growing,” Randolph explained, urging viewers to give the character time to evolve. According to her, audiences have only seen a small fraction of who Ainsley really is — and more layers are meant to be revealed as the show continues.
Randolph also acknowledged that viewers are free to interpret the character however they want. Once filming wrapped, she said, her job was done. The reaction — good or bad — was out of her control.
Despite the criticism, she has no regrets.
“At least it’s sparking conversation,” Randolph said, adding that she remains proud of the show and the work the cast put into it.
With Landman now openly addressing its most debated elements onscreen, it’s clear the series isn’t shying away from controversy — and that conversation around the show is far from over.
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