'Landman' S2E8 Review: A Gut-Wrenching Twist Changes Everything
"5-star review analyzing the "Handsome Touched Me" twist and its devastating impact on the Norris family."
Rating: ★★★★
If you thought Landman was just about oil deals and cartel intrigue, "Handsome Touched Me" takes an unexpected turn. This is an episode about risk-taking, loneliness, and the question: how much are you willing to lose before you win?
Spoilers ahead for Season 2, Episode 8.
Cami's $400 Million Gamble
The episode's central conflict arrives in a Houston boardroom where Cami faces M-Tex's defining choice: litigation or offshore drilling with only a 10% success rate. Tommy and Rebecca advocate for the safe play, but geologist Charlie Newsom's bathymetric map convinces her otherwise. "I won't go down as just the rich widow," she declares, putting up nearly everything as collateral.
It's wildcatting in its purest form—and the power shift is unmistakable. Cami overrules both Tommy and her legal counsel, signaling Tommy's authority at M-Tex continues to erode.
Angela's Casino Triumph
While Cami gambled with M-Tex's future, Angela took a different kind of risk. Using the Martingale Strategy at the casino—doubling bets after each loss—she turned $10,000 into $317,622.68. Critics at IBTimes UK called it "the ultimate metaphor for oil industry risk-taking."
The parallel is deliberate: both women bet everything on long odds, and at least one walked away a winner. Angela's windfall may also enable the Norris family's move to Fort Worth, setting up major Season 3 changes.
The Breakup That Hurt
After Charlie's pitch swayed Cami, Rebecca exploded: "I said explain it, not sell it like a f------ time share." Charlie fired back with brutal honesty about her control issues, predicting she'll end up a "lonely woman." Later, Rebecca admitted to Tommy: "I'm sulking because what he said was true, and it hurt." The door remains open for reconciliation, but the split exposes Rebecca's struggle to balance professional rigor with personal vulnerability.
Verdict: A Divisive Pivot
Episode 8 earned a 7.6/10 on IMDb—the season's second-lowest rating. Critics were divided: some praised the character development, while others felt it "spins its wheels" before the finale. Screen Rant declared the series "in Serious Trouble," while defenders noted genuine emotional depth.
With two episodes left, the pieces are in place: Will Cami's drilling gamble pay off? Can Tommy's authority survive? The offshore rig's fate will determine M-Tex's future—and possibly Tommy's exit.