Warning: Some SPOILERS lie ahead for Landman episodes 1 & 2!

Kayla Wallace and Paulina Chávez find themselves brought together after an oil rig tragedy in Fate: The Winx Saga in its second season.

In Landman's story, Chávez stars as Ariana, one of the women whose husband is killed in the devastating oil rig explosion in episode 1, while Wallace stars as Rebecca Savage, a lawyer brought out to investigate the explosion. Ariana, also a new mother, finds herself forming a bond with Jacob Lofland's Cooper, the young new worker and sole survivor of the explosion, as he helps her grieve and determine what the future holds for her and her child. Rebecca, meanwhile, stays close to Billy Bob Thornton's titular character during her investigation, with all signs pointing towards him being painted as the fall guy for the explosion.

Alongside Thornton, Chávez, Wallace and Lofland, the ensemble Landman cast includes 1923's Michelle Randolph, Final Destination's Ali Larter, frequent Sheridan collaborator James Jordan, Nashville's Mark Collie, The Substance's Demi Moore, Top Gun: Maverick's Jon Hamm and The Umbrella Academy's Colm Feore. Kicking off the show in explosive fashion while also laying the groundwork for some moving character arcs, Taylor Sheridan's latest looks to continue his win streak on the small screen.

Ahead of the show's premiere, Screen Rant interviewed Kayla Wallace and Paulina Chávez to discuss Landman, the different kinds of power they have and how Sheridan expertly wrote their female characters, getting to work with Thornton and whether Rebecca will be a friend or foe for Tommy, as well as getting to work with Lofland and the "beautiful" storyline to come from Ariana and Cooper.

Chávez Saw A Lot Of Her Own "Culture" & Family In Ariana

"...it just really showcases the resilience in the face of grief."

Screen Rant: It is very exciting to chat with you both for Landman, I'm about five episodes in, and I'm already so hooked. Paulina, I'd love to turn to you first, because Ariana is just one of the most gripping characters in just how heartbreaking her story is. Can you walk me through what your biggest key was to finding who she is and how to bring her to life?

Paulina Chávez: Oh, my goodness, I believe listening to the podcast, it gives you a little insight of the families that are directly impacted by the oil industry. It is a very dangerous industry, I never knew that going in, but I really did connect it with my culture and the community that we do have. I really did see my mom in it, my grandma in it, and it just really showcases the resilience in the face of grief.

Rebecca's Power Is "Really A Gift" From Sheridan To Wallace

"It was such an honor..."

I'll turn to you, Kayla, next, because I love just how willing you are to fight back against everyone as they try to really use your gender against you. What was it like finding that power within her to bring that to life on screen?

Kayla Wallace: Right, with those comments about her gender and other little comments that you're bound to come across in a man's world of oil and law, it only fuels her. It only makes her want to get even harder, and she's so powerful. It was such an honor to play these dynamic, well-rounded, strong female characters, like Rebecca and Ariana. It's really a gift from Taylor Sheridan to have these powerful female characters.

Ariana & Cooper Have "Something Really Special" To Come In Landman's Future

"...we really wanted to do it as authentically as we can..."

Paulina, I'll turn back to you, because I also love watching Ariana and Jacob Lofland's Coop really start to engage in one another. We don't know what kind of relationship it is yet, but I love just watching them try and be there for each other. What was it like finding that dynamic with him throughout filming?

Paulina Chávez: What they have is something super special, a special friendship that they're developing in the face of tragedy. That's what brings them together, ultimately, and also, Ariana is trying to navigate having to raise this baby, and taking care of the house, and all the stuff that she never had to do. It's a special storyline with Ariana and Cooper, and so we really wanted to do it as authentically as we can, and do it the right way.

Ariana's widow's family is also not very happy having Cooper around. What kind of tension can we expect from that side of things as the season progresses?

Paulina Chávez: My goodness, you're just gonna have to wait and see, aren't you? [Laughs] Again, I think this storyline is just beautiful and heartwarming, and there's just so much for you guys to expect. I think the audiences are gonna love it.

There is "Room For More Tension" Between Rebecca & Tommy This Season

"It was just so much fun to work with him..."

Kayla, I also just love watching Rebecca and Tommy ribbing one another, but also really testing the waters with each other, finding out if they're going to be friend or foe. What is it like finding that balance and that rapport with Billy Bob?

Kayla Wallace: There's a definite tension off the top, and it was really fun to find that banter with Tommy and Billy Bob. He would throw something at me like a little curveball. He would add something to a scene, add a line, or just change something up that he knew would dig into me a little bit more. It was just so much fun to work with him, and it made, I think, their dynamic really fresh. I think there's, yeah, room for more tension, and I think they're figuring out what that is.

About Landman

Set in the proverbial boomtowns of West Texas, Landman is a modern-day tale of fortune seeking in the world of oil rigs. Based on the notable 11-part podcast “Boomtown,” the series is an upstairs/downstairs story of roughnecks and wildcat billionaires fueling a boom so big, it’s reshaping our climate, our economy and our geopolitics.

Check out our other Landman interviews with:

• Billy Bob Thornton
• Ali Larter
• Jacob Lofland, James Jordan & Mark Collie

New episodes of Landman air Sundays on Paramount+.

Source: Screen Rant Plus