'Landman' Star Bobbi Salvör Menuez Admits Limited Taylor Sheridan Knowledge, Anticipated Non-Binary Character's Impact, Eyes Season 3 Comeback

Okay, spoiler alert folks! We're diving into details about the "Landman" Season 2 finale, specifically the episode "Tragedy & Flies," so if you haven't watched it yet, maybe bookmark this and come back later. You've been warned!

'Landman' Star's Shocking Taylor Sheridan Confessi...

Bobbi Salvör Menuez, the actor bringing a fresh perspective to Taylor Sheridan's "Landman," has definitely made a splash after their debut. Menuez portrays Paigyn Meester, Ainsley's (Michelle Randolph) non-binary roommate, popping up in the final stretch of Season 2. What's interesting is Menuez told Deadline they were "barely familiar with the Taylor Sheridan universe" before joining the Paramount+ series. They also noted the "immense" impact of Sheridan's work, explaining that this made them all the more "excited" to bring a different element to the show. It's kind of cool, right? Someone coming in with almost no preconceived notions.

Let's be honest, Taylor Sheridan is building an empire. With "Landman" Season 3 and a whole slew of other shows in the works, some might even call him the Ryan Murphy for MAGA audiences down South and across Middle America. The role of Paigyn, I think, is no exception to Sheridan's recipe for success, a formula that actually appeals to a wider audience than you might expect, even some folks on the coasts who aren't necessarily fans of the politics usually associated with Sheridan's fanbase.

Initially, some viewers saw Paigyn as a potentially rage-baiting caricature – you know, the ferret-loving sports medicine major who's terrified of socializing because it might mess with their "safe space." The character even leads Ainsley to tears, getting all worked up because the cheerleader doesn't understand that "they/them" can be a singular pronoun. But the season finale, "Tragedy & Flies," now streaming on Paramount+, flips the script on those initial impressions. It turns out first impressions aren't always the best, are they? Paigyn actually prevents Ainsley from getting hurt during cheer camp, and Ainsley returns the favor by standing up for her new friend when they're confronted by some anti-LGBTQ+ bullies. It's a surprisingly sweet moment, and definitely adds some nuance to the character.

In the Deadline interview, Menuez talked about not really engaging with the online chatter surrounding the character, which is probably a smart move for their own mental health, honestly. It’s easy to get bogged down in the negativity. They also mentioned having worked with Jacqueline Castel, director of “My Animal,” a film I actually interviewed Castel about a couple of years back, small world! Menuez views the role as an opportunity to bring greater LGBTQ+ representation to a space where it might not always be expected. And with GLAAD recently reporting that almost 50% of LGBTQ characters are disappearing from screens, that kind of representation feels more important than ever.