Paulina Chávez embodies the resilient spirit of Ariana Medina, a standout character in Landman. Following the tragic loss of her oil worker husband, Elvio, Ariana found herself alone with a baby and no financial support. Thanks to the benevolence of Cooper Norris, portrayed by Jacob Lofland, she managed to rebuild her life and open her heart to love again. After taking a much-needed pause, Ariana and Cooper decided to renew their commitment to each other. “After enduring the trauma Ariana has, it’s essential to step back and understand what you truly desire,” Chávez explained. “She’s confident that together with Cooper, they can navigate whatever life throws at them, be it good or bad.”

With their engagement bringing joy, Ariana and Cooper seemed destined for a bright future. Cooper took on a role alongside his father, Tommy Norris, played by Billy Bob Thornton, leading a crew. Meanwhile, Ariana secured a position at The Patch, a popular West Texas bar frequented by oil workers and tough locals. “Ariana had never needed to apply for a job before,” Chávez shared. “Landing a role at The Patch was her opportunity to prove she’s a force to be reckoned with.”

Tragically, Ariana’s journey took a dark turn when a disgruntled patron she had previously confronted returned to The Patch, assaulting her in a back alley. Chávez recounted her shock upon reading the scene: “It’s horrifying to even imagine such an event.” Creator Taylor Sheridan offered guidance, telling her, “Even if you’re momentarily knocked down, never stop fighting.”

Chávez recently joined a Zoom call to delve into this pivotal storyline, discuss the growing strength of Ariana and Cooper’s bond, and reveal which Landman characters she hopes to share more screen time with in the future.

DECIDER: Paulina, one of the highlights this season has been witnessing the evolution of Ariana and Cooper’s relationship. How did their brief separation strengthen their commitment to one another?

PAULINA CHAVEZ: When you’ve gone through the trauma Ariana has experienced, you need to take a step back and figure out what you truly want. She’s thinking: “Is this real? Is this what I want? Is his being in the oil industry going to tear us apart? I have a baby to consider!” I also think that Ariana’s going to the funeral with Cooper and seeing his family dynamic helps her to understand him a little bit better. At the end of the day, they are people that want to see each other thrive, and that makes everything a little bit easier.

What do you think pushed Ariana to encourage Cooper to propose so quickly?

It’s common in Mexican families not to move out until you’re married. It’s something that’s so embedded in our heads that we don’t even realize it until we’re in a committed relationship. It’s just like, “I need a ring on my finger just so I’m comfortable,” which is so weird. That mentality is still a very real thing nowadays.

Ariana doesn’t just date people for fun. She dates people with intention. If that person is not right for her, then she’s not going to waste her time with them. She’s very sure that she and Cooper will be able to walk through life and handle any situation—bad or good—together.

Also, they both know how fleeting life can be, especially for oil workers. She learned that the hard way with Elvio’s passing. She knows how rare it is for her to meet someone who becomes her best friend. Why let that go? Why be scared to take that leap? There are no rules when it comes to true love.

I liked that Ariana made Cooper seek permission from both her own family and Elvio’s family. How important is it to respect her late husband?

Family is so important to her. Family is where Ariana gets her strength. Elvio’s mother, Isabel, has known Ariana since she was in diapers. She is like a second mom to her, in a way. Ariana will always respect her son.

For someone as savvy and smart as Ariana , it was interesting to see her doubt herself when applying for the job at The Patch. How important is it for her to get out of the house and gain some agency ?

She wanted to prove to herself that she can absolutely handle things on her own. She can get a job. She can pay the bills on her own. She doesn’t need Cooper to take care of her, which was important for her to find out. Ariana had never applied for a job before. She never had to worry about finances. Getting a job at The Patch gave the chance to prove to herself that she’s a badass in her own right.

I think I speak for audiences everywhere when I say that it was really tough to watch Ariana get attacked in the back alley of The Patch by that unruly patron. What was your initial reaction to reading that in the script?

I definitely was not expecting it. It’s terrifying to think about that happening. We as women are always watching our surroundings, making sure that nobody is following us, and doing what we can to protect ourselves. I remember having the conversation with Taylor after reading the script, and he told me, “No matter what, even though you get knocked you out for a second, you never stop fighting, ever.”

It was very important for me to show that Ariana was never going to quit. I had to work with the show’s stunt team for the first time, which was interesting to explore as an actor. It was a nerve-racking day to be on set. The first time we ran through that sequence was rough. I had to allow things to feel real for the brief time the camera was on.

I think it’s a gift when a series has one director like Stephen Kay. How did he help you mentally prepare for that scene?

I love Stephen. He is an absolute dream to work with. He, along with everybody else on that set, is so respectful. He has a daughter too so he really was able to take in the weight of what Ariana was going to experience. He was very much just like, “give it all you’ve got, kid.” Stephen, Taylor, and I all agreed that Ariana would never quit fighting. If Cooper hadn’t showed up, I know Ariana could have killed that man.

What can you say about the impact this event will have on Cooper’s and Ariana’s relationship?

This event is not going to define her, and it’s not going to define the dynamics within Ariana’s and Cooper’s relationship. Cooper now has a better understanding of the fear that women deal with on a daily basis. This experience has been eye-opening for him. If anything, what they went through together is just going to bring them closer.

I wish we could see Ariana regularly interact with more people in Cooper’s world. Is there any one character you wish Ariana had more scenes with? And why?

I would love to act more with Kayla Wallace, who plays Rebecca. I would love for them to form a friendship because they both need connection. I would also love to see Ariana, Ainsley, and Angela go to the spa together or go shopping [laughs]. Ainsley and Cooper have such a weird sister brother relationship too. Ariana could say, “wait, why do you all hate each other?”

The animosity between Ainsley and Cooper fascinates me because there’s no real reason for it. Maybe Ariana could be the one to bring them together?

I agree! She could be besties with Ainsley and make her see that if Cooper can get a woman like Ariana to fall for him, he can’t be all bad [laugh].