When Andy Garcia made his late-game entrance in the Landman Season 1 finale, it wasn’t just a cameo—it was a statement. Garcia plays Gallino, the kind of villain who doesn’t need to raise his voice to terrify. He smiles, he chats, he drinks good tequila—and oh yeah, he represents a Mexican drug cartel with big, oily dreams.
Let’s get one thing straight: Gallino isn’t your run-of-the-mill thug. He’s smart. He’s polished. He wears his menace like cologne. And by the time the credits rolled on Season 1, he’d already flipped the game board upside down. Gone is Jimenez, the trigger-happy underling whose antics threatened to drag Tommy Norris and M-Tex into a full-blown war. Enter Gallino, calm and cool, offering Tommy a neat little deal: Let’s partner up. Let the cartel into the oil business. What could possibly go wrong?
Gallino 101: Who Is This Guy?
Gallino doesn’t bark. He doesn’t need to. His power sits just under the surface, simmering. He’s the cartel’s fixer, the strategist, the kind of man who can shake your hand and gut you in the same breath—metaphorically speaking, of course. Or not.
In the Season 1 finale, he swoops in after Jimenez makes a mess of things. Jimenez—clearly not the brains of the operation—had taken to torching trailers and threatening Tommy with guns. Gallino? He takes a different approach. He kills Jimenez, saves Tommy, and offers something Tommy didn’t expect: a business proposal.
A Business Plan With a Body Count
Gallino’s pitch is simple, but chilling. He wants the cartel to diversify. And what better way to do it than by dipping toes—or boots—into West Texas oil? It’s cleaner than drug money (at least on the surface), more profitable in the long term, and deeply embedded in American infrastructure.
But make no mistake, this isn’t just savvy investing. It’s infiltration. Gallino isn’t asking for a seat at the table; he wants to buy the table, replace the legs with explosives, and keep everyone smiling while he lights the fuse.
And Tommy? He’s caught in the middle.
Tommy Norris: The Oilman in Over His Head
Tommy had a rough go in Season 1. Between corporate politics, personal drama, and trying not to die in a trailer fire, he’s aged ten years in ten episodes. Now, with the sudden departure of M-Tex CEO and his own surprising promotion, he’s got even bigger problems.
Gallino’s offer isn’t one Tommy can ignore. But it’s not one he can accept easily either. Say yes, and he risks turning M-Tex into a criminal front. Say no, and he might not live long enough to regret it.
So what’s a morally conflicted oil exec to do? That’s what makes Season 2 so promising—and so dangerous.
Season 2: Trouble Brewing on the Horizon
Now that Gallino’s on the scene, the stakes have skyrocketed. This isn’t just about oil anymore. It’s about power. Influence. Corruption.
Here’s what might be coming:
- Corporate Collisions: Gallino’s interest in oil could lead to partnerships with shady players or even force other companies to get dirtier just to stay competitive.
- Ethical Erosion: With cartel money flowing through the pipelines, the line between legal and illegal might evaporate altogether.
- Family Fallout: Tommy’s choices will affect more than just M-Tex. His ex-wife Angela, his rebellious daughter Ainsley, and his son Cooper—they all stand to get pulled in.
- Legal Blowback: Don’t rule out law enforcement. If the feds get wind of this cartel-oil fusion, expect subpoenas, raids, and plenty of drama.
And all the while, Gallino will be smiling.
Cartel vs. Capital: A Showdown Worth Watching
What makes Gallino so intriguing isn’t just his presence—it’s his timing. He arrives just when things are fragile. M-Tex is vulnerable. Tommy is alone. And the rules of the game are already bending.
The cartel doesn’t just bring money. It brings its own set of rules. Violence becomes negotiation. Fear replaces contracts. And nothing—not even West Texas soil—feels sacred anymore.
So, what happens when the cartel starts drilling? What happens when clean energy initiatives meet backroom executions? That’s the combustible cocktail Season 2 has waiting.
Final Thoughts From the Oil Patch
Gallino may be new to the series, but he’s no small player. He’s a storm in a custom suit, and he’s about to drench everyone in gasoline. Season 2 will need to answer big questions—about greed, about morality, and about how far people will go to protect their legacy.
For Tommy Norris, the clock is ticking. And Gallino? He’s already got a match in his hand.
