What do we know about Andy Garcia's cameo in Landman Season 1? Details explored

Taylor Sheridan's Landman, co-created by Christian Wallace, finally saw its epic season 1 finale, featuring a cameo from the Oscar-nominated actor Andy Garcia as the cartel boss Gallino.

The finale saw Billy Bob Thornton's Tommy Norris being saved by Gallino, who shoots his men and strikes a deal with Tommy for a future partnership in the oil business.

Garcia's cameo as Gallino is surely interesting, especially after Jon Hamm's Monty's death in the finale, because Tommy will now deal with the real man, i.e., the cartel boss.

While the show has not been renewed for season 2 yet, it is expected to return for a sophomore run, considering Sheridan's legacy with Paramount+.

More on Garcia's cameo in the Landman Season 1 finale in our story.

What does Landman series creator and actor think about Garcia's cameo in the finale?

Tommy coming face-to-face with the cartel was a highly anticipated plot point for the Landman Season 1 finale, and Sheridan delivered on that with a cameo by veteran actor Andy Garcia as cartel boss Gallino.

Tommy is tortured by Jiminez and his men, who beat him with a hammer, douse him up in gasoline, and pound a nail in his thigh. While Tommy could easily take some roughing up, he is saved by Gallino before his men can kill him.

In an interview with Variety, Thornton discussed his character's partnership with the cartel boss in season 2:

''Tommy’s dealing with someone now who is really smart. The other guys were hired to work for him, but now Tommy’s talking to the man himself. There are advantages and disadvantages to that. Since he is so smart, who knows what Tommy is going to get tricked into?''

He added:

''Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Tommy figures if he semi-befriends this guy, maybe they can actually work this out, because it is going to happen one way or another.''

Garcia's cameo in Landman means Tommy will now deal with the 'real' man

While the cartel's presence was a real threat to Tommy throughout season 1, Jiminez and his men were mere pawns for Gallino, with no agency of his own.

But after Tommy's deal with Gallino, it is clear that he will now deal with the real man as he has actually gotten in bed with the cartel for real. This is also significant because Tommy is now not just the landman for M-Tex, but after Monty's death, he is automatically appointed as the company's director.

His deal with the 'devil' just moments after he became the main man for M-Tex suggests the various risks and threats that await him as the company's director, which Monty used to handle earlier.

While Gallino seems genuinely interested in working with Tommy at the moment, as he expressed his desire to enter the oil industry, who is to say the cartel boss can be trusted in the long run and will not double-cross Tommy?

In an interview with Variety, creator Wallace opens u about Galliano's interest in the oil industry:

''The cartel and the oil industry are kind of these odd neighbors living side by side in West Texas. Now Andy’s character is thinking he is going to make a change and utilize that proximity in a way that could benefit him.''

All these theories will come to fruition once the show is renewed for season 2.