As we reach the midpoint of Landman Season 2, it’s hard not to notice the unsettling silence from Gallino. The cartel leader has clearly found his niche in the power dynamics of West Texas. In Episode 5, titled “The Pirate Dinner,” we find him in his high-rise office, casually practicing his putting while his extensive criminal network seems to stretch as far as the eye can see. Andy Garcia’s portrayal of Gallino is captivating, embodying a seamless blend of danger and sophistication. However, despite his seemingly limitless resources, doesn’t it feel like everything is unfolding a bit too smoothly for him? Gallino’s strategic entry into Cami Miller’s sphere, aided by his wife Bella, was seamless. He earned Cami’s trust, offering a no-strings-attached credit line. It’s as if Gallino’s plan for a complete takeover of M-Tex was in motion from the moment he appeared at the end of Season 1. As we progress through Landman, the memory of him brutally asserting control over Tommy lingers. He’s never just a disruptor; he’s the solution. It’s only a matter of time before Gallino demands a return on his investment.

Tommy, the President of M-Tex, is acutely aware of this impending demand and is taking steps to protect the company. At a breakfast meeting with his son Cooper at the Patch, Tommy announces plans for M-Tex to assume control of all rig leases funded by Sonrisa’s money. Notably, Tommy remains calm, acknowledging a valid point made by Gallino in Episode 3—Cooper did identify a drilling oversight. He even commends his son on his sales acumen, admitting Cooper is already a better salesman than he ever was. Tommy is positioning Cooper to lead an M-Tex crew while continuing to learn the business. It’s essentially a return to his starting point at the beginning of Season 1, before the turmoil of work camp violence and his involvement with Ariana.

The relationship between Cooper and Ariana has been tumultuous this season, reflecting the boom-and-bust nature of Landman. After Ariana ended things with Cooper, his grandmother’s funeral rekindled the affection she once had for him. Now, Cooper finds himself back in her good graces—and her bedroom. His sincerity is evident when he tells her she’s constantly on his mind, even joking about marriage on the spot, “If a priest lived next door.” Yet, true to their whirlwind nature, Ariana advises patience and a long-term perspective. She’s Catholic and Mexican, which means Cooper must seek her father’s permission, a welder in Corpus Christi, before any marriage plans can proceed.

Cooper’s approach is straightforward; he drives his old High Sierra to meet Ariana’s father, without overthinking or seeking formal introductions. Listening to Spanish language tapes en route, he arrives at the family’s doorstep, where he’s met with a cautious but fair reception. Ariana’s father, Carlos Barrera, played by Gabriel “G-Rod” Rodriguez, acknowledges his daughter’s independence. Sending Cooper to him was Ariana’s test. Carlos invites Cooper to dinner, but he also warns him sternly—any harm to his daughter would be met with severe consequences.

Meanwhile, TL’s move to Midland has enriched the interactions between Sam Elliott and Billy Bob Thornton. Their exchanges are sharp and entertaining, reminiscent of old Westerns where hands hover over gun holsters. TL quips, “Let me check how far I can shove my boot up your ass.” Yet, TL is also becoming a cornerstone in the household. With a cold Ultra in hand, he relaxes at the breakfast bar as Angela and Ainsley transform TL’s suggestion for a family dinner—recalling the best seafood he ever had at Sabine Pass in Port Arthur, TX—into a grand affair. TL’s official welcome to Midland is set to be a memorable “Pirate Dinner.”

The attorneys Rebecca previously took to task have come back with a vengeance. They want their 400 million bucks, and not only does M-Tex need to locate it – Monty Miller’s personal attorney swears it rests in some labyrinthine financial holding pattern – they have to actually build the corresponding Gulf of Mexico gas well it was supposed to be for. Lawyers for the other side, even more smug in another meeting with Rebecca and Nathan, want “stipulation of compliance.” Or litigation kicks in, and M-Tex’s lawyering braintrust knows that’s where they’ll have to stop hiding. As Nate tells Tommy, even if Monty was working side deals, “Cami’s name is on everything.” 

This is where Gallino’s long game indispensability becomes evident, and Tommy’s ability to lecture his way out of anything finds its end. With thousands of dollars’ worth of Pappy Van Winkle bottles glinting in the sun behind her, Cami Miller rejects her lawyers’ floated possibility that she take M-Tex into bankruptcy. The only thing in her life she ever lost was her husband. With Gallino’s promise of a moneyed cushion on which to land – to keep balling, no matter the cost – Cami says she’ll win this battle, too. 

Something else roundly rejected by Cami is a lecture from Tommy. He kicks the lawyers out and comes clean with his boss. The cartel’s activities from last season. Gallino revealing himself as the controller behind everything. And how the cartel king murdered his own man right in front of Tommy. This is who Cami is turning to for funding. The Landman-Prez, who knows that knowing the rules of the game means you gotta know how to break ‘em, is advising the M-Tex owner that taking Gallino’s blood money is a bridge too far. “A $400 million dollar loan? We look like the engine of their money laundering machine.” But Cami sees her own long game. And she isn’t listening. 

Landmania for Season 2 Episode 5 of Landman (“The Pirate Dinner”):

• The deadly accident that opened Landman Episode 4, out on a desolate M-Tex service road, where a sand hauler semi got tangled with a pickup placed awkwardly, feels to us like another clue Gallino is playing a long game. That pickup wasn’t just there. The driver had been incapacitated by carbon monoxide being fed into the cabin. While Tommy fumes at the crash site here in Episode 5 – just another deathly problem in his workday – it feels to us like another big part of the drug kingpin’s M-Tex disruption plan.
• Everybody’s at the pirate dinner! TL, Dale and Nathan are wearing tricorn hats, and Angela and Ainsley even pressed Rebecca Falcone into service. As Tommy grabs an Ultra from a cooler wearing a pirate treasure costume, he gives his dad a grin. It’s the combative, unpredictable Broadway musical of Tommy’s life, and they’re all just players on a stage.

Johnny Loftus (@johnnyloftus.bsky.social) is a Chicago-based writer. A veteran of the alternative weekly trenches, his work has also appeared in Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork, The All Music Guide, and The Village Voice.