Landman’s Biggest Problem With Andy Garcia Is Totally Unexpected

Andy Garcia returns in Landman season 2, episode 3, and while Gallino is a big problem for Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton), his suave Cuban-American crime lord comes with an issue for audiences that’s perhaps even more unexpected. Gallino saved Tommy Norris’ life in Landman season 1’s finale. As M-Tex Oil’s top landman, Tommy’s ongoing conflict with the Mexican cartels resulted in Norris being kidnapped and tortured by Jimenez (Alex Meraz). Tommy was shocked when Jimenez and his men were suddenly killed, and he was freed by Gallino.

Tommy instantly rejected Gallino’s offer to be friends, but the drug kingpin sank his claws into the new M-Tex’ President’s life by becoming Cooper Norris’ (Jacob Lofland) silent partner and benefactor. In Landman season 2, episode 3, Tommy learned Gallino has a public face as Danny Morrell, the founder of investment firm, Sonrisa.

Landman’s Biggest Andy Garcia Problem Is How Much We Like Gallino

Despite Tommy Norris’ outright rejection of Gallino, it turns out Andy Garcia’s villain is charming, dignified, reasonable, and likable. There were hints of Gallino being a gentleman crime lord when he saved Tommy in Landman season 1’s finale, but “Danny Morrell” is a winning patina that Gallino exploits to maximum effect. Gallino truly turned on the charm when Tommy and Cami Miller (Demi Moore) confronted the late Monty Miller’s (Jon Hamm) attorney at the exclusive Cattleman’s Club. Dan Morrell is either a founder or a partner of the Cattleman’s Club because he had full authority over the staff.

Dan Morrell and his wife, Bella (Stefania Spampinato), instantly win over Cami and Tommy’s ex-wife, Angela (Ali Larter), and if it was an act, it was an effective one. Gallino is definitely fronting as Dan Morrell, yet he’s such a smooth operator, and Andy Garcia is so good that we like him despite knowing better.

Landman and Andy Garcia smartly build upon the actor’s similar roles as Vincent Mancini Corleone in The Godfather Part III and Terry Benedict in Ocean’s Eleven. Gallino/Dan Morrell seems like Landman‘s natural evolution of Andy Garcia’s persona of a gentleman gangster with a frightening temper.

Gallino Is Already Tommy Norris & Cami Miller’s “Friend”

Gallino casually observed Tommy and Cami at the Cattleman’s Club with great interest in Landman season 2, episode 3, and he moved quickly and subtly. Norris wisely rejects all of Danny’s attempts at friendship, but Gallino simultaneously acquires a different target at M-Tex. Bella Morrell was the key to getting Cami Miller comfortable, and Danny noticeably offered his services to her out of Tommy’s earshot. Since Tommy never told M-Tex’s new owner who Dan Morrell really is, Cami has no reason to suspect Danny as anything other than the investor he claims to be.

Gallino wants to deal directly with Tommy Norris man-to-man, but he has strategically piqued Cami Miller’s interest in his services as she reels from her discovery of her husband Monty’s numerous white collar crimes that bankrupted M-Tex. To Cami, Gallino could be the savior M-Tex needs. While Gallino is undoubtedly Landman season 2’s villain, Andy Garcia oozes a magnetic appeal that entices viewers as well as Cami Miller. Now, Landman has a big bad that audiences may end up rooting for to subvert Tommy’s life and even take M-Tex away from Cami.