You cannot talk West Texas oil and not include Latinos, period. Taylor Sheridan, creator of Landman, certainly leans into this idea for his immensely popular show. He does this even more so in the sophomore season by adding one of the Latin “godfathers” of Hollywood to the cast – Señor Andy Garcia.

“It was a privilege to work with Taylor,” Garcia tells me exclusively. “When I got the call, he said, ‘Will you come to Fort Worth? I want to talk to you about writing a character for you?’ It hadn’t been written, he [Sheridan] just sat down and spoke,” says Garcia.

After hearing the idea, Garcia’s only response was “I’m in.”

Garcia’s Gallino character isn’t getting dirty fingernails by working an oil patch. Quite the contrary – he’s a jefe for the Cartel.

Do we love the idea of yet another Latino drug dealer (let alone a kingpin) serving as our representation?

Nope. Not even a little.

Quite honestly, we are about to roll over into 2026, and the fact that we are still having the “Latinos are more than drug dealers or the help” discussion is exhausting. We’d much rather celebrate when our community is on screen without the old tropes.

But, we can certainly add Andy Garcia in Landman to the “hate the game, not the player” file.

This is where I give this particular show some grace. This writer grew up in the Permian Basin. After season one and screening a few episodes of season two, I can tell you the following: Landman is incredibly written. The entire cast is stellar and each standout, that’s nothing new to say.

But, perhaps the biggest compliment I can give to the show is its authenticity. Everything, right down to the popular Patch Cafe, is not only recognizable to me, it’s comforting. I know each of these characters. Grew up with them, drank with them, tore tortillas with them. I know what it is to have greased boots to go to mass and then back to work. Whether it’s from his own experience or a gift from las brujas, Sheridan has a way of dialing into the authenticity of a region, and Landman is no exception. In fact, I would argue, it should be the example.

Having seen my mother work in a doctor’s office in the mid-80s, I can attest to the level of danger these oil patch workers face every day. We’d spend many afternoons doing our homework in her waiting room, waiting for her shift to be over. I can’t tell you the number of times men would come in injured before being patched up and sent off to the regional hospital. Men with little to no education risking their lives to provide for their families was as normal as the sun rising every day.

Now, being an adult, I can see how that came to be. Where else can a person with just a high school degree make a six-figure salary? Oil pays. And it pays well enough to risk losing limbs and lives. A drive down any town in the Permian Basin is littered with big trucks with hundred-thousand-dollar price tags attached. Women with big hair and even bigger diamond bracelets are patronizing shops and salons. All because oil workers put in 80-100-hour weeks, away from their families.

So, yes, I give Landman some grace when it comes to adding to the loooong list of shows that paint our community so stereotypically. Some grace, but muy muy muy poco.

This is without even discussing the actual talent onscreen – which is superb. Garcia and Thornton going toe to toe make some of the best written and performed scenes of the season.

And let us not forget, Garcia isn’t the only Latino on the show in a prominent role. Paulina Chavez, who plays Ariana, is also getting some serious screen time. In the show’s second season, we see her becoming more independent, more fierce, and more loving.

For the record, I’m not about that at all.

Will Landman and its narco-plot make you mad? Or is it worth it to see Garcia (and Chavez!) in such a high-profile production? Find out as season two of Landman sprawls across our screens on Paramount+ with new episodes dropping every Sunday.